Local Walks AROUND HATHERN www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk

Hathern is a village and parish approximately 2 miles north-west of . It stands on a gentle rise overlooking the plain of the Soar Valley. The village is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 inside the Church. as Avederne and by 1258 had changed to Hawthirne, Hathern Cross stands in the centre of the village, probably due to the protective hawthorn hedge probably 14th century, it would have been a Christian surrounding it. The Parish Church of St. Peter and St. monolith, a site from which sermons would have been Paul is a 14th century building of Charnwood stone preached. It became a convenient place for meetings with evidence of 12th century building, shown by the and business and it is thought that markets were held Saxon-Norman font and Norman capital preserved beneath it.

You can combine some or all of Walks extend or shorten your walk. Hathern” published by Hathern Local 1-5 into longer circular walks up to In and around Hathern are a number of History Society can be obtained at 16 km (10 Miles). Geocaches, visit www.geocaching.com the Hathern Post Office and Stores for There are also other bridleways, and find out more and combine some £2. This describes a historical and footpaths and permissive paths marked cache hunting with your walk? architectural walk of about 2.5 Km (1.5 miles) around the heart of the on the maps and by signs on the A book entitled “A Walk Around routes which can be incorporated to historic village. For more information START: Hathern Cross, Cross Street, GETTING THERE: REFRESHMENTS AND TOILETS: There are several pubs in the and to report Hathern LE12 5LB. Plan your journey on foot, by bike, village and the Hathern Post Office and Stores sells filled rolls problems contact: PARKING: Please park where the streets public transport or car by visiting etc. Oakley Grange serves meals and is located www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk or calling off Road. There are no public toilets in the village. Tel 0116 305 0001 are wide and please don’t obstruct gates or Email footpaths@ driveways. Alternative Parking at Pasture Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 (charges apply) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Thanks to Hathern Local History leics.gov.uk Lane opposite the new school. for the latest public transport information. Society for allowing us to use their Village Walk information. Local Walks AROUND HATHERN www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk

Walk 1: A very pleasant hour’s circular walk A. Start Hathern Village Cross, E. Cross the field and look head east on Cross Street out for a gate which will re- Easy from the village cross to the river / canal and toward The Green and bear right join the road and turn right back which can be combined with other walks onto Pasture Lane. towards Hathern and head toward County Bridge. Cross the 1 hour B. Continue along Pasture Lane to make a longer circuit. road (take great care!) to the and turn left at the very bottom Hathern Cross, Cross Street, Hathern LE12 5LB ~ footpath, go over the stile just 4.1km START: north towards a gateway at the SK5030322379 / SK52B Lat: 52.79662 Lon: -1.25539 on the south side of the bridge 2.1 miles end. Go through and bear right abutment, down the slope and until you cross a bridge over a N follow the path straight ahead D small dyke (locally called Pike until you reach a field gate and C Dyke) and continue toward the stile at the end of a drainage two weirs diagonally ahead. dyke. At these, look toward C. Cross the flood relief radial Hathern using the church tower E gate, the two weirs and continue as a guide and follow the path until you reach the western end going diagonally through the B of the canal bridge. Cross over fields until you reach a gate. the bridge (taking great care Continue ahead and over the F on this busy road) to the right bridge at a common dyke Tunnel Lane to reach the towpath on the (locally called Comma Dyke) opposite side, you are now in and carry on up the path to P . Continue along the top of the hill passing farm START the towpath until you reach the outbuildings to your right. A bridge. F. At the junction marked with a D. At this point, you can turn finger post, turn left onto the farm right and head toward Sutton track, pass the cemetery on your Bonington village. To continue right and continue along Green on this walk, turn left over the Hill until you reach the church. For more information bridge. Turn right and immediately left and to report

0 miles 0.6 miles onto Church Street and continue problems contact: 0 km 1 km until you arrive back at Hathern Tel 0116 305 0001 © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. County Council. 100019271. Published 2012 Village Cross. Email footpaths@ Key to map symbols see: www.leics.gov.uk/explorerkey.pdf leics.gov.uk Local Walks AROUND HATHERN www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk

