Leicestershire Round Mountsorrel to Cossington

Saturday 19th July 2008
It was sunshine and showers today so we were off to do a bit more of the Leicestershire Round. We drove to Mountsorrel, parked near the butter cross and headed off towards the LR. We crossed a playground and sports field to a stile which according to our 30 year old guide book led beside a farm but now goes through a housing estate. We followed the LR signs through the estate and then followed a path beside a stream. The official LR path was overgrown and impassable but another path ran on the other side of the stream. Signs suggested an alternative route, but an alternative route to what as there was only 1 route under the A6 and in the opposite direction to the LR. After the underpass we retraced our steps on the other side of the stream and eventually regained the LR - quite a diversion. The path now travelled over fields until we crossed the river Soar at Sileby. The heavens opened here, but luckily we had waterproofs.



We followed the path beside the river spotting lots of butterflies (red admirals) and dragonflies; two herons also past overhead. We eventually arrived at Cossington meadows, an old gravel pit which has been left to return to nature. It was lovely, with large ponds, wild flowers and a wide path mown through the middle. There was lots of wildlife including lapwings, swans and coots. We walked through the meadow and emerged in Cossington. Along the village street were several large oak trees which had been planted to commemorate all the coronations since Edward VII. We had lunch in the Royal Oak and then left the LR to return back to Mountsorrel. As we walked along a lane towards an alternative entrance into the meadows we saw two weasels playing in the road.


We followed a different path back through the meadows to Sileby lock, getting another soaking along the way. Here we continued along the river, which was very busy with motor boats and barges.

The river passed under the A6 and returned to Mountsorrel by another lock. It was a very pleasant walk - good job we had our waterproofs.