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.

We conquer the Caudle

Monday 12th June 2023

 We conquer the Caudle ! Seven rather hot miles on Monday morning with Norma Jarvis, Kate Booth, Maureen Owens. From Stonton Wyville, over the Caudle to Welham, where we paused for a welcome coffee break in the Red Lion. Then along the quiet roads to Cranoe, up the hill and on to Glooston. Another much needed break, and one of Maureen’s scones in the shaded porch of Glooston church, before crossing the fields on the Leicestershire Round route back to Stonton Wyville.  Home in plenty of time before the downpour in the late afternoon.

About 350 feet of climbing, but the profile looks impressive!

 

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.

Thorpe Langton circular via Langton Caudle

 Thursday 28th October 2021, with Eddie. 7.25 miles, and about 560 feet of ascent and descent. 

A mild dry morning, mostly cloudy, as we set off from close to the Bakers Arms. We turned right - there’s a sign for the Leicestershire Round - and followed the track downhill past the pub car park and some new houses.

We reached the ford, and crossed the bridge on our right and a stile into the field where we started the climb up to the trig point.

Not muddy today, and easy to follow - basically head uphill… we were slightly to the left of the official footpath, but this did avoid a muddy patch.

Onwards and upwards, with the view opening out as we climbed. We followed the route of the Leicestershire Round through Stonton Wyville,

then across fields to Glooston.

The pub is for sale, and looks a likely candidate for another expansive house.

Still following the LR we walked along minor road to Cranoe. 

At this point we left the Round and took the road towards Stonton Wyville.

After about a mile at the point where a small road joins from the right, we took a footpath to the left. which led us over a very rickety stile, but straight up to the to- again.

From the trig point we retraced our route back to Thorpe Langton.

A brief wander round the tiny village completed the walk.