2024/07/01 Illston, Kings Norton, Gaulby

 Monday 1st July

The year is halfway through…

Kate drove Maureen and me out to Illston. We walked 5 miles, past Illston Grange, along the route of the Roman Road (Gartree Road).

This bridleway is very rutted by heavy farm traffic, and the mud has dried hard.  It was made more difficult by overgrown bushes and brambles this year. The track takes us downhill through a wooded section to the ford, crossed by a bridge.

Soon after this we take the signposted footpath

slightly uphill across the fields to Kings Norton,

where the church is being repaired,

and we had a snack break.

Along the road to Gaulby, into the church,

which was open, then down Front Street and the road back to Illston. 

We decided not to take the field and woodland track past Ashlands and continued along the quiet road back to Illston.

Illston on the hill, Kings Norton, Gaulby

With Maureen.  Walked on Thursday 30 March 2017.
The same route as this walk from 2013.  Just over 6 miles, with around 300 feet of climbing.

From Illston on the Hill, through the village, downhill past the Fox and Goose pub. At the bottom, go through gate, and up to second gate. Turn right. in a while the path divides. Take the right hand fork which follows the hedge downhill, through gates and over a field (or round the edge if no path visible).
Keep Illston Grange on the left, and follow path through gates by a horse training area, then bear left across the field, heading for the opposite corner. The path comes out at a junction. Just opposite take the rough track labelled Gartree Road, Gated Road.

This takes you downhill to a footbridge over a stream. Shortly afterwards take the path to the right. At this time of year the waymarkers are easily visible. Follow them to Kings Norton, where the church is very prominent from this side.

Kings Norton Church.

Turn left and go past the church, then turn immediately right along the minor road to Gaulby.  The church clock here is one of several in the area with a single hand. There are several benches - handy for a comfortable coffee and snack!

The inside is very similar in style to Kings Norton, though smaller.
Turn right after the church and walk downhill on the Illston Road, turning left to take the footpath at a right hand bend. 
The footpath hugs the field edges, then enters the edge of woodland going uphill along a path which can be muddy.  The route is then through a couple of fields and behind the splendid Ashlands, with views toward Billesdon Coplow.

Through a gate, and turn right on to the quiet road past Ashlands and farmland, into Illston.

Horse chestnuts are close to flowering.

Illston circular via Rolleston, Gaulby, Kings Norton and Gartree road

This walk follows the same route as on 14 May, but is extended by about a mile.  Our first detour was to look at the Rolleston Estate's lake. Then later, from Kings Norton we took the path across the fields just downhill from the church. This took us to the Gartree Road track at the ford. We turned left and followed this back to the crossroads with Burton Overy Lane, and picked up the previous route past Illston Grange.

Leaving Illston

More campion

Rolleston Hall Lake

Billesdon Coplow

lemon and gold

Seat near Gaulby church

Kings Norton church

A fine sunny morning, with a coolish breeze. Just over 8 miles in all.

A profusion of wild flowers again.


Map and details

Illston-Rolleston-Gaulby-Kings Norton

With Maureen and Gordon. Weather much cooler and windier than the last couple of days. But no rain.

Something over 7 miles.

We set off from Illston village hall, walking back to the main road past the village, and taking the footpath from the junction over fields of lambs and a few cows. All clearly waymarked, leading us past Barn Farm and on to the B6047, near New Inn.

We crossed this road, walked a few yards to our right, and went past the Lodge into the Rolleston Hall estate, with its fine avenue of horse chestnuts - all in bloom, but lacking a fine blue sky backdrop today.  We passed sheep and lambs grazing in the fields, the stables and other houses, before turning to the left along a gated road to Billesdon. 

A couple of gates later our path headed off to the left, across one field, then along a second one, past a field full of young calves, eventually reaching Cranhill Farm, which is now a collection of rather fine houses.

At the road (B 6047 again)we turned right for a short distance before taking the gated road to Illston. This is a quiet road, and on our left was a fine bluebell wood. The smell was sweet and strong.

We walked past one footpath on the right and then came to another sign for two footpaths. We took the one going slightly to the left, through a gate covered in ivy, and sporting two horseshoes.

Billesdon Coplow 

This took us behind Ashlands, (more sheep and lambs) and then to a path downhill just inside a wooded area. At the end of the wood, the path goes right into a field, but keeps close to the edge. After another couple of fields with a hedge on our right, we came to the minor road between Illston and Gaulby. We turned right, and made our way uphill to Gaulby.  Luckily the benches were on the sheltered side of the church, and we had a very pleasant break - a drink and scones provided by Maureen.

From Gaulby to Kings Norton is a flat half mile or so on a quiet road. Then we turned left and downhill along the road to Illston. At a bend to the left we took the bridleway straight ahead, through more fields of sheep and lambs, and then one with masses of cows. 

We left them behind to complete this section on a track through arable fields, with a few dips and rises to keep the blood moving.

At the road (Burton Overy Lane), we turned right. Before long we reached the crossroads, and turned left, and almost immediately climbed a stile into a field (more sheep and lambs).

