The Bluebell Walk (Ratby and Groby)
Leader: Kathy Kilsby
All Sunday walks start with a gathering at Fleckney Village car park (///loses.always.huts) at 9:30 a.m.
Kathy will be leading us through the Bluebells from Ratby.
Get ready for a thrilling adventure through some of the most enchanting landscapes around! We’ll kick things off by parking at the top left of The Plough car park (///cloud.deed.curl), then follow a peaceful lane to the Burroughs Wood car park. Once there, we’ll step into a wonderland of towering trees and vibrant carpets of Bluebells—picture yourself strolling through a living sea of color!
As we lose ourselves in the magical, ancient woodlands, we’ll meander eastward toward Martinshaw Woods, with our guide leading the way. There’s a sense of mystery here, because our leader loves to take the path less traveled, sometimes venturing far beyond the marked footpaths. Who knows where this adventure might lead us on Sunday? The thrill of the unknown awaits!
As we journey onward, we’ll cross the A50 into Groby and explore the lush beauty of Lady Hay Wood, before making our way up to the outskirts of Newtown Linford. From there, we’ll loop back, skirting around Sheet Hedges Wood, passing the serene Groby Pool, and strolling through the Dowry Furlong Wildlife Area—this meadow is a secret haven for a rich diversity of plants. If we’re feeling adventurous, we might even venture over to the site of the ancient Motte & Bailey Castle, built in the late 11th century by Hugh de Grantmesnil. You can practically feel the history beneath your feet as you walk around the remains of the stone keep, once perched on solid bedrock.
By now, we’ll have worked up a bit of a thirst, so it’s time to treat ourselves to a well-earned refreshment stop at the Stamford Arms (///folds.raft.snack). This welcoming pub has been a community staple since it was transformed from William Everard’s house in 1921. You’ll love the cozy atmosphere as we recharge for the second half of our adventure.
Our route back to Ratby takes us along Ratby Road, with a tempting detour through the charming Cowpen Spinney and a stretch of old railway track that winds around the cemetery. This is where the magic of the past and present collide in the most beautiful way.
The entire walk spans between 8 and 9 miles, with gentle undulations and no stiles to climb, making it accessible to everyone. A bit of mud is always part of the fun, so if you’ve got walking poles, bring them along for extra stability!
Join us for this unforgettable walk—an experience full of natural beauty, hidden history, and the kind of fun you can only get when you wander off the beaten path!
Bluebell factoids:
- Bluebells are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.
- Bluebells flower from mid-April to late May
- They are under threat from habitat destruction, hybridization, and illegal trade.
- It is illegal to dig up the plants or bulbs, remove and sell bluebells from landowners’ land, or trade and sell wild bluebell bulbs and seeds.
- Bluebells have bell-shaped flowers with rolled-up tips, typically a deep violet-blue, but can also be pink or white.
- White-flowered English bluebells are a genetic mutation of the bulb and are very rare.
- They have relatively narrow leaves, around 1–1.5cm wide.
- They are bulbous perennials, flowering in late spring and in leaf during spring and summer.
- Bluebells are woodland flowers, thriving in the rich, undisturbed soils of long-established woods, making them indicators of ancient woodlands.
- The UK is home to more than half the world’s population of bluebells.
- They are also known as “fairy flowers”, “witches’ thimbles” and “cuckoo’s boots”.
- Bluebells attract many pollinating insects and provide food for them.
- Their presence is a sign of old, undisturbed woodland.
- There are countless folklore tales surrounding bluebells.
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.
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.)