All Sunday walks start with a gathering at Fleckney Village car park (///loses.always.huts) at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Stroll to the Foxton Locks Canal Festival – With Boats, Banter, and a Bit of History Thrown In
If you can’t make it to the grand Saturday flotilla from Market Harborough, fret not! Sunday offers another cracking opportunity to join the fun at Foxton Locks – a celebration that’s part of the IWA Harborough 75 event, marking 75 years since the very first Inland Waterways Association Festival of Boats and Arts floated its way into history right here in Market Harborough back in 1950.
This year’s festivities promise a right knees-up at the top of the famous Foxton flight, with a flotilla of historic and lovingly spruced-up boats, floating traders selling everything from fudge to fancy soaps, live music to tickle your ears, and enough food stalls to make your belt whimper. It’s a glorious way to toast both the past and present of our canals – once vital arteries of industry, now charming ribbons of leisure and community.
Our Sunday walk begins in Fleckney, winds up Smeeton Hill (yes, it’s a bit of a puff, but we’ll call it a warm-up), then ambles over to the picturesque village of Gumley – a spot whose roots go back to the Domesday Book and which once hosted royal councils during Saxon times. How’s that for a historical detour?
From Gumley, we descend to the canal – that old Victorian engineering marvel – and on to Foxton Locks itself. You can almost hear the ghostly echoes of boatmen shouting instructions, their narrowboats laden with coal and cargo. Today, though, it’s more about ice cream, accordions, and admiring the paintwork on someone’s lovingly restored 70-footer.
The festivities will be taking place in the event field at the top of the locks – an ideal spot to soak in the atmosphere, watch the world (and the boats) go by, and perhaps pick up a quirky handmade trinket or two.
On the way back, we’ll make a well-earned pitstop at The Shoulder of Mutton in Foxton village – a fine old pub where we can “wet our whistles” and perhaps raise a glass to the navvies and lock-keepers of old. Then it’s a gentle, canal-side wander back along the towpath – nice and flat for weary legs and full bellies.
A few practical notes:
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The walk is roughly 9.5 miles, with a bit of undulation at the start but nothing too alarming. There are a few stiles, but they’re all friendly ones.
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Many traders on the day may not be able to accept card payments, so bring along a few coins and notes to avoid disappointment – especially if your heart is set on a pork pie or a piece of canalware pottery.
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Parking at the event is available for around £3 per car if you’re meeting others there.
So dust off those walking boots, bring a friend, and come join us for a day of fresh air, fine views, and festival fun. Whether you’re in it for the history, the hike, or just the hope of finding a good slice of cake – there’s something for everyone.
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.)
RSVP deadline is past