Wistow Top Lock, (A Good Place for a Picnic)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
lC Turn left along Glen Road and take the first road on li After 1200m leave the track, turning right towards the left, The Square. At the end of the road continue Kilby, a small village with a population of under 300. across the field to the Lock Keeper’s Cottage at Newton Cross the fields to a farmyard, passing through it to reach Wistow Top Lock, (a good place for a picnic). the road. Turn right along the road and after 250m take This leaflet is one of a series produced to promote lD Turn left along the canal towpath, passing under the footpath on the left. circular walking throughout the county. You can obtain Wistow Newton Bridge (No. 80). On the right you will glimpse lii Cross at the public footpath sign to Newton Harcourt. others in the series by visiting your local library or St Luke’s Church as you continue along the canal bank The footpath crosses a footbridge over the River Sence Tourist Information Centre. You can also order them circular to go under the next bridge (High Bridge No.79). On and passes through fields, and along a track. Just before by phone or from our website. 3 walks this stretch you will get good views towards Wistow. 1 3 reaching the Harcourt Stud a path leads left to the canal 1 4 ⁄2kms/2 ⁄4 miles At the next bridge (No. 78) you need to leave the and follows it to the road. 2 9kms/6 miles towpath and cross over the canal to follow the footpath iii 1 l Turn left at the road and cross the bridge over the 3 7kms/4 ⁄2 miles across the fields to St Wistan’s Church. Turn right at the canal before joining the towpath. road to return to car park. The locks along this stretch were 1 9km (6 miles), allow 2 ⁄2 hours, built in the 1790’s and renovated walk 2: gentle undulating countryside in the 1870’s but have been P Wistow Rural Centre constantly maintained since those From the entrance of the car park turn right and walk times. along the road for 450m past Wistow Hall and take Follow the towpath to the Lock the footpath left at the side of the church. Go over the Keeper’s Cottage at Newton Top bridge beyond the church and continue straight towards Lock and return to Wistow car the Grand Union Canal. Join the towpath, go under the park as described in Walk 1 from bridge and continue along the canal bank. point D l1 At Crane’s Lock cross the canal and continue on the footpath to reach the road. Cross over and continue Walks 2 and 3 can be combined along the footpath to reach another road at Fleckney. to make a longer walk of 10km 1 Turn left and right at the mini roundabout into Kilby Road (6 ⁄2 miles), allow 3 hours. (for the shops and public houses of Fleckney bear left). l2 Turn right into the enclosed path opposite Wolsey The routes are clearly marked with bold, yellow Close and continue across Highfields Street, passing a topped waymarker posts and waymarker discs with the Parish Walks symbol. school on the right. Cross the next road and turn right. After 50m take the path left, between house numbers 68 It is advisable to wear suitable footwear when walking. Stout shoes or walking boots are recommended. and 70. Walking - Be fit and well Some stretches of the route follow minor country roads. Beware Follow the path across the fields until it reaches a wide Walking is a form of excercise that is suitable and enjoyable for of traffic approaching from both directions. If possible stay on the all ages. It’s a free and fun way for families and friends to get fit verge, if not walk in single file on the right hand side of the road. farm track, then turn right. The track leads straight back together. Just 30 minutes of brisk walking on a daily basis can Enjoy the walks, whilst observing the Countryside Code. to the tearooms and car parking. benefit your health and quality of life. 1 7km (4 ⁄2 miles), allow walk 3: 2 hours, relatively flat, useful information: contact details: Access Officer, Community Services Department, County Hall. many hard surface paths Buses: There is no bus service direct to Wistow. Wistow Rural Centre Telephone: 0116 305 8160 · Fax: 0116 305 7965 P However, No. 49 Leicester to Fleckney stops in Kilby Minicom: 0116 305 7334 Keeping the tearooms, garden centre and craft shops on (Mon-Sat). Please confirm with Traveline email: [email protected] Website: www.leics.gov.uk/paths your left follow the path from the end of the car park. (0870 608 2 608) before you travel. Notice the ridge and furrow in the field on your right. By car: A6 South of Leicester, exit roundabout near Gt. The information in this leaflet is available in other On reaching the road cross to the bridleway on the other Glen or A5199 South of Leicester via Kilby. formats on request. side and continue along the well-worn track. Reprinted 2009 Octagon Cottages Glen Road The Square Post Office Lane 1 3 4 ⁄2km (2 ⁄4 miles), taking approx. 