Walking

Resolve to get fit with winter walks
Here is our seasonal selection:
- Beacon Hill and Burrough Hill country parks offer panoramic views on a clear winter’s day.
- Cossington Meadows on the Sileby parish walk and Watermead Country Park are great for seeing winter migrant birds.
- On the Ratby parish walk, walkers can explore extensive attractive woodland created as part of the National Forest.
- From Staunton Harold people can walk to Dimminsdale Nature Reserve, a great place to search for snowdrops.
- Wistow parish walk offers gentle strolls from the Rural Centre, with the option of food and drink afterwards in the café.
- Locally people can also find out more about the series of Strolls on their doorstep leaflets.
Advice for Walkers
Walk Routes
Strolls on your Doorstep A series of booklets, each containing ten easy access walks, perfect for people new to walking. Each walk is graded and contains information such as distance, time needed, gradients and surfaces of the paths used.
Parish Walks This popular seies of leaflets are suitable for a short afternoon stroll or a day long walk. The routes are all circular and range in distance from 1 - 9 miles. Each leaflet contains written directions and a map.
Longer Walks Themed walks and long-distance walk routes published or supported by the County Council including the 100-mile Leicestershire Round path route which circuits the County.
Jubilee Walks A network of 6 walks created by the County Council's 'Stepping Stones' project in co-operation with the parish councils of Leicester Forest East, Braunstone Town and Enderby and also covering Lubbesthorpe parish.
Maps of Paths Search for all the footpaths, bridleways and byways within a radius from any village in the county. The mapping gets more detailed as you zoom in.
Report a Problem If you find a problem on a footpath, bridleway or byway use the online form to send in the details so it can be investigated and the appropriate action taken.
Places to Walk
Country Parks The County Council manages a wide range of attractive places for walks, picnics, exploring nature and enjoying the countryside.
Other Country Parks Bradgate Park and other sites in Leicestershire provided by other Councils and a range of public and private bodies
Open Access areas Search for Open Access land in Leicestershire where people can walk freely on upland areas, heaths, and registered common land as result of what is commonly known as the 'right to roam'.
Nature Reserves managed by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. Members of the public are welcome to visit the reserves except for Charnwood Lodge (woodland areas), Cloud Wood, and Ulverscroft (National Trust owned area) where permits are required.
Organised Walks
Active Together Programmes of activities in each District, including guided walks and rides, to encourage everyone to become more physically active.
Health Walks Contact details for short and easy walks across the East Midlands organised as part of the Walking the way to Health Initiative.
Leicestershire Footpath Association Includes the programme of regular Saturday walks which everyone is welcome to join.
Ramblers Association Search for the programmes of many of the local groups of the Ramblers Association in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Loughborough and District CHA Rambling Club welcomes people to its Saturdays which are usually between 5 and 8 miles around the county. The Club is one of many around the country spawned by the former Countrywide Holidays Association.
Other Walks and Activities
Family Walks around Charnwood Fourteen walks published by Charnwood Borough Council in 2004. The routes range in distance from 2-8 miles.
Heritage Trails (forthcoming) Trails are shorter walks which explore particular villages and towns, or wider areas, and highlight features of cultural, natural, social and historical interest.
Heritage Trails (forthcoming) Trails are shorter walks which explore particular villages and towns, or wider areas, and highlight features of cultural, natural, social and historical interest.
National Forest Walks A series of walks which pass through new and existing woodlands or sites of interest in The National Forest. The routes mainly follow Public Rights of Way but some use permissive paths.
Defra Walks and Rides Search for walks, rides and areas of open access in Leicestershire and Rutland provided under the Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Environmental Stewardship Schemes.
Country Walking's website includes downloadable walks previously published in the magazine; some of which are free and others are available to purchase.
Other Published and Online Walks (forthcoming) Country walks in Leicestershire from a wide range of external sources including details of books of walks covering the County.
Other Published and Online Walks (forthcoming) Country walks in Leicestershire from a wide range of external sources including details of books of walks covering the County.
Orienteering The Leicestershire Orienteering Club arranges events and has organised a series of Permanent Orienteering Courses around the County.
Climbing A website listing climbs based on the book Leicestershire Climbs by Geoff Mason and Ken Vickers and including links to some local climbing clubs.
Page Last Updated: 6 January 2012