Walk 2: A good hour’s circular walk from the A. Start at Hathern Village E. Turn right and follow the Cross, head east on Cross Street footpath (shared with cyclists) Easy village cross through some of the extensive toward The Green and bear right past the Anchor Inn, continue farm land passing the Anchor Inn on the main onto Pasture Lane passing the to Wide Street and see there alternative car parking (P) and the Hathern Village sign, the 1 hour A6 and then through part of the historic part continue along this lane until Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee of the village. you meet a track off to the right, Chestnut tree and the Queen 3.9km called Tunnel Lane (B). Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Oak tree 2.1 miles and garden. START: Hathern Cross, Cross Street, LE12 5LB ~ SK5030322379 / B. Take this track. (This first SK52B Lat: 52.79662 Lon: -1.25539 part of the walk along the length F. Turn right down Wide Street of Pasture Lane is particularly (F) and then left into Dovecote attractive in the early Spring Street, (G). as there are lots of snowdrops G. Look for one of the oldest planted by a resident some B houses in the village on the years ago (Amy Burrows) and Tunnel Lane right and note the unusual “s” augmented by the Parish Council curved frontage of the cottages. C in the last few years to form a P Reaching the end of Dovecote A snowdrop walk.) START Street turn right to arrive back at C. Continue along Tunnel Hathern Cross. Lane and turn right at the end G following the footpath until you D see a footbridge in the corner of the field, (D). F N D. Turn left and then right following the hedge line. E Turn right and immediately left For more information along the edge of the allotments until you reach the A6 (E). and to report 0 miles 0.6 miles problems contact: 0 km 1 km Tel 0116 305 0001 © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Leicestershire County Council. 100019271. Published 2012 Email footpaths@ Key to map symbols see: www.leics.gov.uk/explorerkey.pdf leics.gov.uk Local Walks AROUND HATHERN www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk

Walk 3: A good hour’s circular walk from the A. Start at Hathern Village F. Turn back left towards the Cross, head east on Cross Street village going diagonally back Easy Village Cross through some of the extensive farm toward The Green and bear right across the field, through a gate land, following the River Soar for a short distance onto Pasture Lane passing the over Pike Dyke and then to the alternative car parking (P) and gate at the end of Pasture Lane. 1 hour and then returning to the village. Radar route. continue along this lane until G. Go through the gate and you meet a track off to the right, 4km follow Pasture Lane turning START: Hathern Cross, Cross Street, LE12 5LB ~ SK5030322379 / called Tunnel Lane (B). 2.1 mile SK52B Lat: 52.79662 Lon: -1.25539 right at the end of the first leg B. Take this track. (The first part of to return to pass the junction the walk along the length of with Tunnel Lane (B) and follow Pasture Lane is particularly attractive Pasture Lane and via Cross Street in the early Spring as there are lots back to Hathern Village Cross. F of snowdrops planted here). NOTES: C. Continue along Tunnel Lane While not all routes are suitable and turn left at the end, (C), for people with disabilities Walk following the footpath until you G 3 is suitable for “all terrain utility reach a footbridge slightly to the scooters” (e.g. Tramper type) right, (D). E with a slight modification and B D. Cross the bridge turn left and care particularly in winter or Tunnel Lane D then immediately right following following bad weather. All the the dyke line towards the river gates on this route are either P C Soar. Note the remains of fully opening or kissing gates several very old pollarded willow operated by RADAR keys. START A trees probably used for making The only modification is at map N locally made baskets etc at point F where you should turn Hathern and . back just before the last riverside For more information E. Turn left after going through kissing gate. the small gate and follow the and to report Additionally nearly the full length 0 miles 0.6 miles river path through a series of problems contact: 0 km 1 km of Pasture Lane is also suitable kissing gates until you reach the Tel 0116 305 0001 © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Leicestershire for most mobility scooters and County Council. 100019271. Published 2012 flood relief Zouch Radial Gate. Email footpaths@ wheelchairs with care as it has a Key to map symbols see: www.leics.gov.uk/explorerkey.pdf leics.gov.uk hard surface. Local Walks AROUND HATHERN www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk

Walk 4: A good two hour’s circular walk from A. Start at Hathern Village dragonflies and damselflies as Cross, head east on Cross Street well as waterfowl. Please do Easy the Village Cross through some of the extensive toward The Green and bear right not disturb nesting birds and onto Pasture Lane passing the keep dogs on a lead.) farm land to Dishley Pool returning by following 2 hours alternative car parking (P) and G. Turn left towards the River the river Soar and Pasture Lane to the village. continue along this lane until Soar and on reaching the 8.9 km you meet a track off to the right, riverside path (G) turn left along START: Hathern Cross, Cross Street, LE12 5LB ~ SK5030322379 / called Tunnel Lane (B). 5.5 miles SK52B Lat: 52.79662 Lon: -1.25539 the river. This is a fine stretch B. Take this track. (The first part of river scenery, twisting and N of the walk along the length turning across the landscape, of Pasture Lane is particularly look out for the Normanton Chain I attractive in the early Spring Ferry and St James’ Church on as there are lots of snowdrops the opposite river bank. planted here). H. Follow the river path through C. Carry on straight ahead at the a series of kissing gates until J end of Tunnel Lane crossing the you reach the flood relief Zouch H field, turn left at the footpath sign Radial Gate. and follow the hedge line to turn I. Turn back left towards the B right at a gate and footbridge. Tunnel Lane village going diagonally back D. Go straight ahead until you across the field, through a gate C D P reach the corner of the field and over Pike Dyke and then to the then turn right (E) and then left. gate at the end of Pasture Lane. A E. Follow this path straight J. Go through the gate and follow START ahead and don’t deviate from Pasture Lane turning right at the end of the first leg to return to E this path to eventually reach (F) G Dishley Pool. pass the junction with Tunnel Lane (B) and follow Pasture Lane For more information F. (Do take some time out to and via Cross Street back to and to report 0 miles 0.6 miles 1 km enjoy the views and observe Hathern Village Cross. problems contact: 0 km the wildlife. Dishley Pool is © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Tel 0116 305 0001 Leicestershire County Council. F an important wildlife reserve 100019271. Published 2012 Email footpaths@ and sustains several species of Key to map symbols see: www.leics.gov.uk/explorerkey.pdf leics.gov.uk Local Walks AROUND HATHERN www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk

Walk 5: A good two hour’s circular walk from A. Start at Hathern Village over another track and carry Cross, head west going up on through some woodland on Easy the Village Cross through some of the extensive Narrow Lane, cross the A6 a slight rise to eventually join farm land to the West of the village, visiting the (please take care as this is a Pear Tree Lane and descend this very busy road) and turn left lane to the A6. (Take care as 2 hours Black Brook and the extensive Garendon Estate. along the A6 and then right into this lane opens straight onto the Golden Square (B) just by the busy A6). 6.5 km START: Hathern Cross, Cross Street, LE12 5LB ~ SK5030322379 / Dew Drop Inn. 4 miles SK52B Lat: 52.79662 Lon: -1.25539 E. Cross the A6 and turn left B. At the top of Golden Square along the roadside cycleway and N P take the footpath up the hill footpath back towards Hathern START passing the allotments on your with views down to the right A right. At the top of the hill, over the River Soar flood plain. where the path turns to the G F. Having passed the Anchor Inn right, take time to appreciate turn right down Wide Street (F). the views over Shepshed to The B F Beacon, Mount St. Bernard’s G. Turn left into Dovecote Street C Priory and the twin radio masts (G) and follow this interesting at Copt Oak. street back to the Village Cross. C. Follow the path to the NOTES: Refreshments and Shepshed Road (C) and turn Toilets: There are toilet facilities left following this roadside path and alternative parking at down the Hathern Hill towards Oakley Grange (turn right at map Shepshed. point C and look for entrance E drive on the left across the road) D. At the bottom of the hill where there is an organic shop look for the bridleway to the and cafe. left and take this to eventually D meet and follow the Black Brook For more information for a short distance through and to report 0 miles 0.6 miles the extensive farmland of the 0 km 1 km problems contact: © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Garendon Estate. After approx. Leicestershire County Council. 100019271. Tel 0116 305 0001 Published 2012 1.5km at a gate cross straight Email footpaths@ Key to map symbols see: www.leics.gov.uk/explorerkey.pdf leics.gov.uk