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

Foxton Locks to East Langton.

With Maureen and Eddie. About 8.5 miles. Flat, some mud. We were doing a check on part of the Leicestershire Round route.

We set off from the Foxton Locks Top car park, walked along the road as far  as the canal. we turned left and kept the canal on our right, passing the viewpoint over the inclined plane, and then the small museum, before crossing over to the other side as we approached the bottom end of the flight of locks.

View towards the top cottage

The inclined plane

Looking over towards the bottom of the locks

The top cottage cafe

 We kept to the canal towpath, not taking the Leicstershire Round route, partly because it is poorly marked from this direction. we left the canal just before the JG Pears factory, and crossed the B6047 to pick up the footpath which goes to the left just before the weighbridge. For once this path was easy to walk and has obviously been cleared. I have felt the need for a machete before now!

Our route heads north across a couple of fields and becomes the Leicestershire Round, which leads us under the mainline railway and over the Langton Brook via a footbridge, then across fields, past the memorial stone to a horse called Lottery (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.

Eddie has just paid brief homage to Lottery.

The path here is clear, well marked, with a few stiles and gates. Before long we arrived at the bench at the bottom of the hill into East Langton, and stopped for a break.

We returned along the Leicestershire Round path, following the route in reverse - past Lottery's stone, over the footbridge, and underneath the railway. After another two fields and a strip of woodland, there are two more fields. The factory can be seen ahead. We crossed the A6 and went up the steps on the other side. After another field we turned right following the sign, towards the B6047.  This time our way was clear, apart from some dropped litter. I have seen it overgrown and virtually impassable in the past. We came out at the road, and turned right for a short distance to use the central island to cross the road.

The footpath sign leads us down a concrete slope and to the corner of a field. The path should take us about 50 yards to the left of the small brick building. I didn't spot the path today, so we ended up doing the two sides of a traingle instead of the hypotenuse, but we picked the path up at a footbridge . We followed the waymarkers, although there is one point where we were unsure, but eventually we came out at a gate and stile to a path between houses and outbuildings. This leads to Swingbridge Street, in 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 and follow Canal to Foxton Locks. Signage a little hit and miss through the village.

Maureen and I stopped for a tuna sandwich at Bridge 61.

A quieter scene than in summer.

Thorpe Langton to Foxton

Thursday 26 October. With Maureen.

We followed the Leicestershire Round pat St Leonards church, over the fields to the farm, turned left along the track, then right to cross the fields to East Langton.

Still a hint of early morning in the sky

Looking towards the railway line in the valley

We walked through East Langton and downhill to join the footpath again at a stile by a bench. The path heads across the flat wide valley, under a row of pylons, under the railway and across the A6.  Soon after this the LR path turns right and emerges to cross the B6047.

A slight navigational error (and a dislike of recently ploughed fields) brought us to Langton Road, heading into Foxton. Not too busy, so we used it. Then we walked up to the swing bridge, which was being opened to allow the passage of a narrowboat.

We utrned right to walk along the towpath to Foxton Locks.

We had an early sandwich and coffee at the Bridge 61 pub before heading back in the same direction.

The sun making a valiant effort

We varied the route slightly by taking the footpath by the chemical works, and turning right when the path became the Leics Round. Our path was close to the A6, but not too noisy, since there was a decent bank of trees in between.
However there was another crossing of the A6, requiring patience and care, and then we crossed the railway line by a footbridge where the original path has been diverted.

I wish they'd posted this a little earlier...

View from the footbridge.

The route from where we left the Leics round path was not one I'd really want to walk again, though it has completed a bit more of the local jigsaw for me.

Thorpe Langton to Foxton Locks

With Maureen and Gordon. We set off shortly before midday from Thorpe Langton, and followed the Leicestershire Round. 

Walk along Church Lane, opposite side of road to pub. Turn R to pass church. Follow path over field to redbrick farm. 
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 convenient bench  near a Leics Round signpost makes an early coffee stop inevitable.  
Then climb stile to footpath. The path heads south, and all the field boundaries are crossed by gates and clearly marked.
Pass stone to Lottery -the first winner of the Grand National, with a fine pedigree and descendants - see this entry, with pictures and details, in Thoroughbred Heritage

Cross a footbridge over Langton Brook  - 

Not ours!!

and go underneath  mainline railway. 

Not insurmountable

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.  (Better today than I have seen it at this time of year!) 

Well, we got through this easily enough!!

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. 

A brief pause before Foxton

Cross a bumpy field - can be muddy - to gate and stile by farmhouse and come out into Swingbridge Street, Foxton. 
 At this point we headed for the canal and walked along the towpath to the Locks.


We had lunch at the Bridge 69 Pub, then made our way up the 75 foot rise (so we were informed) to the top car park.

Pleased to say that the path was mostly pretty clear, though I did use secateurs to clear brambles from a stile, and the trusty trekking pole to slash some large nettles. But it looks as though people walk it fairly regularly.

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

Thorpe Langton to Foxton Locks and back

Mon, 2014 May 19 9.05am - With Gordon. Very straightforward, conditions on ground good, and not so many nettles, though paths still overgrown in places. New footbridge and lots of gates. Fine and sunny. Stopped for coffee at the Locks. Just over 10 miles.

The same route as previously, following the Leicestershire Round from Thorpe Langton to East Langton, then down through the village and over the stile, across well signposted fields, some with cows and some with sheep. In one place sheep were being herded for dipping.  

The walk goes through gates and over footbridges, under the mainline railway. through the trees where nettles are growing but not impassable, then turning right away from the factory two fields ahead, emerging on the A 6 near the roundabout. This part of the route is passable, and has been walked recently, but looks in danger of becoming overgrown. 

Then we walk over fields where the path has been made good through the new crops. 

In Foxton village we took the footpath by the Shoulder of Mutton, and then made our way to the canal about half a mile before the Locks, turning right towards them.

 A pause for coffee at bridge 61 and the return leg is via the canal as far as the chemical factory, over the road there and follow the signs - growing well but passable. Rejoin the LR and  follow the route back with an exploratory detour in East Langton.

A pause for coffee at bridge 61 and the return leg is via the canal as far as the chemical factory, over the road there and follow the signs - growing well but passable. We rejoined the LR and  followed the route back with an exploratory detour in East Langton.

Around 10 miles.

Map and details