Leics Round 5 - Barwell to Market Bosworth

Wed, 2013 Mar 13 10:34 AM Western European Time 

With Marta. A few muddy fields and paths! Fine with some sun. Still pretty cold. Lunch at Sutton Cheney. 8.4 miles.

Very pleased that we did this walk on Wednesday, and not on a very wet Saturday as we so nearly did!

From a stationary car on the A5 - anyone on a canal boat must have been laughing - you can just about see the boats

Thank goodness for mobile phones!  Otherwise long waits and wonders would be common.  Today starts off with a great drive over, admiring the brilliant blue sky, and the sun, until I reach the Hinckley Island roundabout on the A5. Tailbacks from the M69 and M6 are causing grid-lock.  The highlight is sitting in the stationary car near the Lime Kilns Inn. Not far to my left is a canal full of narrowboats, moving gently or moored quite relaxed.

Long story short, we park one car at Market Bosworth Country Park, and make the short drive to Barwell.

We’re tempted to seek out coffee, but it’s already 10.30, so we resist and step out following the Leicestershire Round book, which gives excellent direction through the Moat Way industrial estate.   At the T-junction we turn left and find the path over a footbridge and along the side of a hedge, going northwest until we reach a farm.  

Here we should have turned left and cut across the grassy field, but instead we walk along the edge, and find that the way out is muddy and not easy. So we turn left and end up in the right place.  I blame the distraction of a barking dog and its friendly owner, who is quite happy to chat to us, and our failure to consult the map more closely, as usual.

Next we cross the A 447, turn left for a few yards, then right to the footpath sign.  We follow field boundaries up to Odd House Farm, which we pass on the right, then walk along a pretty muddy farm track, then across fields following waymarkers and book instructions moving west and north west then more or less north, leaving Stoke Golding and Dadlington over to our left.  We then cross Stapleton Lane and another couple of fields before joining the Ashby Canal at bridge 33, just past Poplar House Farm.

Ashby Canal

We go down to the canal, hoping for respite from the muddy conditions, but the towpath is pretty wet, at least on our side of the canal. There’s a bench waiting for us, so we stop for a coffee and flapjack.   These swans look interested in us for a few moments, then turn scornfully away.

Café, Sutton Cheney Wharf

A short distance further and we cross the canal to Sutton Wharf with its car park, café and toilet block. Most welcome, forsooth. We pause a while, then follow the dogwalkers’ route through Ambion Wood.

A very pleasant saunter takes us to Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre, with various Richard III focused exhibits.  Close by is Ambion Hill itself, flying the flag with its white boar and the White Rose of York.

King Richard’s stone, originally erected at Shenton in 1974, was moved here in 2009. Its story is on the plaque.

A stone coffin found being used as a horse trough in Earl Shilton

Yorkist standard, Ambion Hill

The view to the north from Ambion Hill

We walk up to Ambion Hill, and enjoy the excellent views over the surrounding countryside, then it's back to the Visitor Centre to rejoin the LR path towards Sutton Cheney.

From the path to Sutton Cheney

The path leads to a car park, from where we turn right into the village. The church tower, with its brick extension is soon visible.

Church of St James, Sutton Cheney which dates from the 14th century

Modern memorial erected by the Society of Richard III

17th century almshouses, Sutton Cheney

The village has two pubs - we chose to eat in the Royal Arms, where there are plenty of historical pictures and information.  It's a welcoming place, even though the basic sandwiches are a little expensive.  

Looking Glass Pond, near Mkt Bosworth

The LR path goes northwest from the car park, over a stile and across a field.  The path is easy enough to follow, with the help of the map and guide.  We have no problems, as we walk past Looking Glass Pond and before long we can see Bosworth Hall ahead. We go past Bow Pool on our way to the Country Park car park.

Map and details

Hardwick-Sywell-Mears Ashby-Hardwick

Mon, 2013 Mar 11 9:41 AM Western European Time 

Led by Barry. With me, Gordon and Maureen. Cold weather, strong wind. sunny at times. almost 9 miles in all.

One of those shall we /shan't we days.  Snow flurrying about, car windscreen and doors iced up, but the promise of sunshine too.   No more than a few minutes behind schedule we set off to Hardwick and parked near the church.  

