corner. (The skyline, as you return to the village, is 150 yards further on, turn left at the footpath sign down dominated by the Charnwood Hills and, in the middle to the river (too shallow for navigation by barges). Barrow upon Soar distance, the industrial works using granite from Keeping the river on your left, follow the stiles, pass Mountsorrel and gypsum from the Barrow mines). under the road (You are walking through the ‘water This leaflet is one of a series produced to promote Barrow Follow waymarks (looking out for diagonal crossing of meadows’ used to hold water in times of flood and circular walking throughout the county. You can obtain second field) until you reach a broad ride and bridleway. excellent for producing hay and grazing for cattle). others in the series by visiting your local library or upon Soar Ignore these and go straight through the gap in the hedge Giii Continue left to the footbridge over the river, with Tourist Information Centre. You can also order them and continue in the same direction, downhill, to Barrow in sight. From the bridge, cross the meadow to by phone or from our website. Breachfield Road. meet a lane, then turn right up to the canal. (this ‘cut’ circular Bottesford 3 E Bear left then take a jitty on the right between 59 through the neck of the river loop created a navigable walks G Muston Redmile and 61. Cross over Melton Road (slightly to the right) to canal). Turn left before crossing the bridge and follow the 1 3 1 4 ⁄2kms/2 ⁄4 miles New Street. At the top follow another jitty past Hall towpath to Barrow Deep Lock. Cross the canal bridge 1 3 2 7 ⁄2kms/4 ⁄4 miles Orchard Primary School to Church Street. Turn left, past and go up the hill then at the roundabout turn left back 3 5kms/3 miles the church (and the Roundhouse lock-up and the Old to the village centre. Scalford Hathern Men’s Hospital almshouses), to get back to the car park. Burton on the Wolds Thorpe Acre & Prestwold Asfordby 3 Barrow 5 km (3 miles), allow 1 ⁄4 hours, upon Soar Frisby & Kirby walk 3: half on pavements or hard Normanton le Heath Barkby footpaths and half on footpaths Ibstock & Beeby Twyford & Thorpe that can be muddy. The walk follows the big loop in the Appleby Swepstone Anstey Hungarton Magna Groby Tilton & Lowesby River Soar as it curves away from Barrow to Quorn and Carlton Ratby Keyham & Ingarsby Skeffington, back again. Note: Do not attempt this walk when the Thurnby & Houghton Rolleston & Tugby Burton Overy river is in flood, nor for a few days after a flood. P free Witherley & Ratcliffe Culey I Wistow Hallaton near the Three Crowns. Narborough Medbourne C At end of second field, turn right along farm track. Burbage Kibworth G From car park, turn right down High Street then Bridge & Smeeton Westerby Follow this to Fishpool Brook at the valley bottom. Ullesthorpe Laughton & Mowsley Street, passing to the river. Cross the Soar Bridge then & Ashby Parva (Short cut, though not recommended in winter – turn turn left through the gate onto the Slabs Footpath (paved right at the brook and follow it until you reach Brook in the 1800s to give a dry path from Quorn Hall – the Lane Farm. Walk through the farmyard to a lane, then original home of the Quorn Hunt – to Barrow railway Special thanks go to the members of the Barrow continue to meet the main Fishpool Way. Follow station). Cross the A6 via a footbridge, then through a Community Association Walks Leaflet Committee, who Your Parish or Local Community Group may wish to produce a directions of Walk One from Point 5 to return to the small field onto a lane to Meynell Road compiled the information in this leaflet. walking leaflet, please contact the Access Officer at County Hall car park). (Hugo Meynell started the Quorn Hunt). for more information. Continue in same direction up next two fields, following i Turn left, and then follow the road round The routes are clearly marked with bold, yellow It is advisable to wear suitable footwear when walking. Stout G topped waymarker posts and waymarker discs shoes or walking boots are recommended. the bridleway. Enter an enclosed lane past buildings on to the right into Soar Road, which borders the with the Parish Walks symbol. Some stretches of the route follow minor country roads. Beware of left that were once part of the Quorn Hunt (which moved river. Continue via School Lane until T junction traffic approaching from both directions. If possible stay on the here from Quorn Hall in 