Ivanhoe Way; Bagworth to Nailstone

Saturday May 23rd
We had had several attempts at doing this section of the walk but for vaious reasons we had not succeeded getting beyuond the parking spot. There are no photos today as I couldn't find the camera.
It was a nice day so we decided on another attempt. We drove to Bagworth and parked opposite the very uninspiring church - it is just a concrete box with a concrete tower!
We left Bagworth along the bridal way and followed a field hedge with a view of Nailstone church spire in the distance. We descended a shallow valley and crossed a stream at the bottom and then approached Nailstone village. We walked round to see if the Nut and Squirrel pub was open. When we did this section when doing the Leicestershire Round the pub was closed but we were pleased to see that it was open today. We spoke to the landlady and she said that she had taken over and opened the pub on Bank Holiday Monday -just two weeks ago. She didn't do meals but did do cobs, so we had these for lunch. It was very hot by now.
after lunch we left Nailstone by walking through the churchyard and heading across fields towards Barlestone. We had to divert round the village as the footpath took a strange route and whilst crossing the fields we were surrounded by about 6 horses - We have since found that the collective noun for a horses is a harrass and we were certainly harrassed by them. We persuaded them to let us pass and headed around the fishing lake in the next field.
We walked beside the stream for a while and then walked across Bagworth Heath, through all the new forest plantations back to the car in Bagworth.
When I got home the camera was on the breakfast table!

Saturday 14th March 2009
We drove to Billa Bara, a local hill, and parked. It was a nice day but there was a cold wind. We found the Ivanhoe Way and followed the path that we had missed on our last walk. The path went over waste land, then over a disused tramway and finally ran parallel to the road running through Stanton under Bardon. We walked alongside some allotments where every one was starting to get ready for the new season; there were some interesting bird scaring devices on the plots. We crossed a couple of pasture fields which had several rather friendly horses who wanted to investigate the contents of our rucksacks. We had to persuade them to move away from the stile so that we could climb over. We crossed the lane and entered a new section of National Forest called Partings wood, so called because it is midway between Stanton under Bardon and Thornton and was where lovers from the villages parted before returning home.
We walked through more plantations and then along a wide grass path by the side of a large field.
We emerged at the disused railway bridge near to Bagworth. We walked under the bridge and then diagonally across a field and round the bottom of a mound (complete with the first cows we had seen on a walk this year) to emerge at the road in Bagworth. Here we joined the Leicestershire Round. We stopped to search for a geocache in a new plantation and then crossed the railway line. We continued over the bridge at Thornton Mill, which had a lovely display of snowdrops and then walked into Thornton where we stopped for lunch at the Bricklayers Arms.
After lunch we walked along to the reservoir where we searched for another geocache. It was bitterly cold in the wind here. We did a complete lap of the reservoir, stopping to have a cup of coffee in a warm sheltered area. The water appeared to be boiling with the movement of loads of frogs in the water, the ducks were feasting on the spawn. We rejoined the Leicestershire Round for a short distance but left it at Manor plantation and walked through more woodland until we got to Markfield lane. We crossed the lane and crossed more fields until we emerged at the school in Stanton under Bardon. We walked through the village and walked back to the car, passing a big area of gorse giving off a lovely smell of coconut. We had walked 15.5km.

Ivanhoe Way - Agar Nook to Stanton under Bardon

Saturday 21st February 2009
Today we set off on the next stage of the Ivanhoe Way. We parked in Agar Nook and followed the footpath between houses to emerge at the bottom of Bardon Hill. We crossed the field and instead of walking to the top of the hill, we walked through the woods, and round the bottom of the hill. It seems strange that a trail going around NW Leicestershire should avoid going to the highest point in Leicestershire, but we stuck to the trail this time as we had been to the top before. We crossed the very muddy quarry road, and entered a field. It was lovely and warm by now, so we stopped for a coffee and admired the view. It was strange that last week we were walking in the snow and this week we were overheating in our fleeces. The next path was very wet and we had to wade through several inches of water towards Rise Rocks farm, passing Old Rise Rocks on the way; quite impressive outcrops. We continued to the A50 which was being resurfaced, so was easier to cross than it would normally have been. We crossed the next stile into a paddock and passed some large stables, and then skirted Cliffe Hill quarry, with views of Billa Barra Hill on the right until we reached the road.
We crossed the road and walked down into Stanton under Bardon where we stopped at the Old Thatched Inn for lunch. After a ham roll we walked back up the road and took the path that skirted Stanton quarry. The area has been planted with trees so the quarry was not visible.
As we walked beside the railway a light aircraft went overhead and started to come down very low and disappeared below the hill. We walked beside the industrial park, through newly planted trees, crossed the railway and walked along the track beside Little Battleflats farm. Here we saw the aircraft that had gone over earlier, it seemed an odd place for a runway! We crossed the road and continued on the footpath across fields and past two barns towards upper Grange farm. Here the light aircraft took off and soared over us again.
As we walked across the field we saw a flock of fieldfares and redwings. We crossed several paddocks and passed Louella Stud before recrossing the railway and heading along the path between houses. We finally emerged on the road through Greenhill and then back to Agar Nook and the car.

