Radway Meadows

Species-rich meadows in a magnificent setting

Location

Near the village of Radway, south of Kineton

Kineton

CV35 0BT

OS Map Reference

SP 366 475

Know before you go

Size

9 hectares

Parking information

Off road parking on King John's Lane

Grazing animals

Grazing animals at certain times of year, likely to be cattle

Walking trails

Gentle slopes, undefined paths, soft patches, muddy in winter

Access

There are no formal paths around the reserve but the area is relatively flat.

Dogs

Dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

These sloping fields sit in an historic Civil War landscape and are in the north east tip of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Beauty, the only AONB in Warwickshire.

What's it like to visit?

This reserve is in a magnificent setting, beneath the wooded scarp slope of Edge Hill. Explore the two meadows and stream bordered by ancient hedgerows. The hedgerows may be 400 years old with a mix of oak, ash, English elm and pear.

If you fancy foraging visit in autumn for haws from the midland hawthorn and there are also crab apples.

What might you spot?

Finding adder's tongue fern here hints at the age of this meadow; it should appear between June and August. Summer treats to look for are spires of common spotted orchids, quaking grass and the rounded purple-blue heads of devil's bit scabious.

Dog rose and field rose scramble through the tangled hedgerows producing pretty flowers in summer and ripe hips bring dashes of colour in autumn.