1 Newton Harcourt Wistow is set in 1 ⁄4 hours, gentle flat walk, Lock Keepers walk 1: Cottage pleasant parkland and mostly hard surface paths. attracts many visitors. P Wistow Rural Centre Railway Line The old village has School 250m From the entrance of the car park turn right and walk House disappeared but Wistow along the road for 450m past Wistow Hall and take the 270 yards Hall remains. Here footpath left at the side of the church. This attractive The Harcourt Stud (Approx Scale) Charles I sheltered after small church was dedicated to St Wistan, a Mercian Grand Union Canal his defeat at the Battle royal prince who was martyred here 849. of Naseby in 1645. A Go over the bridge beyond the church, and bear Wistow Rural Centre l left across the fields towards Newton Harcourt in the also provides a welcome Wistow Bridge distance. At the road, turn right to enter the village. You Rural break at its tearooms, Centre will see St Luke’s Church on the right and the attractive garden centre and manor house, once a dower house, on the left. This was craft shops. P Aquaduct built in the early C17. Spinney All walks start from P Continue over the Grand Union Canal and the railway the car park at Wistow Wistow Wistow line, and immediately turn left along the footpath to the Hall Wigston Road Rural Centre, Wistow School House (built 1866). River Sence Kibworth Road lB Turn right into Post Office Lane and follow Kilby Crane’s Lock it to reach Glen Road. You will see opposite the Octagon Cottages, which in the past formed the toll-house where drovers paid tolls for watering their cattle. Wistow The Mount Lodge Farm Fleckney Road Leicester Road Fox Covert Fleckney This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with permission of the Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Leicestershire County Council Kilby Road Shops, pubs and 100019271. free parking Wolsey Close lC Turn left along Glen Road and take the first road on li After 1200m leave the track, turning right towards the left, The Square. At the end of the road continue Kilby, a small village with a population of under 300. across the field to the Lock Keeper’s Cottage at Newton Cross the fields to a farmyard, passing through it to reach Wistow Top Lock, (a good place for a picnic). the road. Turn right along the road and after 250m take This leaflet is one of a series produced to promote lD Turn left along the canal towpath, passing under the footpath on the left. circular walking throughout the county. You can obtain Wistow Newton Bridge (No. 80). On the right you will glimpse lii Cross at the public footpath sign to Newton Harcourt. others in the series by visiting your local library or St Luke’s Church as you continue along the canal bank The footpath crosses a footbridge over the River Sence Tourist Information Centre. You can also order them circular to go under the next bridge (High Bridge No.79). On and passes through fields, and along a track. Just before by phone or from our website. 3 walks this stretch you will get good views towards Wistow. 1 3 reaching the Harcourt Stud a path leads left to the canal 1 4 ⁄2kms/2 ⁄4 miles At the next bridge (No. 78) you need to leave the and follows it to the road. 2 9kms/6 miles towpath and cross over the canal to follow the footpath iii 1 l Turn left at the road and cross the bridge over the 3 7kms/4 ⁄2 miles across the fields to St Wistan’s Church. Turn right at the canal before joining the towpath. road to return to car park. The locks along this stretch were 1 9km (6 miles), allow 2 ⁄2 hours, built in the 1790’s and renovated walk 2: gentle undulating countryside in the 1870’s but have been P Wistow Rural Centre constantly maintained since those From the entrance of the car park turn right and walk times. along the road for 450m past Wistow Hall and take Follow the towpath to the Lock the footpath left at the side of the church.