Ivanhoe Way - Thringstone to Agar Nook

Saturday 14th February 2009
Although it was cold, it was quite bright so we set off on the next stage of the Ivanhoe Way; another section done from home. We left Thringstone and walked along Grace Dieu Road to the point we finished at last time. We set off up the hill, passing the allotments and Grace Dieu vineyard and then through Cademan woods where there was still some snow around. Although we often walk through these woods we followed the Ivanhoe way this time rather than the permissive path we normally take. This area overlies some of the oldest rocks in the country, and many tor like outcroppings are visible on the walk through the woods. After passing High Cademan we followed a path beside a dry stone wall. The footpath was under several inches of water, so we sloshed our way through eventually emerging onto Swanymote road. We had a good view of Mount St Bernard abbey as we walked along the road to the junction, which we crossed and went along the footpath which skirted Ratchet hill. This area had been recently planted with trees as part of the National Forest.
We emerged onto Leicester road in Whitwick and followed the road opposite until we came to another Ivanhoe Way signpost. This led into Holly Hayes Wood, which is an area of ancient woodland which has been purchased by the community and is managed by the Grace Dieu valley project. We had a pleasant walk through the woods and then along field edges leading to Agar Nook. We were intrigued by a melted line in the snow in a field. The line was about 1.5 metre wide and crossed the field at a diagonal. There was no footpath in the field and we could only assume that there was a pipeline running under the field which had caused the snow to melt. The melted area continued on the other side of the ditch. Very strange!
We crossed Meadow lane and followed a narrow path alongside Castle Rock school and emerged onto the road at the bottom of Bardon Hill. We were leaving the Ivanhoe way here and turned down the road and followed a footpath beside a brook at the bottom end of Holly Hayes wood. We found two caches as we walked along this stretch. We then came to a large pond; in the past, the pond area in Holly Hayes wood was an area of great beauty. Unfortunately, the dam was breached and the pond filled with debris in the July floods a number of years ago. After over 300 volunteer man hours, the 'Friends of Holly Hayes Woods' have restored the dam and spillway to allow the pond to be retained again. We sat and enjoyed a cup of coffee, until some lads came along with their dogs, which proceeded to jump all over us.
We continued our walk and emerged in Whitwick, near the colliery winding wheel. From here we followed the cycle path –no 52, as we were intrigued to see where it went. It wound through several streets, doubling back on itself to finally get back on the path running through Grace Dieu woods.
As we walked along Grace Dieu Road a flock of geese in formation flew overhead. There must have been about 100, honking and flapping as they went; it was quite an impressive sight. We returned home from here having walked 11.7 km. It was a shame I had forgotten the camera as there were some good snowy pictures around.