Into the teeth of the icy blast - after five minutes, I decided I needed my waterproof-windproof layer on top of the three I already had. 

We headed north along the road out of the village, and when the road bends to the right, we took a footpath to the left.  It leads to the opposite corner of the first field, and then across the next field. We ended up slightly too far over and had to walk back a few yards to the gap in the hedge, and footbridge over the stream.

The route across the next field was clearer, and at the next hedge we turned left following the field boundary west, past one hedge, then across another field. We met a bridleway, and turned to the left, going south. 

As we reached the minor road near Hardwick Lodge, we were greeted by barking dogs - in an enclosed area.  The easier path here turns more or less west down the lane and skirts the grounds of this house and others.

We turned southwest to meet the corner of Hardwick Short Wood, and followed the edge of this wood, and then Sywell Wood.  After passing Wood Lodge Farm we met the Sywell Road, going past Sywell Airport and Aviation Museum.

Exhibit 'A'

Exhibit 'B'

Exhibit 'C'

Barry had half promised us there'd be a coffee shop, but apart from the Aviator Hotel, we saw none.

Just before the main village we took a path to the left, walked for a short distance along the road and then turned left again, and slightly uphill.  At the top of this field there was a seat, but we preferred to choose a more sheltered spot on the other side of the trees - not quite the comfort of a café but not bad in the sunshine. 

Onward and down to the stream, then up again and across to Mears Ashby. 

How about this for a guard dog? No need for walkies, either.

Along the road east as far as Highfield Road, we turned left and then along a footpath heading north.  This continued over farmland, then across the Wellingborough to Sywell Road, then more farmland.  Some of the fields were pretty sticky, even though there was still ice on top of the puddles.

Almost done!

We crossed another path, but carried on north before the path turned slightly northeast and back into Hardwick, past a farm,  and a few houses. We turned  right and were back at the car.  Cold, muddy in places, but satisfying.

Map and details of walk - part 1

Part 2

The map is in two parts - technical "issues". 

Fosse Meadows -Frolesworth-Claybrooke-High Cross- Fosse Meadows

Thu, 2013 Mar 7 10:03 AM Western European Time 

Led by me, with Barry, Gordon and Maureen. Weather misty, some light drizzle. Muddy underfoot. Just over 7 miles.

A lot of this route is on the Leicestershire Round.  Most of it is the same as last Friday's walk, but walked in reverse.  

Today has not been the most tempting weather for walking. Indeed it wouldn't have taken much for me to roll over and stay put in my bed.  
Drizzle on the windscreen as we drive over to Fosse Meadows near Sharnford.  Drizzle threatening to turn to rain when we get out of the car persuades me to drag my waterproof out of my bag.  On the positive side, not much wind, and warm once we start moving.  It's not difficult to pick up the Leicestershire Round footpath near the car park - we head  along the path through the children's playground, and a few hundred yards along the path we turn right.  

We keep the woods on our left - and pass a few labels - dragonfly, pheasant and hazel.  We have to go through a very muddy gap in the hedge, and on our right, half way along the next field is another waymarker. This is where we leave the Leics Round for the moment. Our path turns a sharp right - running almost south-east.  Waymarkers are obvious and easy to follow, and when we hit a minor road there's a sign - Footpath to Frolesworth 1 mile.  It really is just a question of following the yellow wood signs, slightly up hill, past fields with horses to Manor Farm, and into Frolesworth.   There's a large pond over to the right, and downhill.

Here we walk along the road as far as White Cottage, where we turn right, heading south,  at the Leicestershire Round sign - through a gate and along a track to the next gate.  The path veers left across a field to another yellow post.   From one post to another uphill past Hill Farm, and round its fields, marked all the way.  We arrive at Frolesworth Lane, cross it, and cross a fairly big field, then turn right along the field edge to the footbridge at Claybrooke Mill.  Our path goes south west and comes out at the edge of Claybrooke Magna.  We turn right to walk along the road for a few yards before turning left to a footpath going due south. This comes out near Claybrooke Hall, in Claybrooke Parva.

