All Sunday walks start with a gathering at Fleckney Village car park (///loses.always.huts) at 9:30 a.m.
Welham, Stonton Wyville, Glooston, Stonton Wyville, Welham
by John Broadhead
UPDATE: THE 6.5 MILE WALK WILL TAKE PLACE REGARDLESS, THE LONGER WALK IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST!
Ladies and gentlemen, lace up your walking boots and prepare for an adventure that promises history, breathtaking views, and a sprinkle of humour to keep those spirits high! Our esteemed (?) Chair has graciously volunteered to lead us from the charming village of Welham. We’ll park along Slawston Road (///lotteries.scored.discouraged), conveniently close to The Old Red Lion pub (///modifies.flexed.grills). Fear not, thirsty travellers; we’ll quench our thirst there upon our return.
Departure from Welham
As we set off, we’ll leave The Old Red Lion behind—but only temporarily. Our journey begins along Bowden Lane, where we’ll soon veer right onto Thorpe Langton Road. When the road curves left, we’ll pass through a gate onto a bridleway that beckons us uphill. Embrace the ascent, for at the summit, you’ll conquer Langton Caudle, standing proudly at 480 feet above sea level. While it may rank as the 16,800th highest peak in the British Isles, let’s celebrate it as number one in our hearts today!
Descent to Stonton Wyville
Our path then leads us downhill via the Leicestershire Round until we reach a permissive track at the base. Turning right, we’ll head toward the quaint village of Stonton Wyville, crossing Cranoe Road en route. Although these roads are typically tranquil, do stay alert for any unexpected traffic. Historically, Stonton Wyville boasted two mills and the Fox and Hounds Inn, now a farm. Alas, time changes all.
Onward to Glooston
Parting from the Leicestershire Round, we’ll traverse Stonton Wyville and proceed to Glooston—a village that, like many, has seen its pub, The Old Barn (formerly the Bluebell Inn), transformed into a residence. Along the way, we have a choice: the adventurous among us can opt for an “extra mile” by ascending the mound north of Glooston, reaching the walk’s pinnacle at 500 feet. Alternatively, a more leisurely path skirts around Stonton Wood.
Return Journey
Both routes converge in Glooston, where we’ll head due southwest along the Leicestershire Round back to Stonton Wyville. Retracing our steps briefly, we’ll then choose a gentler path around Langton Caudle, rejoining the Leicestershire Round. Though Thorpe Langton lies a mere quarter-mile away, we’ll resist its allure and instead ascend the Caudle once more before descending back into Welham.
The Grand Finale
Upon our return, The Old Red Lion awaits as our designated pub stop. Reflect on our nearly ten-mile journey (eleven for the intrepid souls who took the extra mile), complete with a few stiles and rewarding undulations. Remember, while 500 feet might sound daunting, we began at over 200 feet—so give yourselves a hearty pat on the back!
A Glimpse into Welham’s Past
Before we conclude, a tidbit about Welham: this village predates the Norman conquest. In 1678, the first known bridge across the River Welland was erected here. Initially a private passage for Old Hall residents, it eventually welcomed the public, especially when the ford became impassable. Today, Welham remains a testament to history’s enduring presence.
Thank you for joining this delightful journey through Leicestershire’s picturesque landscapes and rich histories. Here’s to many more miles and memories together!
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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