Ivanhoe Way - Worthington to Thringstone

Saturday 24th January 2009
It was forecast frosty but sunny so we decided on a stage of the Ivanhoe way. We left Thringstone at 10.15 and walked along the footpath behind Thringstone primary school. When we have walked this route before the path has been very difficult to walk with brambles and nettles, but it had been cleared and was a pleasant walk. We crossed the road and into a field where the large puddles had ice on, we continued across several fields and behind the sewage works and a large garden before emerging onto Sparrows road heading towards Osgathorpe. I discovered here that my camera would not work, possibly because of the cold weather, so no photos in this blog. We walked through the village, the steep hill was treacherous with ice, and then crossed a bridge over a brook to join a footpath across more fields and through a little bit of woodland where we stopped for a cup of coffee. We crossed a few more fields and then out to the road. We crossed the road and walked down Bull hill and into Worthington where we found an Ivanhoe way signpost, stating Gelsmoor 1mile. This is where we left the trail on our last stage. We crossed the stile and followed a line of pylons across the field. We walked along a hedge to the end of the field, only to discover that there was no way into the next field and that the path was on the other side of the hedge. Luckily there was a gap in the hedge about 20m back, thus saving us a long walk back. We crossed a field of sheep with a very inquisitive ram, and stopped for a cup of coffee on the other side of the stile.
The fields here are very varying in colour. The one we just crossed was very red in colour and the field ahead of us is black, with small pieces of coal visible.
There were 3 horses in the next field, one of which rolled over onto his back and had a really good shake before getting up and continuing eating.
We arrived at the road towards Griffydam which we crossed and after a short diversion, continued on the Ivanhoe way. We crossed a bridge over a stream and stopped to finish our coffee. There was a small pool full of bullrushes and bluetits singing in the trees. We climbed a short hill into Griffydam. The footpath sign on our side of the road pointed straight ahead, but there was no sign of a path on the other side of the road. We went to investigate further and a sign on a gate suggested that the position of the path had been changed. However, it still went through the garden of the house. The gate had netting across it suggesting that there are normally dogs in the garden, so we gingerly opened the gate and walked between the shrubs along a gravel path and past the swimming pool! We left the garden and crossed into more fields leading to a road and a sign stating that the footpath was closed. We read the notice and decided that the time period for the closure had expired and so we crossed into the field. The field was very boggy but we managed to get across and emerged onto Talbot lane. We crossed the lane and followed the path, through a field and onto Jeffcoats lane. The signpost here in placed at eye level, so that as you cross the stile,you are in danger of impaling yourself, very dangerous. (I reported it to Leicestershire footpaths, who are investigating).
From here we walked around a paddock and climbed the path, past the remains of Whitwick colliery, and onto Redhill lane. We followed the footpath towards Whitwick and emerged near the Oaks pub. We descended Dumps road and through City of Three waters to the signpost to Swannymote road, where we will pick up the Ivanhoe way next time. A short walk bought us back to Thringstone. We had walked 14 km.

Ivanhoe Way: Heath End to Worthington

Saturday 17th January 2009
It was forecast dry but gales later so we took advantage of the blue skies and set off to walk some Ivanhoe way. For ease of parking we parked at the Severn Trent carpark near Staunton Harold reservoir which is further along the Ivanhoe way than where we finished last-time, so will walk the IW in two sections today. There was only 1 car there as it was early (for us!). As we set off walking up the road, two buzzards were soaring over us. We looked for the signpost for the Ivanhoe way but either we missed it or it has been removed so instead of walking through Spring woods we stayed on the road to the junction and then crossed the road to the footpath to Scotland! We followed the Ivanhoe way towards Worthington and Lodge farm where we managed to find our way through the farmyard, even though the farmer had conveniently obscured the footpath sign, and down onto the road where we turned right to find the way under the A42. On the map the route wasn’t clear so we were pleased to find a tunnel which meant that we didn’t have to walk 500m there and back just to use the bridge. We continued through Worthington Field stopping on a small bridge just beyond a farm for a nice cup of hot chocolate from the flask. John was a bit shocked as I poured it as he had been expecting coffee so was surprised at the colour. There was an escarpment of rock in front of us showing evidence of land movement and stratification. There was red sandstone on the left and grey limestone (possibly granite) on the right. There was also a good view of Breedon on the Hill.