We pass the twisted tree, and the primary school and follow signs past Midsummer Barn. At this point the sign points slightly to the right across the mud. The easier route is to walk along the hedge on our left to the point where it turns left. Here there is evidence of a path of sorts heading off diagonally to the right, towards another marker.  This is where the Leicestershire Round crosses a footbridge, and where we wandered slightly off track last Friday, when we met the Parish Walks path.

It's all very easy now we know how!  We head across the fields, led by the markers.  We take a short break in a sheltered spot, then carry on to the (alleged) centre of England.

They say it's the centre of England!

Lions guard High Cross House

Photos are taken, the Latin is not deciphered - too much ancient graffiti and erosion.  We turn along the Fosse Way and walk steadily down hill for a good mile and a half, and at the point where the track becomes road, our path goes through the fields and before long we arrive back at the car park.

Bird hide in Fosse Meadows Park, designed by Yr 5 and 6 of Sharnford Primary School 2006

Map and details of walk

Leics Round 4: Sharnford to Barwell

Tue, 2013 Mar 5 10:03 AM Western European Time 

With Marta. Sunny day, started chill, but warmed up. Very little wind. We took our time. Way clear, mud near gates, otherwise good underfoot. Very flat. 7 miles.

A magical misty drive over to Barwell - if a little longer than I expected.  The day turned into the most glorious warm spring-like day so far this year.

Our starting point in Sharnford

We set off from our parking spot on the back lane behind the garage, turn left along the main road, then cross over and walk past the 'no entry' sign. When we reach Aston Lane, we turn left after Ivy House, and follow the Leics Round markers across fields to a track and a gate on the corner of Lychgate Lane. We divert into Aston Flamville , which is a small picturesque village with manor house, a 1715 dovecote and St Peter’s Church.

We took the footpath on the left just after these gates, on Aston Lane

This is where we left the Leicestershire Round for a visit to Aston Flamville.

Aston Flamville's restored dovecot, originally built in 1715

 

The sunny sheltered side of the church at Aston F.  We had a short break on the sunny bench.

This world's a City full of crooked Streets,
Death is the Market-place where all men meet
If Life was Merchandise that men could buy
the rich would only live, the poor might die

A sign of spring

We go back along Lychgate Lane, and cross the M69 via a bridge. Today it's quiet - there's been an accident just up the road. Later I find out that two people have been injured, but their injuries are not life-threatening. I think the helicopter we saw a little earlier must have been the air ambulance.

Some of the Aston Alpacas we saw just before the bridge over the M69

Once over the bridge our path is alongside the motorway for a couple of hundred yards, before heading off across country once more. We meet a lone walker heading in the opposite direction.

The signs are clear, and the yellow marker posts have recently been repainted. Our only slight wander off track is at one point, just over three miles in, on my garmin map, where we can see a yellow post a couple of fields away and head straight for it, only to discover we can't get through the hedge. It's easy , if slightly irritating, to find the correct path.
From here it's straightforward to the edge of Burbage. We decide not to visit today, but walk left along Sherborne Road, turn right along Salisbury Road, then right along Winchester Drive, and cross the Sapcote Road to pick up the public footpath.
The sign tells us the path goes to Burbage Woods and Common and this is easy to follow. With the Woods on our right we make our way to the railway bridge.

It's a little tricky here - which yellow marker do we follow? To make things more complicated the golf course appears to be using yellow topped posts to mark out fairways - I think. We keep to the side of Sheepy Wood, then head across the Common, or a bit of the golf course.  We're trying to make for the visitor centre, and with the help of the map and a bit of luck we are not challenged until we are within a couple of yards of a LR sign.  The path takes us to the main road, and we turn right to walk along the pavement for a couple of hundred yards, as far as the visitor centre. Today it's closed, and there's a truck cleaning out what smells like a septic tank. We don't hang around for too long.

Back to cross the busyish road, and we have no problems following the markers to Barwell Lane, round the right hand side of a house, then left along the lane. We could miss the turn to the right, but today we have most of our wits about us, and arrive at Barwell with no problems, other than the muddy gateway that's saved itself for our last treat of the day, just before we emerge into Barwell itself.

