2024/06/17 - Circular from Foxton Locks

 Monday 17th June 

I collected Maureen at 9.30 and drove out to Foxton Locks on a lovely warm morning! We parked at the top car park.

We walked down the path close to the museum,

and followed the towpath north across Bridge 61 until we passed Debdale Wharf Marina. 

We continued to a footbridge where a footpath leads south, Debdale Grange Farm. We took the opportunity to eat a scone and have a drink. 

 We followed the field edge rather than the footpath route, all slightly uphill, as this was clearer.

The foxgloves are tall this year!

When we reached Debdale Lane we turned right and walked for a short distance. Before reaching a road junction we took a footpath to our right (roughly south). Again we followed field edges, as the path through the field was unclear. Easy enough to find the gate and footbridge,

which took us through a field of cows who showed very little interest in us.

Through some farm buildings where the footpath appears to have been slightly rerouted round the edge of the field, rather than across, but it soon enough joined the Leicestershire Round path and we crossed Footbridge (bridge 63) over the GU Canal, turned right and were very quickly back at Rainbow Bridge and the Bridge 61 pub for coffee and a sandwich.

Just over 5 miles by the time we arrived back at the car park to be greeted by a few drops of rain.

Boat names - Trent Weaver, Tacet, Moon Dancer,  Hazelwise, Chatsworth

LEICS - FOXTON to Bowden Inn Farm roundabout

 Monday 10th July 2023

With Norma and Maureen. Seven miles, almost entirely flat. Good weather - dry and not too hot. Very similar route to this walk a year ago.

We parked at the upper car park for Foxton Locks and walked along the eastern side of the canal, pausing for a look down at the inclined plane, then walking past the Museum and down to the Foxton Locks Inn, then the shop and pub/cafe at Bridge 61.

The actual bridge is known as the Rainbow Bridge.

We agreed to indulge in an early coffee before following the route of the Leicestershire Round through the village

and across fields, firstly meadows, and later cornfields. 

When we reached the B 6047, we turned left and exercising patience and care crossed the roads near the roundabout in search of more coffee and something to eat at the local McDonalds. Actually the spicy veggie wrap wasn’t at all bad.

Then we returned to the B6047, and continued for a short while along the Leicestershire Round path. The section from the road has been severely overgrown in the past, but today was pretty well clear, though I did use my secateurs to remove some trailing brambles and one or two pieces of higher level vegetation. 

We left the Leicestershire Round at the first ‘crosspaths’ we came to, and turned right towards the Pears chemical factory by the canal. 

From there we crossed the road and joined the Harborough Arm of the Canal again.

We followed this all the way back to where we began the walk.

A leisurely wander today, with sightings of house martins, and plenty of white butterflies, plus small tortoiseshells and one or two other butterflies which were flying away too quickly for me to identify. One family of swans, and a few mallard females were the only waterfowl in evidence.

Foxton Locks to Bowden Inn Farm business Village on the Leicestershire Round path

Thursday 14th July

 With Maureen. Checking the Leicestershire Round path, and returning via the Harborough Arm of the Old Union Canal. About 6 miles.

Another warm dry day. We set off just after ten from Foxton Locks Top car park, walking with the canal on our left past the inclined plane and museum, then the well patronised cafe/pub at Bridge 69.

Over the Rainbow Bridge to the other side of the canal, where we walked east towards Foxton village. 

We turned off at the sign for the Leicestershire Round and followed the signs through the village, and over fields as far as Bowden Inn Farm. 

We made a short detour to check the LR as it goes through an area of trees and scrub - this bit often gets overgrown but so far so good.

We returned along the canal, after a short section walking along the road to Market Harborough as far as the canal bridge, where we turned right and continued back to Foxton Locks.

A tuna sandwich and a coffee at Bridge 61 pub almost completed our walk. We just had the last half mile or so up the locks and back to the car park.

Gumley to Foxton Locks

Monday 27th June

With Norma and Maureen. 