We finished crossing the field and emerged onto the road at Worthington. We meandered through the housing estate and into a field which we crossed to emerge onto a lane where we left the Ivanhoe way for a while and walked across very muddy fields. The footpath was not marked but there was a faint line of footprints that we followed up the hill into a wooded area. We descended the valley, where a squirrel crossed our path, and then crossed over a small stream. As we got to the top and were about to cross into the next field, something ran across in front of us. It was too large to have been a hare, but it may have been a fox or even a muntjak. We emerged onto the road under the A42 again and walked down the road to the Ferrers Arms where we had a very nice lunch.
After lunch we walked through some very pretty cottages in Lount and followed a green lane towards the Ferrers centre at Staunton Harold Hall. We had a look round the craft centre, especially the Victorian moving model shop, and listened to the tale of the 4th Earl Shirley of Staunton Harold, who was the last peer to be executed – 1760 for murdering his estate manager. After a bit of a problem finding our footpath we eventually found it and walked across some very wet fields to emerge at Heath End where we left the Ivanhoe way last time. We walked down the road and crossed to the bottom end of the lane to Staunton Harold. We walked up the lane for a short distance and then crossed into Dimminsdale Nature reserve. This was originally the site of lime kilns, now flooded in the Laundry Pool which is where the laundry cottages for the Hall were.
We emerged from the nature reserve onto the road by the reservoir and returned to the car having walked 12km.

Ivanhoe Way - Ashby to Heath End

Friday 19th December 2008
We had planned to park in Tescos carpark to walk a section of the Ivanhoe way today but on the last Friday before christmas was not a good idea. We drove a little closer to Ashby and found a side street to park in instead.
We walked towards the town passing a bunch of young Santa Clauses - it must have been the last day of school at Ashby Grammar! When we reached the town we turned along North Street and found an Ivanhoe Way signpost pointing into a busy haulage yard which wasn't a good sign. We eventually found the footpath behind a lorry and set off behind some houses. The path was muddy and continued across rough ground and then alongside the McVities biscuit factory and under a road bridge for the busy A511. The path opened out a bit here as we crossed Old Park Pale woods and then a cross road of tracks and continued through new plantations of trees. This area was one of three medieval parks once surrounding Ashby. The plantations had been fenced off to keep the rabbits and deer out.
We saw a man looking at his map here and he warned us there was a very boggy bit coming up. His wife then appeared and told us it had taken her 15 minutes to negotiate about 20 yards. John was not wearing his boots today so we thought this was going to be interesting! We walked through the small wood and crossed a bridge over a stream and then found the boggy bit. We managed to cross it without too much trouble, I suspect it was easier because we were walking it uphill whereas they had been doing it downhill.
We stopped for coffee and christmas cake at the next stile and then continued past a farm where we were chased by a flock of geese. They gave up when they were reminded how close to christmas it was!
The path continued to a lane which we followed to Heath End, a small hamlet where we left the Ivanhoe way. There should have been a pub here, which was marked on the map, but we could not see it (when I checked when we got home, there are mentions of the Saracens head, but it closed several years ago - presumably it is now one of the houses we passed). We walked along the road and then discovered we were off course, so we retraced our steps to find the footpath.
We crossed a bridge and then walked towards some woodland. The ground looked reasonably firm here but just before we got to the stile John found a wet bit and his foot went through the mud to the calf filling his walking shoes with muddy water -yuck. He shook his foot and we managed to get to the stile without further misshap.
We walked through a very nice stretch of woodland and approached a very slippery stile. As we crossed we saw some people approaching. They were the same couple that we had seen earlier. They commented on the muddy state of our trousers but said that the rest of the path was ok. We continued and crossed a large area of grassland which had a very strong smell of curry. We could only assume it was coming from the distant farmhouse but it was very strong. It started raining here so we stopped to put up hoods.
We followed the path round the farm and ended up on the busy A511. We had obviously missed a path somewhere. We walked beside the road for about 200m and then saw a footpath sign up the embankment. We climbed the embankment and a fence to put us back on the footpath and off the road.
The path passeed parallel to the road and then towards a farm. A man parked his car at the junction and let his dogs out to walk but they proceded to chase us down the road despite him calling them. John roared at the horrid yappy thing which turned and went back to its owner. We walked round the farm and emerged at the crossing of tracks that we had reached earlier in the walk. We had planned to do a circular extension to the walk here, but bearing in mind the mud and that we had parked closer to Ashby than originally planned we decided to retrace our steps along the Ivanhoe way. We had walked 14km.

