Ivanhoe Way

The Ivanhoe Way is a 35 mile circular walk around the north western area of Leicestershire. The route is split up into 7 sections, therefore making it easy to walk as a series of short strolls. The sourthern section of the route, from Bagworth to Shackerstone overlaps with the Leicestershire Round, the 100 mile walk around the county which connects many places of historical and geographical interest.

The name 'Ivanhoe' has been linked to the north west of Leicestershire since Sir Walter Scott wrote his novel 'Ivanhoe' in 1820. Scott chose the castle at Ashby de la Zouch and the surrounding countryside as one of the settings used in the book, having got to know the area whilst staying at nearby Coleorton Hall.

The north west of Leicestershire is an area of contrasts, from the bustling, historic market town of Ashby de la Zouch, through the wooded and rocky outcrops of Charnwood Forest, to the idyllic stretches of the Ashby Canal. For centuries the area has been marked by quarrying and coal-mining. Many former mining sites have been reclaimed and restored as part of the creation of the National Forest.

The Ivanhoe Way was created by the Leicestershire County Council, in conjunction with the Leicestershire Association of Parish and Local Councils, to celebrate the centenary of civil Parish Councils in 1994.

Ordnance Survey Explorer map 245 (The National Forest) show most of the route in detail, though map 233 (Leicester & Hinckley) is needed for the start/end of the walk at Shackerstone.

Traveline provide information on local bus services via the website or by telephoning 0871 200 22 33 (10p per minute landline, mobiles charged at operator's standard rates).

Go Leicestershire is the official site for tourist information including details of accommodation available. In addition the new National Forest Youth Hostel is next door to the Ivanhoe Way at Moira.

Yell.com can be searched for details and location maps of pubs, post offices, grocers & convenience stores and other accommodation in or near specific places on the Ivanhoe Way

These notes envisage you follow the route clockwise from Shackerstone, as described in the printed leaflet. Thanks are due to Sheila Dixon whose additional comments (see http://uk-walks.info/ivanhoe_way.html) have now been added to this section.

Ashby de la Zouch Grid Reference SK365173. The route leaving Ashby heading east may be slightly confusing. Having left North Street and crossed an area of open ground, the path crosses a track and re-enters the built up area. The footpath should then fork, with the left path running along the edge of the development and becoming a bridleway running along behind a warehouse. This left path is the Ivanhoe Way. After the Warehouse it crosses the Ashby bypass which is not marked on the Ivanhoe Way leaflets. The right fork runs along a residential cul-de-sac Plantagenet Way then crosses the bridleway which follows Featherbed Lane.

Heath End near Staunton Harold Grid Reference SK 368 214. Going north/clockwise near Calke, the path from Ashby meets a lane. Go straight ahead via the V shaped squeeze stiles through the edge of the garden of a large private house. After the entrance gates to the drive to this house, the OS map shows the footpath going right into a field, in which it skirts round the corner, and then comes out onto the drive to Staunton Harold Hall - quite near where the drive reaches the public road. This footpath in the field corner doesn't exist on the ground. Instead, at the end of the house driveway, you need to go out onto the roadside verge for a short stretch (you are briefly in Derbyshire) and then go into the Staunton Hall drive from the very end.

Dimminsdale Nature Reserve near Staunton Harold Grid Reference SK 376 218. The route comes through the Dimminsdale Nature Reserve. If heading east/clockwise follow the path through the reserve, then turn right onto the road which bridges over the end of the reservoir and then leads to the Severn Trent visitors car park. The official line of the footpath heads in a more easterly direction straight through the bottom end of the Reservoir. The OS mark the footpath as going that way but there isn't actually a ferry! One day the footpath will be officially moved. If heading west/anticlockwise, follow the road over the bridge then look out on the left for the pedestrian entrance to the Nature Reserve. There is no official footpath sign as this is only a permissive path and is just inside Derbyshire.

Peggs Green west of Thringstone Grid Reference SK 414 181. The maps on the leaflet show the footpath coming out on the main Nottingham Road through Peggs Green, following the road south for 130 metres, then turning left onto a footpath. This is the route which is signposted. Some OS maps mark the path going virtually straight across the road to follow a path opposite which is not the signposted route. Other OS maps show the route here correctly.

Agar Nook on the east edge of Coalville Grid Reference SK 457 142. The situation here is slightly confusing as the map on the leaflet shows one route, the signs on the ground indicate another; so you have a choice. At different times the Ordnance Survey maps have shown either of the routes. The options are:

a. On the leaflet the map and text indicate turning left from Meadow Lane onto Agar Nook Lane which follows the very edge of the built-up area. This is probably the more pleasant route. At the end turn right, cross Greenhill Lane and walk along the footway for 120 metres until you reach the footpath sign on the left indicating the Ivanhoe Way.

b. Other signposts and some OS maps show that, where Agar Nook Lane goes off left, you continue on the public footpath straight ahead, which leads out on the residental street of Lancaster Close. At the end of this turn left onto Stamford Drive. At the end of this turn left onto Greenhill Lane and cross; after 55 metres you reach the footpath sign on the left indicating the Ivanhoe Way.

Option of going via Bardon Hill Top Grid Reference SK 460 137. After leaving the edge of the built-up area and going 440 metres, the footpath turns sharp left. After another 140 metres there is another footpath off to the right. The 'official' route of the Ivanhoe Way continues straight on, and then bends right in segments to take you round the slope of Bardon Hill. However, the other path off to the right gives you the option of going via the hill top. You should certainly check an Ordnance Survey map to see where the hill top path goes. Confusingly it is not shown on the Ivanhoe Way leaflet because, at the time that was produced, the area had been quarried away but has been subsequently restored. On the top of the hill there is a network of paths which lead to the trig pillar and viewpoint overlooking the quarry.

Bagworth Loop Grid Reference SK 456 085. Users of the older OS Explorer maps may be puzzled, upon reaching a footpath junction, just south east of a property named Bagworth Park, to find signs for the Ivanhoe Way pointing in two directions. The Ivanhoe Way leaflet includes two options here. The latest OS Explorer map does show both of these routes. The main Ivanhoe Way route continues straight on, under the railway line, directly into Bagworth,

The alternative route, turning right, follows the route of the former Bagworth Incline, then crosses the current railway at the site of Bagworth station and follows Station Road down through the village. It rejoins the main route at the T junction with Main Street/Barlestone Road.

Overlap with the Leicestershire Round Grid References SK 448 080 or SK 447 080 (Bagworth) to SK 380 073 (Shackerstone). Whichever route you take into Bagworth, when on Main Street you meet the Leicestershire Round long distance footpath. The Ivanhoe Way follows the same route as this for most of the next 5½ miles. On many of the waymark posts only the Leicestershire Round symbol is shown (see details on the web page www.leics.gov.uk/round ).

Divergence from the Leicestershire Round Grid Reference SK 385 072. Note that just over ½ mile on from Odstone the unsurfaced track swings sharply right. The Ivanhoe Way turns left onto the public footpath, whereas the Leicestershire Round continues right, along the track. The routes then cross again on the edge of Shackerstone; here the Ivanhoe Way continues west on a lane, straight over the canal bridge; whereas the Leicestershire Round is now facing in the opposite direction, and comes out from the canal towpath and goes down the track paralleling the canal leading to the steam railway station.

If you have any comments or information to add please email footpaths@leics.gov.uk