 The path leads behind Illston Grange, then downhill through an arable field, and up again toward Illston itself. We took the path which leaves the village street and houses on our left, and it eventually emerges via a "fat-man-squeeze" (kissing gate) not far from the village hall.

A few drops of drizzle decorated the car windscreen as we set off for home. 

Map and details

Illston circular via Kings Norton and Gaulby

Mon, 2014 Nov 3 9:14 AM GMT

With Eddie and Gordon. Not flat. Fine and sunny, but with a noticeably cooler breeze. There's something wrong with the elevation count here. Last time elevation gain was registered as 403 ft and max elevation 652. Definitely more accurate!  Timing and distance are fine - just over 6 miles.

This walk was easier to follow in this season the fields are clear and the hedges trimmed. Underfoot it was pretty good, though we did walk round the edge of one plaughed and planted field, and the ground is wet in wooded areas. Autumn colour this year is not spectacular, but still evident, although trees are dropping their leaves by now.  The same walk in July was very different. See this link

Illston Grange

Kings Norton church seen from near the Gartree Road track ( a distant shot cropped)

Chicory??

An unidentified fungus by the stile

Kings Norton Church

and again

The village of Gaulby

Billesdon Coplow from behind Ashlands

Eddie reaches Ashlands Road

Ashlands Road towards Illston

Gaulby again

One of the gargoyles on Illston church

Map and details

Walk instructions - use with the OS map! 

1. Start on Main Street - the one with the Fox and Goose. Walk downhill to the end of the road.

2. Go through the gate and follow the path through a small rough field

3.Turn right and follow the path along the edge of the field downhill.

4. Go through a gate. The path line crosses the field to a yellow waymarker.

We went round the edge as it was freshly planted and muddy.

5. At the waymarker cross a field and go through another gate. There are sheep and often horses here. The path goes behind Illston Grange.

6. Turn slightly left into the next field. Head for the corner diagonally opposite, keeping a small copse on your right. There is a waymarker post and a footpath sign slightly to the left of the corner.

7. Go through the hedge and turn right, then go straight on along the bridleway called Gartree Road (unsuitable for motors).

8. Follow this as far as the ford, cross the bridge and take the footpath signed on the right towards Kings Norton.

9. Turn immediately left and go over the stile into the next big field

10. Follow the path diagonally to the right and uphill. When you get part way there you will see the next waymarker post.

11. Go straight across the next field parallel to the hedge above. When we were here the next post was hidden by vegetation but it came into view as we walked.

12. Keep in the same direction, aiming to the left of a small wood ahead.

13. In the next field walk to the right of a dip in the ground, aiming for the church.

14. Come out of the field at a gate near the church, then turn left and walk past the church. Turn right along the road to Gaulby.

15. Walk along here for about half a mile, ignore the footpath to the right and go over the road junction and to the church.

16. Turn right after the church, down Front Street. Go past School Lane and follow the Illston Road until it bends sharply to the right.

17. On the bend take the footpath/bridleway off to the left and follow it with the field edge on your left, turning right with the hedge and then continuing past three field boundaries.

18. Walk uphill along the muddy track at the edge of the woods. Go through the gate.

19. Keep the hedge on your right and walk past Ashlands. The wooded hill with a notch in it, on the horizon is Billesdon Coplow.

20. Once past Ashlands and the other buildings, head slightly right, and the footpath goes through a gate to the left of a field gate.

21. Turn right after the gate and you soon reach Ashlands Road.

22. Turn right and follow the road all the way into Illston.

23. Go down Main Street - the road with the pub. 

Billesdon-Houghton-Gaulby-Billesdon

Thu, 2014 Apr 10 9:27 AM BST

Led by Barry. Pleasant walk, gently undulating, a few muddy patches. Just under 9 miles. Fine weather, sunny even.

From Billesdon village we take a footpath between two hedges, which leads us into a field, and then down towards the A47.

Looking back from near the A47

The road is very quiet this morning and easy to cross.

We can see the distinctive shape of Billesdon Coplow ahead of us.

We walk through the cottages, braving the noisy dogs, and along the drive past the big house, then at the Tilton Road turn left. We take a footpath to the right and keep on in a south westerly direction until we reach the A47 once more. We cross it, and turn right.  We walk along the path until we reach the turning to Houghton on the Hill. Here we turn left and into the village of Houghton.

 A sunny sheltered bench in the churchyard, right on our route, proves irresistible. Time for a break. The path heads south east towards Gaulby.  We see glimpses of its tower and pinnacles from time to time. There are a fair number of butterflies out today - mainly peacocks.

 Luckily there is also a new footbridge over the river here.

If we look back from the path near Gaulby we can see Leicestershire's "mountains" on the horizon.

 In Gaulby we take the Illston Road for a good half mile, before taking a footpath to our left, which leads over fields, then uphill through woods behind Ashlands.

 The path crosses several fields, always waymarked. It almost meets the road, but here we turn left, more or less north east, to head back to Billesdon.

 Billesdon Old School has four sundials, one on each side.

 In front of the church spring is in full bloom.

 We walk apst the market place - surprising for what is really only an overgrown village.

Unfortunately the village shop is closed for lunch, so we go back to the car chocolateless. An excellent walk, touching some known territory and some new.

Map and details