Ivanhoe Way - Moira to Ashby de la Zouch

Saturday 22nd November 2008
It was cold but bright so we set off to do an Ivanhoe Way walk. We drove to Moira and looked for the carpark marked on the map. We found it but it had been closed for some time - looking at the pile of rubble behind the barriers so we parked in the layby. We walked along the road and found the Ivanhoe way signpost pointing across some grassland on a path which had been very churned up by heavy machinery. It was very wet and boggy and I had forgotten to put on my gaiters - wet trousers then! The path crossed new woodland and beside a lake and then crossed several small fields with horses and then newly planted fields which were very muddy. Our boots were very heavy when we left the field. The Ivanhoe Way now passed along the road and into Ashby de la Zouch. This was a pleasant market town where we stopped for a light lunch. We then walked up to look at Ashby castle. Despite having lived within 5 miles of Ashby for 16 years, we had never seen the castle before. We were surprised at how much of the ruins were still there. The castle is not visible as you drive through the town.

Our route then became a bit boring as it was mainly road walking. We headed out of town on the Measham road admiring all the large houses along the way. We crossed the M42 roundabout and turned along the road towards Willesley where we crossed a bridge over the M42 and then walked beside Willesley golf course. We diverted off the lane and walked towards Willesley church and the scout camp. The church was abandoned and had been bought by the scouts for £10. Whilst we were looking for a geocache two men came over and asked if we had found what we were looking for. We explained geocaching to them and then asked about the church. One offered to show us round, so we had a good look at the windows, memorials and the tombstones to members of the Abney Hastings family dating from the 12th century.
It was very interesting and was the high point of a mostly road based walk. It was getting late when we left the church so we followed the footpath to find another cache and then walked back to the car just as the sun was setting. We had walked 13.2km.

Ivanhoe Way - Oakthorpe to Moira

Tuesday 18th November 2008
It was forecast to be dry so we went off for a walk. We parked in Oakthorpe and set off along the Ashby wolds trail which is part of the Ivanhoe way. It was very Autumny - lots of leaves but bright and sunny. We last walked this trail on 8th June when it was full of wild flowers. Now it is a bit bleak but still interesting.
We followed the trail to Donisthorpe where we stopped to look for the "Church View" geocache. We tried to look round the church but it was locked. We diverted off the Ivanhoe way to go and look for the "Sword of Merlin" geocache. We walked through Donisthorpe and then across a field full of sheep and across a stream with no bridge but a piece of wobbly corrugated iron to walk on. We didn't get too wet! We continued along another field edge and then through a patch of nice woodland along an embankment. We searched for the cache for a while and eventually found it. Unfortunately, while replacing the cache, my flask fell out of my rucksack and rolled down the embankment. John nobley found a way down and reclaimed it. We retraced our steps to Donisthorpe and continued on the Ivanhoe way through Donisthorpe coliery nature reserve and on to Moira. We emerged on a path above the lime kilns and then onto the canal towpath by Moira furnace. We stopped at the café for some lunch and then crossed the canal and walked through woodland and out onto the road near Norris Hill. We turned off this road and walked down the road towards Willesley. This was a bit of tedious road walking but it did have lots of new plantations on either side.
At the bottom of the road we crossed into woodland. The tracks were very boggy and wet but the trees were nice. We sat by a lake and had a cup of coffee and then continued deeper into the woods where we found the "Heart of the National Forest" geocache.
The path continued alongside a lake, actually it was in the lake in places so we had to divert inland a bit. This path eventually emerged onto the road at Oakthorpe where we followed back to the car. 13.5 km.

Ivanhoe Way, Snarestone to Oakthorpe

Wednesday 12th November 2008
As this was the only forecast dry day this week we had to take advantage. We drove to Snarestone and parked opposite the school so that we could do the next stage of the Ivanhoe way.
We headed across the playing fields and out onto the road towards Measham. This was a bit of a boring trudge along the busy road for about 1 mile. We then left the road and joined the Ivanhoe way around the perimeter of the Hanson brickworks, the path was very slippery but well marked. Behind the brick works we diverted onto a path through a nature reserve which turned into a disused railway line which came out near the old Measham station. This is supposedly being converted into a museum but was still currently deserted. We walked through Measham millenium garden, past a large mosaic sundial, where an alsatian that wasn't on a lead seemed to take a dislike to me. His elderly owner shouted at him but he ignored him. I think it might have been my walking pole that he disliked!