Finally we make our way through the village, pausing to grab a sandwich at the Red Lion, and then it's back to the car and we have a bit more of the Round under our - in my case, slightly over-dressed today - belts.

Map and details

Eyebrook circuit

Mon, 2013 Mar 4 9:30 AM Western European Time

Led by Mel. Maureen, Gordon, Norma, Chris and Marion, Chris, Phil, Steph, Terry and me. Sunny and not too cold. A bit muddy in the woods.

We set off from the parking space by the reservoir downhill from Stoke Dry and walked along the road, then round the track past the fishing lodge and the dam.

Coffee break taken on the wall near the fishing lodge.  Then lunch at the café in Cottingham.

A very pleasant sociable wander on a fine Monday morning.



Map and details of walk

Leics Round 3 - turns into Frolesworth circular

Fri, 2013 Mar 1 9:30 AM Western European Time 

With Marta. Section 3 Leics Round + a bit. Pleasant weather not warm, not sunny, not cold, not muddy. 9.3 miles, including detour for pub lunch at Claybrooke Magna.

Another grey day, slightly damp to start with.  I drive over to Sharnford, and manage to squeeze my car into a parking space, then hop into Marta’s car and make for Frolesworth.

We find the sign for the Leicestershire Round and walk along the track, then miss the next sign completely.  OK, we haven’t seen each other for three months and there’s a lot to catch up on, but we really ought to keep our eyes open.

The long and short of it is that we miss the clearly marked route, and head off west rather than south.  It doesn’t even register when we reach Fosse Meadows Park, which I know is near Sharnford.   We think we’re doing fine when we see Leicestershire Round signs, and follow them happily – emerging in Sharnford.  We’ve walked two miles or so. 

Good job we decided to do a short walk today. No problem – we’ll retrace our steps and pick up the route in the opposite direction from the one we first thought of.

Fosse Meadows has a car park and picnic tables, and is a popular dog-walkers’ venue.  By the time we get back there we declare coffee time.  It doesn’t take long to chill today, so we walk out to the road which is unsuitable for motors – this is the old Fosse Way and takes us right up to High Cross – the point where the Fosse Way and Watling Street (the A5) meet.  It’s also supposed to be the Centre of England. Interesting article on the link - 

There's a fair amount of info on here.  

This monument was erected in 1712 by the Denbigh Family "in grateful as well as perpetual rememberance of peace, at length restored by Her Majesty Queen Anne 1712" It is Grade II listed and was struck by lightning in 1791.

The Latin inscription translates as 'If Traveller, you seek for the footsteps of the ancient Romans, here you may behold them, for here their most celebrated ways, crossing each other, extend to the utmost bourne'

We’re still following the LR markers without any problems until we reach a footbridge over a stream. The marker is there, and there’s a well trodden path across the field leading slightly to the right. We follow – who wouldn’t?  The next marker has no LR symbol, but instead says “Parish Walks”. Suspicious. Hmm Sherlock, what d’you reckon?  It’s as well we know other people have got lost around here.  Serious discussion, consulting of maps, working out that the A5 looks altogether too close.  We hesitate – go forwards, back, turn left? After a couple of false starts we turn left along the field edge, and eventually find another LR sign, near a house called Midsummer Barn.  From here the markers are clear – all the way to Claybrooke Parva school.   We rescue a football, which the kids have ejected from the playground.   An eight or nine-year-old asks us “Are you explorers?”  “Sure thing” I reply. 

Then a right turn along the road, past a twisted tree in a field and we pick up the path again. 

 At Claybrooke Magna we detour for a few hundred yards to the  Pig in Muck pub. We leave our mucky boots outside.   The pub does a decent baguette with salad and chips, plus tea or coffee for around £7. There are plenty of customers today.

We make our way back to the route. It is beautifully marked, and takes us past Hill Farm. There is a row of freshly painted yellow posts here.  The man who's just painted them shouts to warn us of wet paint!  There's no way we can go  wrong here.  Magic!  It continues like this all the way to Frolesworth, and we can’t understand how we missed seeing the markers this morning!  We look back and the route is really clear.

Map and details of the walk