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A trading centre since 1202, Market Harborough is one of the most pleasant small towns in Leicestershire, especially since a bypass was built recently to divert traffic. At its centre lies its most famous landmark, the Old Grammar School. This is a timber-framed building, with an open ground floor, founded in 1607. Around it are several other inspiring buildings including the church of Saint Dionysius and the Town Hall.
The building of Saint Dionysius church was begun in 1300 from limestone, it is considered to have one of the finest steeples in England, with a 15th-century main section constructed from ironstone. The use of locally quarried stone is a hallmark of many of the towns and villages in the Welland Valley area of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, and is the key to their charm.
The original Town Hall was built as a shambles in 1788 by the fourth Lord Harborough, the present Council building is situated with the Harborough Museum (01858 432468) is situated within the old corset factory that was once the area's main employer.
This part of Britain is perfect for cyclists and ramblers, you will see an attractive landscape: rolling green fields, living hedgerows, well-used canals and the occasional fox, rabbit and kestrel. Around Harborough are some truly magnificent villages and destinations, many just a short walk away. For example, Foxton Locks is one of the most remarkable stretches of waterway anywhere in the world. The Grand Union Canal rises 75 feet in half a mile at this point, resulting in a staircase of 10 locks. Next to it is a partially restored inclined plane-a lifting mechanism that pulled boats up the side of the hill to overcome the long delays at the locks. Alas, the expense of maintaining it has forced it into disuse, although volunteers have now begun the long job of renovating it.
Foxton Locks has an enchanting canal museum, a pub "Bridge 61", any number of picnic spots, and is less than six miles from Harborough. The boats are easy to operate and relaxing to travel on. A bus service connects Harborough and Foxton, though check times carefully at weekends, or, better still, why not walk or cycle? A guide which suggests routes for 18 walks along the Grand Union Canal is available free from Market Harborough Tourist Information Office (01858 821270).
Bikes can be hired for the weekend, and are an ideal means of seeing some wonderful local villages-and having a restorative pint or two along the way. Leaflets suggesting cycle routes can be obtained from the Market Harborough Tourist Information Office. Villages that are recommended for visiting by bike include Hallaton and Medbourne. These two villages are antagonists in one of the most famous and bizarre country rituals-a bottle-kicking competition every Easter Monday that begins in Hallaton and ends in Medbourne.
The area is crossed by a number of long-distance footpaths, including the very pleasant Midshires Way, the Leicestershire Round, the Jurassic Way which links prehistoric sites-and the newly opened Macmillan Way, which runs from Oakham, further along the Welland Valley in the north-east, all the way down to Abbotsbury on the south coast. Information about these footpaths can be obtained from Leicestershire County Council on 0116 265 7091. There is also a tarmac cycleway and footpath (or "linear park") The Brampton Valley Way-on the old Great Central Railway route which goes out of Harborough to the south, and passes through two disused, and unlit, railway tunnels at Great Oxendon and Brixworth. In the past few years a short stretch of the track has been re-laid by Northampton & Lamport Railway, who run steam powered trips. The railway is separated from the linear park by a stout safety fence.
There are several hotels in Harborough including two 16th-century coaching inns, the Angel Hotel and the Three Swans.
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