Barkby Parish Walks

About Barkby

Where is Barkby? Barkby is about 4 miles north east of Leicester

The village of Barkby is just to the east of Thurmaston, about 4 miles from the centre of Leicester and is easily accessible from the A46. The area is mainly arable farming, though few village residents now work on the land, most commute to work in Leicester.

Parking can be difficult in Barkby, but if parked carefully, there is usually space in Barkby Holt Lane, off Beeby Road.

Find out more about Barkby on Leicestershire Villages

Traveline which allows users to search by postcode and places of interest. There are other features including detailed maps of the journey, walking distances and public transport timetable downloads.

The same information is also available everyday on 0871 200 22 33 7am - 9pm. For the next bus departures from any bus stop or postcode visit Traveline East Midlands online.

About the Walks

There are 3 different walks in the Barkby area: 9 3/4km (6miles), 7 1/4km (4 1/2miles), 5 3/4km (3 1/2miles).
All walks start from where Brookside meets Barkby Holt Lane, off Beeby Road. As all the walks are circular they can of course be started from any point.
All of the paths are waymarked.

Download the printer friendly Leaflet (.pdf) Leaflet illustrations by Poppy End Arts

To order a paper copy of the Parish Walk leaflet to be delivered to you, please email customerservices@leics.gov.uk or telephone 0116 305 8160 quoting the leaflet you want and your name and address.

The Route

A larger map is available from here

Walk 1

9¾ km (6 miles), allow 3 hours, relatively flat, return route along bridleway is very easy

From Barkby Holt Lane walk down Brookside with the brook on the left hand side. At the end of the path, go over the brook and turn right. Cross the corner of the field to a stile, then turn left, walking with the hedge on the left.

A. Halfway through the third field cross the boundary and continue with the hedge now on the right.

B. On reaching a second metalled farm road turn left to a large gate and cross the stile on the right hand side. Walk down the lane towards the village.

Take the footpath on the left just before reaching the houses. (The village of Beeby is straight on).

From here you will see the truncated steeple of the All Saints Church, Beeby, known as ‘Beeby’s Tub’. Story has it that the two stone masons who were brothers, quarrelled over how the steeple should be built. They fought and fell to their deaths from the tower.

“Beeby Tub without a pub,
A church without a spire.
Two brothers fought and broke their backs
And so ‘twas built no higher”

Walk straight across the field of ridge and furrow, following the waymarkers to the Beeby Grange. Pass to the left of the barn and continue in the same direction to the road.

C. Cross to the footpath opposite and follow the footpath diagonally left uphill to meet with the road once more.

Look back at this point to see great views of Leicester city.

Turn right up the road, then left onto the bridleway which leads through tranquil woodland and past Beeby Holt Nature Reserve.

D. Look out for a waymarker showing the route left. Follow this well defined path which later becomes a metalled lane taking you back to the start point.

Walk 2

5¾km (3½miles), allow 1½hours, majority on easy tracks

Walk up Barkby Holt Lane, past the start of Brookside on the right. In about 400m take the footpath on the left, and walk up the field with the hedge on the left.

1. Cross the stream and continue up the next two fields to meet a farm track.

2. Turn right and follow the track until it eventually becomes a footpath across fields. Using the waymarkers as a guide, maintain roughly the same direction across open fields and through two small woods.

3. On reaching the metalled road, turn right and follow the road back to the start point.

Walk 3

7¼ km (4½mile), allow 2hours, across open countryside, muddy in places

From point B of walk 1, continue down the lane onto Main Street.

i. At Brooke House Farm turn right following the direction of the fingerpost down the driveway. Walk to the left of the buildings to eventually cross a stile leading to a track. Take the track up to the road.

ii. Cross the road bearing right to reach another footpath. Once in the field, head diagonally right aiming for the waymarker in the right hand field boundary.

iii. Maintain the same direction for the next two fields. On reaching the far boundary of the second field turn right, following the waymarkers along the track.

From here there are great views across the countryside and towards the hills of Charnwood and Bradgate Park.

iv. Keep following the track until it bears left towards farm buildings, with woodland ahead. Turn right and walk down hill with the woodland on the left. Cross the stile and continue down to the road.

Follow the path on the opposite side which leads back to Brookside. Turn left and retrace your steps back to the start.

Leaflet illustrations by Poppy End Arts

Barkby Parish Walks

About Barkby

About the Walks

The Route

further information