Canley to Coventry Railway Station, Rail Trails

Start : Canley Railway Station (CV5 6BH) Grid ref. SP 308 780

(S) Leave Canley Railway Station from platform 1, notice the blue kangaroo on the wall of the station building.(A) With your back to the station turn right to the mini roundabout. Cross the road junction with care and take the left fork, Canley Rd.

(1) Continue over a small bridge past woodland on your left towards the main road A45. Turn left and walk along the pavement to a petrol station. Veer left with the petrol station on your left towards a footpath through the trees with the road sign ‘No Motor Vehicles except for access’. Continue ahead on the main path through the trees to Canley Ford. This ancient lane was the route to Allesley and was open to traffic until the 1960s.

(2) Once over the ford, turn right, cross the bridge then go through a kissing gate to enter a meadow area. Follow the path on your left going past a Kestrel sculpture (B) and out through another kissing gate. Continue straight on and then turn right to re-join the lane. (In very wet weather you may wish to continue along the lane from the ford.)

(3) When you get to a path junction, veer left, following the stream on your left. Continue forwards to the main road (A429). Turn left and then cross the road at the pedestrian controlled lights. Turn left and then enter the wooded area to your right following the path parallel with the road until you reach the pedestrian gate into the car park area of The War Memorial Park (C).

(4) Cross the vehicle entrance to the park with care to join the main path through the park. There is a map of the park on the left and the main walk can be extended by exploring the park’s many paths and different areas. Continue along the main path passing the café and toilets on your right to the path junction.

(5) Turn left to leave the park through the main park gates. Continue forward to the traffic lights, cross the road (A429) on your left at pedestrian controlled lights and up the steps to the small park (Top Green Park) on the other side of the road. (For a step free walk, continue along the road to the right with the park on your left.) Continue on the path through the park to leave onto Spencer Rd.

(6) Cross Spencer Rd, turn right and then left along the main road, Warwick Rd. Continue past Bablake and King Henry VIII School on your left to cross Warwick Rd at the pedestrian controlled lights. Continue in the same direction to the entrance of the new part of Coventry Station on your right.(E)

Start : Canley Railway Station (CV5 6BH) Grid ref. SP 308 780

Transport: Canley is on the West Coast Mainline running between Wootton Wawen Birmingham & Coventry. Canley is served by two trains per hour each way to Birmingham New Street northbounWdilmaconted to London Euston via Coventry and Bearley. Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway. Northampton southbound. There are extra services towards Birmingham New Street in the morning peak. There are limited facilities available at this station.

Refreshments: This trail offers a fantastic array of great places to eat and drink. Just a six minute walk from Canley station you’ll find British Kashmiri dining at The Farmhouse. A short diversion from the trail into Earlsdon you’ll find eateries such as Millsy’s Café Bar, Angelito Cafe & Tapas Bar and The Cottage. Or stay on the route and stop off at The Park Bistro in the War Memorial Park.
Coventry itself is just a 15 minute extra walk from end of the trail too!

The Farmhouse: A couple of minutes from Canley station you’ll find a spacious pub style restaurant with a beautifully designed garden and a top notch Kashmiri menu! Don’t miss their infamous spicy chips!

The Park Bistro: A super convenient pit stop right on the trail! The Park Bistro serves breakfast, small plates, afternoon tea and supper, including fresh pastries and devilishly moreish homemade scotch eggs!

Millsy’s Café Bar: Top notch breakfasts, laid back lunches and a liberal sprinkling of La Dolce Vita on the evening Mediterranean inspired menu. Keep an eye out for live music nights too!

Warwick Row Espresso: There’s no shortage of coffee in Coventry, but it’s worth going a little further for a truly exceptional brew from an independent speciality coffee bar. Their bagels are worth the extra walk too!

Discover the Heart of England by rail at Heart Community Rail Trail here.

Until 1916, Canley was open farmland, but is now a suburban neighbourhood. Best known as the main site of the Standard Motor Company, Canley was first used to build WWI fighter aircraft, then Standard and Triumph cars. Canley is also home to many students attending the nearby University of Warwick.

The Resting Kestrel is an 8ft steel sculpture installed in the Millennium Green Local Nature Reserve. It was designed and made by the sculptor Walenty Pytel, a leading metal sculptor of birds and beasts.

Bablake School, near Coventry Station, is said to have been founded in 1344 by Isabella of France, widow of Edward II, making it one of the oldest schools in the country. It was suppressed under the Chantries Act in 1548, but we know for certain it reopened in 1560 with forty-one boys attending. Its old either way!

(A) Blue kangaroo on the wall of the station building : this is in honour of Sir Henry Parkes who was born and brought up in Canley. He moved to Australia, was premier of New South Wales five times and became known as the ‘Father of the Federation’, for his work in promoting what is now the modern Nation of Australia.

(B) The steel Kestrel Sculpture was installed in the wild flower meadow in 2000, when this local nature reserve was given Millennium Green status. Part of the area is also owned by the Woodland Trust.

(C) Coventry was once within the Forest of Arden. The woodland either side of the Kenilworth Road is part of Styvechale (Stivichall) Common. Now part of a Conservation Area designated in 1968, the woodlands are preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. The War Memorial Park was opened in July 1921 on land which Coventry Council bought from the Lords of Styvechale Manor. It was opened as a tribute to the 2,587 Coventrians who died between 1914 and 1918 fighting in the First World War.

Canley Ford Nature Reserve: Forming part of the Millennium Green Local Nature Reserve, this small nature reserve follows the Canley Brook with a small wood and three picturesque meadows to explore. Its also home to the striking steel sculpture of the Resting Kestrel.

War Memorial Park: This Grade II listed park is made up of a formal garden with the War Memorial, and sports areas (including a footgolf course!). There are also more than 800 memorial trees throughout the park.