Sunday March 16, 2025 09:30

 

Fleckney, Arnesby, Peatling Magna, Shearsby

Leader: John Broadhead

As usual, we’ll gather at the village car park (///loses.always.huts) by 9.30 a.m., ready to embark on another adventure—boots laced, snacks packed, and enthusiasm somewhere between “raring to go” and “still half asleep.”

From the car park, we’ll make our way to Kilby Road and take the footpath through the field, which leads to the well-trodden bridleway favoured by the Weekday Walkers. Shortly after the track bears left to join Arnesby Road, a footpath heads directly towards Arnesby. This is our footpath of choice—bold, direct, and hopefully not too muddy. However, a more scenic (or possibly less boot-swallowing) route skirts around the field. At the last field before Arnesby, the footpath is supposed to go diagonally across, though any visible evidence of this may be purely theoretical. Instead, the well-used track carries on past the farm entrance, and many walkers (both two-legged and four-pawed) opt for this instead.

Once we reach Arnesby Road—by whatever means necessary—we’ll perform the delicate art of crossing the always-busy A5199 without losing any members of the group. Then, it’s a quick hop over a stile and onward towards the heart of Arnesby, where we take a right, then a left, to seek out the infamous windmill. Built in 1815, it is a Grade II listed building. It was extensively restored around 1976 and stands as a prominent landmark in the village.

We’ll follow the footpath past the playing fields before tackling two stiles to cross the entrance to the mill. From here, our path takes us all the way to Peatling Magna. There are a few more stiles along the way—because, let’s face it, no walk is complete without an obstacle course. Curiously, the route seems to take a scenic detour to The Cock Inn before looping back past All Saints Church. A navigational anomaly, or a subtle hint that a strategic lunch/coffee/beer stop might be in order? We’ll let democracy decide.

In 1265, the villagers of Peatling Magna found themselves in a medieval showdown worthy of a Monty Python sketch. After the Battle of Evesham, they boldly refused to cooperate with the victorious royal forces, accusing them of acting “against the welfare of the community of the realm.” This act of defiance led to a legal fracas, with the village representatives summoned to court. It’s a classic tale of the little guy standing up to authority—pitchforks and all!

After this brief (?) stop, we pick up the footpath heading southeast to Shearsby. The little red flags on the map suggest we have another three stiles to conquer before reaching our next destination. Consider it a warm-up for any future Olympic hurdling ambitions.

Upon reaching Shearsby, we have the option to finish the rest of our lunch in the park near The Chandler’s Arms. Given the distance covered, it would be downright rude not to pop into the local hostelry. The Chandler’s Arms is a lively little pub serving a fine selection of local ales. While primarily a “drinker’s pub,” it also keeps itself busy serving up some good food—so we may have to exercise some willpower to continue the walk instead of settling in for the afternoon.

The Shearsby windmill has its own dramatic history. In December 1836, miller John Wylde met an untimely end when a sudden gust slammed a door into him, causing fatal injuries. The mill seems to have been a magnet for mishaps, as earlier, in 1782, young Thomas Weston was tragically “catched up in the mill.” It’s a reminder that even picturesque windmills have their dark tales.

The final stretch of our walk follows the Leicestershire Round, leading us past Rowley Fields Farm and onward to Fleckney Road. Stalwarts will carry on along the Round before looping back via the footpath to the west of the village, while the more comfort-inclined walkers will take the direct route along Arnesby Road and Main Street—arriving at The Golden Shield that little bit sooner.

The walk flirts with the 10-mile mark but is a relatively easy-going affair—nothing too gruelling, just a few gentle undulations to keep things interesting and a generous helping of stiles to keep us on our toes (or at least test our flexibility). Thankfully, the chosen route steers us clear of the worst of the countryside’s current mud-bath offerings, so with any luck, we won’t need snorkels or rescue teams to retrieve lost boots along the way.

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.
These generally start and end at a not-too-distant village pub!
We meet at the village car park, by 7 p.m. (///loses.always.huts).

In the event of a walk being cancelled due to inclement weather (or any other reason) 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.

