Leicestershire Round Walk Series
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Spice East Midlands Leicestershire Round Walk Series 2012-2013 Just 95 Miles To Go! Suitable for All
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Leicestershire Round Part 1 |
Swithland to Cossington Both longer and shorter route follow the path of the Leicestershire Round from close to our starting point at our regular watering hole the Griffin in Swithland to the Royal Oak at Cossington where the 5 milers finish and the 12 milers turn for home after some well earned refreshment. It's a great area for walking passing Swithland Reservoir, Mountsorrel and River Soar before reaching Cossington and then making our way back across the fields by Rothley and the Grand Central Railway. The Griffin is a great venue to finish at with optional food and a bevy or three for all who require it. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 2 |
Cossington to Thrussington Second stage starts from the delightful village of Cossington, skirts to the north of Ratcliffe on the Wreake before crossing the River Wreake itself and heading for Rearsby and then Thrussington. Our stop in Thrussington is the renowned Star Inn which has been feeding and watering locals for more than 250 years so hopefully a few Spice members won't be too much of a problem. We part company at this point with those on the shorter walk and turn back to the start via the countryside around Seagrave and Sileby. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 3 |
Gaddesby to Burrough on the Hill Stage 3 starts from the village of Gaddesby in existence since the Danish occupations of 10th and 11th Century and mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086! Most of it's older houses would have been part of the estate of Gaddesby Hall. The countryside is stunning and as we meander steadily uphill to the Burrough Hill Country Park we obtain a great view of the surrounding area. Dropping down(!) into the village of Burrough on the Hill we part company with those on the shorter walk at the Stag and Hounds and make our way back to Gaddesby via Twyford and Barsby. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 4 |
Thrussington to Gaddesby Our fourth outing on the Leicestershire Round follows the course of the River Wreake from Thrussington past Hoby and then on the Frisby on the Wreake where we turn south past Frisby Grange to the comfort of the Cheney Arms, a traditional country pub in the village of Gaddesby. Marginally longer for the shorter walk this time who part company from us in Gaddesby whilst we take a relatively quick route back to Rearsby and then Thrussington. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 5 |
Borough Hill Country Park to Belton in Rutland This ones a bit tricky as no logical short cut back and NO PUB(!) mid way ...... After some thought we've decided to make this one a linear walk for all. We're going to meet at the finish point(!) and then take as few cars as we can back to the start so ALL should meet outside the Sun Inn for no later than 10:45am. Our walk is generally flat and gradually downhill and includes some delightful countryside around Somerby, Owston Woods, Launde Abbey through to Belton and the delights of the Sun Inn. You can do it! |
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Leicestershire Round Part 6 |
Belton to Foxton via Glooston(!) Section 6 already. Wow! Meet arrangements today are even more complicated as longer walkers meet at the end, shorter walkers meet in the middle and we all set off from the start(!), now that's a challenge if ever there was one. If only the Cardigan Arms in Cranoe hadn't become Cardigan Cottage, it could all have been so different. After a bit of well organised shuttling at the start to get most of our cars at the relevant finish points and ourselves to the start point in Belton we set off for some great walking in this rather damp area just to the north of Market Harborough. Two great pubs on our route being the Old Barn Inn in Glooston which is the finish point for the shorter walk and the Black Horse at Foxton where with so much shuttling during the day we thought it might be good to continue with a shuttle of a different sort at the end in the form of one of our famed Safari Meals i.e. where everyone changes tables between courses. Oh dear! |
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Leicestershire Round Part 7 |
Foxton to Bruntingthorpe Bruntingthorpe is of course now famous as the home of the last two fully functional English Electric Lightning Cold War british aircraft. Those were the days(!). Our route takes us through Gumley, Saddington and Shearsby before arriving at Bruntingthorpe. Unfortunately the Joiners is now a trendy gastro pub and is closed Saturday afternoons so now joy for us there. Those on the longer route turn back past the Knaptoft fish ponds, Mowsley and Laughton and then past the famous Foxton Locks and back to the welcome of the Black Horse. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 8 |
Bruntingthorpe to Leire Thrills and excitement today as our Leicestershire Round route crosses the M1 for the first time. Let's hope we don't have to dodge the traffic(!) This is the area just to the North of Lutterworth. Our walk takes us through Peatling Magna, Willoughby Waterleys, past Ashby Magna and across the M1 to Dunton Bassett and finally Leire. Straightforward return past Gilmorton and Peatling Parva to the start. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 9 |
Leire to Burbage Common (reverse route) Being brutally honest, this is not the most exciting section of the Leicestershire Round, but there to be done just the same. This is gently undulating countryside to the east of Burbage and Hinckley so should be reasonably within everyones comfort zone. We're going to meet at the end (in Leire) and shuttle to the start (at Burbage Common), going past Aston Flamville, Sharnford, Claybrooke Magna, Claybrooke Parva, Frolesworth and back to Leire. Likely pub break in Sharnford. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 10 |
Burbage Common to Sutton Cheney This is much better. Following the line of the Tweed River towards Dadlington, we then briefly follow the Ashby canal before passing the historic site of Bosworth Field before just crossing the southern edge of Bosworth Park and completing our shorter walk at the magnificent Royal Arms at Sutton Cheney. Those on the longer walk pass Hangmans Hall(!) and then again follow the Tweed River back to the start via Barwell. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 11 |
Sutton Cheney to Thornton Almost on the home straight now! Another single linear walk but none too taxing and great countryside between Market Bosworth and Thornton. Probable stop part way at the Rising Sun in Shackerstone. Our walk today goes from Sutton Cheney, through Market Bosworth and Carlton, past Shackerstone and then on to Nailstone, Bagworth and Thornton. |
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Leicestershire Round Part 12 |
Thornton to Swithland |
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Leicestershire Round Meal & Awards! |
This meal will be open to all with full details announced nearer the time. Location: Griffin Inn, Swithland Time: 6:30pm Prizes and awards will be given! |
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Please note: 1) Where OS Grid references or postcodes are given for meet locations these are the nearest we could find but may not take you right to the spot especially if using car satnav so please read other directions carefully. 2) Spice East Midlands 10 Walks / Sports block bookings may be used for these walks, greatly reducing the individual price and enabling you to roll forward walks you subsequently find yourself unable to attend. 3) These are proper walks so waterproofs and walking boots or other stout footwear are of course essential and drinks and snacks should also be taken as we cannot guarentee the availability of these until we finish the walk. Please note that jeans are not suitable as in wet weather they can become very uncomfortable. 4) Walk details have now been added for all walks and we'd appreciate volunteer leaders for individual sections whether you previously have experience of walk leading or not as in the latter case you would be supervised by an experienced walk leader. 5) Yes, the meet arrangements are a little complicated as for most of the walks we need cars and people in different places. Please follow the meet instructions carefully and we'll make sure that you and your car start and finish the walk together! 6) Where shorter walks have not been included i.e. walks 5, 9 and 11 we can add these if requested where those on the shorter walk would make a later start and meet us part way around. We're hoping the full walks on these dates will be acceptable to most and are essential for those wishing to complete the full Leicestershire Round circuit. |
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