Walks
NEW for 2024: Leicestershire: Garendon Park - Shepshed Circular Walk
This walk is designed to help users make use of newly-opened footpaths and metalled tracks on the Garendon Estate, which is located between Loughborough and Shepshed. The Estate contains several listed monuments of interest, dating from the Victorian era and earlier. The old Garendon Hall which was the centre-piece of the estate before its destruction in 1964, dates back to the 16th Century and had a colourful history - you'll find more details in the guide.
The estate is currently being developed to provide new housing by Persimmon Homes and William Davis. A condition of the S106 planning approval for the development was that the southern part of the estate would be opened to the public, forming a new country park area for recreational purposes.
Many of the footpaths originally due to open in June 2023 are now open. The walk described here provides a circular route starting and finishing in Shepshed, almost all of it on off-road footpaths or existing cycle routes. (The start and finish points could easily be adjusted to allow a start in Loughborough, taking in the Obelisk monument on the Eastern edge of the estate as an additional historical attraction).
Currently, the route shown would not be suitable for cyclists; when the remaining route via the Bavarian Arch opens, a circular cycle route including NCR6 and the old Coach Road back to Shepshed would make a pleasant round trip. A circular cycle route taking in the southern part of the estate is currently possible – see the guide for a suggested route returning via the Old Ashby Road estate and A512).
Update 20.12.23: New footpath now open at southern end of the estate following the old Loughborough to Ashby railway track-bed - see guide for details. Connects with Old Ashby Road estate via Pitsford Drive.
You can download or view the .pdf guide (Garendon Estate Walk.pdf) from the Downloads Page. Take it with you on your smartphone or tablet....
Update 8.2.24: It appears that there may be a further delay in opening the link between NCR6 and A512 via the Bavarian Arch, as originally planned for June 2023. Ownership of the arch and surrounding area was retained by the DeLisle family at the time of the land transfer and a route directly under the arch is not currently possible as the building is occupied. Two alternative routes avoiding the arch are possible - see the updated Guide for more details of this issue and other developments regarding Garendon public access.
Version Date 8.2.24
Leicestershire 4-Counties Walk: Chilcote and Netherseal
Leicestershire hosts an almost unique geographic phenomenon within the UK, in that it borders neighbouring Staffordshire directly over a distance of only about a mile. County boundaries this short only occur at one other place in UK and the local geography around Chilcote makes it possible to complete a local walk using public rights of way and taking in 4 different counties and 2 English regions in under 2 hours.
Chilcote itself, around which the walk is based, is also something of a geographic curiosity, in that it is the only settlement in Leicestershire which cannot be reached by road without entering another county (see link to Chilcote Wikipedia entry).
Why not take the ‘4 counties in under 2 hours’ challenge yourself, and enjoy some healthy exercise in pleasant countryside…..?
Download the 'Leics 4 Counties Walk' .pdf file from the downloads page to find out how....
Version Date 17.5.22
Leicestershire: Charnwood Forest NW: Blackbrook Reservoir Circular walk
This walk is set in the northwestern part of Charnwood Forest and is designed to provide a circular route round Blackbrook Reservoir, taking in Mount St. Bernard Abbey (http://www.mountsaintbernard.org) Shepshed’s Jubilee Walk and the Morley Quarry Nature Reserve. The walk starts and finishes at the Morley Quarry Car Park, Shepshed and provides some spectacular views of north Charnwood...and plenty of healthy exercise.
The walk covers a distance of ca 6.5 miles so would be suitable for a day’s excursion. A shorter route back from the Abbey, returning to Shepshed via Iveshead Road, and taking in St. Josephs Tea Room, is also available (total distance ca 4 miles) if required. This would be more suitable for an afternoon walk.
Download the full details from the downloads page using the link to 'Blackbrook Reservoir Walk'....
Leicestershire: Charnwood Forest NW: Bardon Hill Summit Circular walk
This walk is set on the western fringes of Charnwood Forest and provides a circular route round the Bardon Hill summit area with a visit to vthe summit to view the surrounding East and West midland countryside and the main quarry workings.
The walk starts and finishes at Vercor Road , Agar Nook, Coalville and car parking is readily available in the local area. Public transport is available from Coalville centre. The walk provides some spectacular views of north Charnwood...and plenty of healthy exercise. Please note some sections are quite steep and can become waterlogged in rainy conditions. stout waterproof footwear essential under these conditions.
The walk covers a distance of ca 2.5 miles so would be suitable for an afternoon's excursion. A shorter route back from the summit is also available (total distance ca 1.5 miles) if required.
Download the full details as a .pdf file from the downloads page using the link to 'Bardon Hill Walk'....