RSVP deadline is past

Event Types: Sunday Walk

Sunday March 30, 2025 09:30

 

Aylestone Meadows and Abbey Park

Leader: Daft Dave

All Sunday walks start with a gathering at Fleckney Village car park (///loses.always.huts) at 9:30 a.m.

Due to a delightful twist of fate—also known as unforeseen events—our originally planned walk has taken a scenic detour. But fear not, for our very own Daft Dave has gallantly stepped up to lead us on an adventurous escapade from Ayleston Meadows!

Now, describing our walk is a bit like trying to find a single crumb in a biscuit tin. There’s not much to say other than it’s as flat as a pancake, free from stiles, and mercifully devoid of mud. Perfect for those of us who prefer our footwear pristine!

For those driving, we’d recommend parking on Narrow Lane (just follow the coordinates: ///dash.amused.spill), which you can reach via Lutterworth Road, Marsden Lane, and Sanvey Lane. Once parked, it’s a breezy jaunt along Narrow Lane past The Black Horse (where you can think about a pint later), take a right onto Sanvey Lane, then onto Marsden Lane. Over the lovely old Packhorse Bridge we go! Be sure to admire the explanatory plaque:

“The bridge crosses the River Soar and is part of an ancient route across the river, consisting of a causeway as well as a bridge. The bridge has eight arches separated by a series of cutwaters, with three refuges so that people could pass. The structure is believed to date from the 15th century, but it most certainly replaced an earlier structure and probably lies close to an earlier ford. Packhorse bridges were common features from the medieval period until the 18th century. Before the era of paved roads improved river navigations and canals, the best way of transporting bulky goods was using strings of packhorses. The horses carried goods on their backs and were unlikely to get bogged down in the muddy roads of this period.”

Perhaps it’s time to bring back the packhorses! Imagine the sight of them trotting by, all shimmery and regal!

As we stroll, the River Stour meanders like a friendly snake around Aylestone Meadows before transforming into the Grand Union Canal. It’s worth a chuckle that this fantastic waterway was originally built as four separate canals—only a few savvy folks know that little nugget of trivia! Fancy delving deeper? You can explore the history of the Leicester Line over on the Canal & River Trust website. Just a heads up, there’s quite a bit of building work along the route, and sadly, some of our beloved old buildings are being replaced with ahem cosy living spaces. It seems progress has a fondness for tiny homes!

Onwards we go, passing awe-inspiring landmarks like the King Power Stadium, De Montfort University, and the magnificent Leicester Cathedral. You might even spot a few intrepid oarspeople gliding up and down the river/canal, and if you have a penchant for swan-spotting, you’re in for a treat! The closer you get to the city, the more graceful swans will waddle by, putting on quite the show.

After waving goodbye to our watery friends at Abbey Lane Bridge (No. 6), we shall venture into the park that houses the enchanting ruins of the abbey, dating back to 1143—a piece of history that’s just waiting to be discovered on the Leicester City Council website. And speaking of breaks, there’s a splendid café in the park that serves coffee strong enough to wake the most slumberous of souls!

Once we’ve caffeinated and stretched our legs a bit, we’ll retrace our steps. After all, who wants to slog through less interesting streets when we can saunter along our beloved pathways? We’ll exit via West Bridge (No. 1) and head past The Venue onto the Great Central Way, which follows the former Great Central Railway—a line that opened in 1899, connecting London to Sheffield, but sadly fell silent in 1966.

Before we know it, we’ll find ourselves once more on the other side of Aylestone Meadows and back at the charming Packhorse Bridge. From there, it’s simply a repeat performance as we meander back to The Black Horse on Narrow Lane (///rainy.parts.rests), which is the perfect venue for a well-deserved pub stop.

Let’s lace up those walking boots, grab our sense of adventure, and enjoy a day of historical charm and laughter!

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.
These generally start and end at a not-too-distant village pub!
We meet at the village car park, by 7 p.m. (///loses.always.huts).

In the event of a walk being cancelled due to inclement weather (or any other reason) 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.

RSVP deadline is past

Event Types: Sunday Walk