All Sunday walks start with a gathering at Fleckney Village car park (///loses.always.huts) at 9:30 a.m.
Aylestone Meadows and Abbey Park
by Dave Stanley
🚶♂️ A Meander Through Time (and Towpaths)
This is a lovely, easy, stile-free walk on the edge of the city—ideal for stretching your legs without testing your knees. No scrambling over stiles, no puzzling over directions—just good company, flat paths, and a few surprises along the way.
🅿️ Parking Options
Preferred parking is at the bottom end of Narrow Lane (///ruled.rats.trades), but if it’s already packed with eager ramblers, there’s a free car park on Marsden Lane (///await.priced.cared). Either way, you won’t need a Sherpa to find us.
🍻 Meeting Point
We’ll gather at The Black Horse (///dime.hint.menu)—a proper red-brick pub with classic grub and the occasional musical interlude. If you arrive early, you might even spot the ghost of a Victorian barmaid (or just the landlord setting up the chairs).
🧭 Setting Off
We head west-ish, past the aforementioned car park, and join the towpath beside the River Soar. If the river’s on your left and the sports ground isn’t, congratulations—you’ve invented a new route. Otherwise, enjoy the gentle meander as the Soar joins the Grand Union Canal, once the watery motorway between London and the Midlands. Barges may be slower than trains, but they rarely derail.
🏛️ Into the City
As we stroll into Leicester’s heart, we pass university buildings and the cathedral—both worth a tiptoe glance if you’re vertically challenged. Keep an eye out for Black Friars on the right and Frog Island on the left. No actual friars or frogs guaranteed, but the names alone are worth the walk.
🌳 Abbey Park Pit Stop
Abbey Park offers a welcome pause: explore the gardens, grab a cuppa, and—most importantly—locate the loos. The café’s outdoor seating is perfect for pretending you’re in a Jane Austen novel, minus the corsets and carriage.
🔁 Return Journey
We retrace our steps along the towpath, this time with Frog Island on the right and Black Friars on the left—proof that you’re not walking in circles. After the double bridge (A47 and A47X, for those who collect road numbers), we veer off to follow the Old River Soar through Bede Park, where ducks and joggers compete for path space.
🚂 Great Central Way Finale
We join the Great Central Way, tracing the ghost of the Great Central Main Line (opened in 1899, closed in 1966—thanks, Beeching). Once a proud link between Sheffield and London, it’s now a peaceful green corridor through the meadows. We cross Baunstone Lane East, then the River Soar, and finally turn into Marsden Lane for a triumphant return to The Black Horse.
🍺 Post-Walk Refreshment
Back at the pub, reward yourself with something cold, something hot, or something deep-fried. You’ve earned it.
📏 Distance
We clocked just over nine miles on the recce, but it’s so flat and friendly it felt more like six or seven. Either way, your feet will thank you—and your pedometer might send a thank-you card.
The minutes of the 2025 A.G.M
and the Agenda for the 2026 A.G.M.
(7 p.m. at the Golden Shield on 22nd January)
can be found HERE
General information:
The Fleckney Walking Club meet every other Sunday for a walk of about 6 to 9 miles with a pub stop somewhere along the route.
What3Words is used to pinpoint start and other relevant locations for the walks.
We leave Fleckney village car park at 9:30 a.m. (///loses.always.huts).
For these walks you are advised to wear good quality walking boots and carry weatherproof clothing.
We suggest you also bring refreshments as a coffee stop and/or a picnic stop is also usually on the cards.
For those who are car sharing to walks outside of Fleckney, passengers are requested to subsidise their driver by the amount of 20p per mile (one way). For example, if the start of the walk was 10 miles from Fleckney the fee would be 10 x 20p = £2.
If you fancy leading a walk, there are plenty of ideas for walks here.
During the summer months we also have Thursday evening walks of about 4 to 5 miles in length.
This year the majority of the walks will be local ones, no transport required.
We meet at the village car park, by 7 p.m. (///loses.always.huts).
In the event of a walk being cancelled for any reason (usually weather) the walk leader will communicate the cancellation to club members by email and be at the start meeting point to advise anyone who turned up regardless.
The annual cost to join the Fleckney Walking Club is £10 for the Sunday Walks, or £5 to be a Social Member. Thursday Evening Walks are completely FREE.
You can find The Fleckney Walking Club Group on Facebook. This is a private group but you are welcome to apply to join us.
If you would like to join this walk then please fill out the form below and press the Submit button.
(If you are reading this message in an email, please click on the RSVP Now! button directly below to take you to the form.)
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