Saddington, Debdale, Smeeton Westerby
Leader: Phil Williams
Route map
As usual, we will meet at Fleckney village car park (///loses.always.huts) by 9.30 a.m.
Keeping it local, I’ve stitched together sections of previous walks. Challenging in parts, but mainly easy-going.
We begin this adventure by leaving the car park and heading towards the charming village of Saddington. Traverse through the Persimmon estate, then pick up The Leicestershire Round as it meanders through picturesque fields. This path has been delightfully dry lately, but beware—it turns into a muddy challenge with the slightest hint of rain!
Cross the bustling Kibworth Road with care, and continue on The Leicestershire Round until you reach Bakehouse Lane. Here, pause to admire the newly thatched roof of a quaint cottage—a nod to traditional craftsmanship that has adorned English homes for centuries. Continue your journey across Main Street and descend into the horsey fields, where the rural beauty envelops you.
Next, we navigate down to Saddington Brook and cross the historic canal feeder. Prepare yourself for the steep ascent of Saddington Hill—a local landmark steeped in history. Though the climb is short, the panoramic view from the top is worth every step, offering a perfect spot to catch your breath and soak in the landscape.
After a brief respite, follow the Round to Smeeton Gorse, a site where the undulating fields stretch out before you. This is the perfect spot to take in sweeping views of the countryside and rest on a nearby seat if needed.
The journey continues as we descend a steep slope. Typically, we’d take the path directly at the bottom, but today, we venture left off The Leicestershire Round, embracing a less steep route that meanders around Gumley. Cross Gumley Road and navigate through a series of stiles and foxholes, a reminder of the area’s rich agricultural past.
Arrive at Debdale Lane and turn left, strolling approximately 400 metres (a quarter of a mile in old money!) before picking up the footpath past Debdale Grange, locally known as the White House. Follow the path to Bridge 68 and cross the canal, immersing yourself in the historic canal networks that once fuelled the region’s industrial growth.
For those seeking a shorter trek, simply cross the stile and traverse a series of fields until you reach Debdale Lane, turning left into Smeeton Westerby. The more adventurous among us will follow the towpath to Debdale Wharf, then turn left onto Debdale Lane, leading to Smeeton Westerby. Here, indulge in a well-deserved rest at The King’s Head, a local pub brimming with character, for a hearty chinwag and a refreshing beverage.
Rejuvenated, we set off along Mill Lane, cross the busy Kibworth Road with caution, and venture into Millenium Wood. Listen for the rhythmic drumming of woodpeckers and watch out for the occasional muddy patch. Cross the bridge and traverse the ridge and furrow fields, relics of medieval farming practices, before returning to Fleckney.
This captivating walk spans just over 7.5 miles (12 kilometres in new money!) and features three stiles along with a range of delightful undulations as described above. Prepare for an enriching journey through both history and scenic beauty!
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 (Sundays and Thursdays) or £5 (Thursdays only) payable on your first walk.
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.)