We arrived in Gumley via the road from Debdale Wharf, coming into the village past the church, and parked on the Main Street facing downhill. 

We took a bridleway to our right (just after the Leicestershire Round leaves the road on the left) , through a wooded passageway.

After this we left the bridleway, taking a footpath to the left leading downhill through several fields with horses.

After a footbridge

we turned left along a bridleway but missed the point where it crossed the stream, and ended up on the drive to Gumley Lodge.

We picked up the footpath again, following it up the shoulder of a hill, through plenty of wet grass, to the left of a small copse.

Eventually after two more fields we arrived at a road, close to the junction. We followed the road towards Foxton, turning off after half a mile before Bunkers Hill Farm, along a most unpleasant section of track, rutted by farm vehicles, and very overgrown and rough underfoot. Definitely not recommended!

This emerged opposite what was labelled as a ‘Gated Road to Foxton’ though we saw no gates. In just under a mile we were at the top entrance to Foxton Locks,

so followed the canal down to the pub/cafe, where we stopped for coffee and lunch. 

Then it was simply a short walk, over the bridge, then continuing north along the canal as far as a footbridge. Over the bridge and we headed directly east and mainly uphill for less then a mile to reach Gumley.

A short walk  of just under 5 miles, which felt longer… 

Foxton to Thorpe Langton, along Leicestershire Round

 Tuesday 26th October, with Marta. 11.5 miles, there and back.

The flight of ten locks was busy

View over the inclined plane.

From the top car park we walked down past the museum and the locks. Past the pub and shop we turned right along the canal until we reached the sign for the Leicestershire Round, taking us through the village, and joining the footpath through a gate close to some houses.

The route was pretty clear today, with Leicestershire’s yellow posts proving helpful as ever.  The path heads east then slightly north to join the B6047.

We crossed and found the path easily just after Bowden Business Park. Usually we have to fight our way through vegetation - nettles and brambles, but luckily this has been well cleared recently and it was a delight to walk through the short wooded section.

The path continues east. After a fairly big field we turned left (north) and headed towards the A6. A flight of steps (after a gate) takes us down to the road - the trickiest one to cross on this walk with no central island.

Once more several fields to cross. The conditions today were reasonable - dry and firm. Most of the field boundaries now have gates rather than stiles, which makes life easier.

We strayed slightly from the path as we approached East Langton, walking with the hedge on our right, rather than our left. I was disappointed to find that the seat I’d been planning to use for a break has gone. No problem, we found a spot in the village.

As we continued we spotted another dog fouling sign - I suspect this works better.

The path leaves East Langton at the point where Back Lane turns at a right angle. The path is clearly marked all the way to Thorpe Langton from here, and there are wide views south over the valley. Most fields have kissing gates, but there was one awkward farm gate which we had to go back and close properly. Luckily the sheep were not feeling adventurous today.

At Thorpe Langton, St Leonard’s church was closed, as usual. We had a brief wander round the village then set off back to Foxton.

Some seasonal colour in East Langton

and a rather beautiful horse

 On the return leg we took the path towards the chemical factory near the canal. This path was also much clearer and easier than in previous years.  We crossed the road and joined the towpath back to the Locks and lunch.

Unfortunately we were unable to renew out acquaintance with Jack Cryer, as he is now reclining on the floor of the room that no longer belongs to the Top Lock cafe - for now.

His cup of tea on the window ledge

he watches through the glass

a narrowboat goes through the lock

a gleam of polished brass

Jack kept the lock when working boats

hauled goods along the water

Couples toiled and lived on board

along with sons and daughters.

The hour or so it took to rise

the seventy feet or more

was put to use in passing news

and building living lore.

Now Jack stands there, cast in bronze

beside the window still

to watch another motley crew

rise and descend this hill.

We walk the tow path one fine morn

and pause for tea and cake.

You stand near Jack in mirror pose

and bring the past awake.

Oct 2012