We emerged onto Measham High street and crossed to the Ashby wolds trail. We had walked some of this before. It is a disused railway which has been converted into a cycle path between Measham and Moira.
We left the trail at Oakthorpe by a large mining wheel and followed the road into the village. We saw a flock of bullfinches in a tree by the road.
We left the village and diverted across fields and into Saltersford Valley Park to find a geocache (Kermite Revenge). John saw a kingfisher on the flash pond but I missed it, but we did see coots, grebes, seagull and ducks. After finding the cache we retraced our steps to Oakthorpe to find somewhere for lunch. The Holly Bush was closed at lunchtimes but the Shoulder of Mutton was open, so we had a baguette and a pint. It was ok but not very inspiring. When we continued the walk we passed the Gate Inn which was also closed, so a village with 3 pubs had only 1 open. This is something we are finding very often when we walk. Pubs are either closed at lunchtime or converted into Indian or Chinese restaurants. We walked across a field and then through a farm which was basically a junk-yard, it was full of piles of refrigerators, radiators and other scrap. We had to be very careful walking across as stuff was hidden in the slurry. We eventually found our way out of the yard and onto a footpath which was only about 20m from the path going behind the brick works that we had taken on the way into Measham. We stopped for coffee overlooking a field of cows and then crossed over the field and out onto the Measham Road. We then crossed more fields and then entered what looked like another junk tip as there were several scrapped cars abondoned, they were all sporty expensive cars that looked like they had been involved in accidents. Walking on we came across two military tanks and realised that the area must have been a driving assault course with the cars as obstacles. We walked along a green lane which emerged onto the road leading to Snarestone. We left the road on a footpath through the woods and then behind some very nice large houses and onto a railway embankment. The path deteriorated into a very muddy path which took us back to Snarestone. We had walked 14.7 km.

Ivanhoe Way -Shackerstone to Snarestone

Friday 8th November 2008
After what seemed like weeks of dull, dingy, drizzly weather, it promised to be fine today and so we decided on a proper walk. Having finished the Leicestershire Round a few weeks ago, we now embark on our next project, the Ivanhoe Way - a 35 mile walk around NW Leicestershire.

We drove to Shackerstone and parked. This is home to the Battlefield line which runs from Shackerstone to Shenton and is also where the Leicestershire Round joins the Ivanhoe Way.

We set off towards the Ashby canal and headed along the towpath.
Ashby canal carried coal from the pits in Moira and Measham. It closed in 1846 but there are plans to re-open it along the stretch to Ashby.
We saw a heron take off in front of us and several ducks splashing about in the water. We also heard the whump-whump of swans taking off. The canal was very autumnal with leaves falling from the trees into the water. We left the canal at bridge 54 and took the footpath towards Newton Burgoland, but soon left the path and joined the narrow road towards Snarestone. We passed a large house with crowns on the gate and later discovered this was part of Gopsal park which is owned by the Crown. We left the lane just past Shackerstone Fields farm and then crossed several fields to arrive in Snarestone. One of the fields contained a maize crop which had not been harvested. It looked a bit sorry but had lots of cobs, so we wondered why it had been left. At Snarestone we walked to The Globe which although it was 12.15 appeared to be closed. As it was early we decided to continue the walk and try the pub in a later village.

We left the Ivanhoe Way and walked down a footpath between houses and into a field of sheep. The ram was particularly interested and was starting to come closer as we got to the stile (all his ladies had run in the opposite direction). We continued through large areas of National Forest. These plantations of small sapplings, did not seem to be very diverse as the majority of the trees were oak. As the latest fungal disease to hit oak trees has been sighted in Leicestershire it seems a bit short-sighted to have an almost mono-culture. We climbed the hill towards the church at Swepstone and then headed down the road towards Newton Burgoland. The fields here were particularly wet and boggy and we had to cross a large field full of charolais? bullocks. They had a look at us but then continued grazing. We arrived at Newton Burgoland and diverted off to the Belper Arms for lunch- a baguette and very good glass of Hobgoblin. We didn't want to leave as it was so warm and cosy but it was getting late so reluctantly we set off to walk the last 2 km. We followed a footpath past a large pond with lots of geese - possibly being prepared for christmas, and then through a field of dairy cows, through the very boggy area beside the stile and out onto the very muddy lane towards Shackerstone. We got back to the car at about 3.30pm having walked about 13.5 km.