1906). with the old A6 (the main road route through the verge, if not walk in single file on the right hand side of the road. Walking - Be fit and well GD Cross Melton Road (caution fast road) into the Soar valley for centuries). Enjoy the walks, whilst observing the Countryside Code. ii Walking is a form of excercise that is suitable and enjoyable for all enclosed lane opposite. After 150 yards, the bridleway is G Turn left and later, straight over a mini roundabout ages. It’s a free and fun way for families and friends to get fit crossed by a footpath coming from Seagrave. You turn (a roman settlement has been found near here indicating, together. Just 30 minutes of brisk walking on a daily basis can contact details: hard right, leaving the bridleway perhaps, the importance of the road even then). benefit your health and quality of life. Access Officer, Community Services Department, County Hall. and aim for an isolated Telephone: 0116 265 8160 Fax: 0116 265 7965 stile in wooden fence. useful information: Minicom: 0116 265 7334 email: [email protected] Website: www.leics.gov.uk/paths After the stile, keep to Buses: Service 27 Barrow to Loughborough (Mon-Sat), the same line down Kinchbus 2 Loughborough to Leicester (Mon-Sun) The information in this leaflet is available in other next field, heading Refreshments: Shops and pubs in Barrow upon Soar. towards its bottom right formats on request. Walton on the Wolds B 1 3 1 1 3 1 la 4 ⁄2km (2 ⁄4miles) allow 1 ⁄2hr+ 7 ⁄2km (4 ⁄4miles) allow 2 ⁄2 hours, ck L a n walk 1: (minimum depending on route walk 2: mostly on bridleways and e These three walks have very different options). Half on firm footpaths footpaths that are often muddy or pavements, half on bridleways and footpaths that can making stout footwear essential. Fine views of open d characters. R m be muddy. Circling the village with views of the river, wolds country, Charnwood Hills and old limestone a h Walk 1 330m g takes you n canal and up onto the wolds P free near the Three workings. Return to the village down Paudy Ridge. i t I t o around the outskirts P 360 yards N Crowns. I free near the Three Crowns. of the village showing Walk along Cotes Road and turn left into Barrowcliffe Walk along Cotes Road past the school and to the end of (Approx Scale) both the river valley Jitty between nos. 29 and 31. Follow this over the a granite wall that fronts park-like gardens of Strancliffe and the hilly, wolds railway footbridge (the site of the first station) and down uplands. Hall on right. ne (very steep descent) to the junction with Bridge St. A La G Immediately after, turn right up the metalled track ffe Walk 2 goes into 1 cli Cross towards the canal at Barrow Deep Lock and an G signed as bridleway, known as Strancliffe Lane. Follow tr S the outlying, wolds follow the towpath left to Mill Lane Bridge. the lane (which soon becomes unsurfaced) until you k countryside with 2 roo Go up onto the bridge, past the Navigation pub, then reach Nottingham Road. (The big dips in the lane and ol B G hpo fine views of the Fis right into Ribble Drive and right again into Welland Road surrounding fields are the remains of small quarries for Charnwood Hills as (notice the canal weir, which controls the water level, on limestone used to produce building mortar. Such you descend back the right) round into Avon Road. Between nos. 37 and quarries were called “delphs” from the old word “delve” to the village. 39 go into the jitty and on (with Fishpool Brook on the meaning to dig or excavate). C Cricket Walk 3 o follows the right) to Sileby Road. Turn right along Sileby Road and t Ground k B e o Cross this busy road with care and turn left, walking s o e G R r n B a River Soar in its big cross to the bridleway between nos. 199 and 201. d L for 20 m along verge then take footpath on right. Cross loop into Quorn – this 3 Fishpool G Cross the railway lines (extreme care). Follow the path School n Rd two stiles and walk diagonally across large field (note the Way Melto is the loop that was uphill (views of the village on the left) to join the path large limestone workings on the right) heading for Millennium ‘cut through’ to make t Park from Breachfield Road (there are several informal paths in h S solitary tree on horizon. Cross another stile to join ort the canal. N this field so look for the Breachfield path coming up from bridleway through two fields. All walks start from the left) and go through the second gap in the hedge.