Thorpe Langton to Foxton Locks and back

Thu, 2015 Jun 4 10:08 AM BST

With Maureen and Gordon. Leics Round to Foxton, variation on way back. Flat mostly, dry conditions, sunny and warm. Just over 10 miles.

Following Leicestershire Round on the way out, and returning along the canal to Pears chemical factory, and following footpath to join up with our way out.

Small alternative route through East Langton.

Our route began on Church Lane.
Walk along Church Lane, opposite side of road to pub. Turn R to pass church. Follow path over field to redbrick farm.

St Leonards Church, Thorpe Langton

Turn L. Follow track to open field. Turn R through a gate. Follow path over several fields, heading west. Park Hill Farm is uphill on R. Follow waymarked posts over fields - the last one is quite hummocky and leads into a hedged path and out to a road. Walk to road junction, then turn R uphill towards the Bell Inn. Take the first street L, going downhill past E.Langton Grange. Follow road to the end. A bench is near to Leics Round sign, climb stile to footpath. The path heads south, and all the field boundaries are crossed by gates and clearly marked.

Track leading into fields towards East Langton

Pass stone to Lottery -the first winner of the Grand National.  Cross a footbridge over Langton Brook and go underneath  mainline railway. Cross another two fields and strip of trees, then two more fields. Ahead is the factory by the canal, a useful directional landmark for a while. Down steps to A6 - a busy road to cross. Up steps at other side. Through one more field. At hedge turn R and head towards B6047. Just before road path gets a bit overgrown, but passable. Come out on road, walk short distance to Bowden Inn Farm and cross. Go down concrete slope and turn R into field. Follow waymarked paths over fields in direction of Gartree prison. Go through a hedge and keep hedge on left for two fields, then on right. Cross a bumpy field - can be muddy - to gate and stile by farmhouse and come out into Swingbridge Street, Foxton. Turn L and soon R to take footpath between houses to Middle Street. Turn L, then R on path between hedges to Main St, opposite Shoulder of Mutton pub. Turn L and walk up to Canal, turn R and follow Canal to Foxton Locks.

Lottery was the first winner of the Grand National - see link
and this one. There's a picture by John Frederick Herring Senior in the Woolavington Collection of Sporting Paintings at Cottesbrooke Hall as well.

Foxton Locks looking lively in the sun

We had a sandwich and drink at the Bridge 61 pub/cafe. Most welcome.

Bridge 61

Yellow flag

Walking back along the towpath

We walked back along the canal as far as the B 6047, just before the chemical factory.

Remains of a willow tree that landed on a boat some time ago - no one was hurt

We took the footpath (to East Langton) marked by the factory and followed the way markers through a rather jungly section. It has been walked a bit, but could do with more.

More red campion

The path near the chemical factory - quite overgrown as usual

This path soon joins our outward route, at the point where the Leicestershire Round path turned right. We retrace our steps to the seat near East Langton, and had a mid afternoon scone break.

Grand footbridge between East Langton and the A6

We turned right and took the first road left, uphill to rejoin  the path towards Thorpe Langton through the fields overlooking the valley. Just a mile or so and we were back at the start of the walk. What a joy to have a summer day for walking.

Map and details