Redmile, Barkstone & Plungar Parish Walks

1½km (1 mile) - Redmile circular
Starting from the church, Redmile, go down Church Lane to the very end and turn left around the last house.  Go through the gate and follow the green lane until you reach a wooden gate.
Once through the gate turn left and cross a stile.  Aim for the top left hand corner of the field, crossing a bridge over a stream on the way.  A gate then takes you between farm buildings, bear right around the farm building then to another gate between two other farm buildings. Continue to a gate and path by the school field to emerge on Main Street.

Starting from the church, Redmile, go down Church Lane to the very end and cross the cattle grid.  Turn right and walk over the field to a stile.
Notice the lovely views of Belvoir Castle behind and to the left.
Cross the stile and continue through two more fields heading for the spire of Barkestone church ahead.  In the third field aim for the telegraph poles in the far right hand corner to meet the lane.  Follow the lane, bending right to pass the Chequers Inn.  Turn left into Middle Street, then right at the end, into Chapel Street.  Walk straight over the cross-roads heading for the church.
Notice the old school on the corner.
A. Walk the length of Jericho Lane to the canal, and head down on to the towpath.  Walk under the bridge following the towpath back towards Redmile, crossing Redmile Lane along the way.
B. At bridge number 54 leave the towpath and follow the road back into the village and to the start.
In 1816 Daniel Smith, who had businesses in Leicester and London, bought land in Barkestone and had a school and master’s house built to provide free education for the boys and girls of the Parishes of Barkestone and Plungar.  Unfortunately, the school closed in 1989.  A plaque from the gable end wall of the original building paying tribute to the generous gift can now been seen in the church.

From Barkestone church take the footpath towards Granby on the left.  Keep the hedge on the left then when a stile leads to the middle of an open field, turn right and follow the hedge on the right.
There is a great view of the vale from this path.
In the next field turn half left to reach a track.  Turn right, then over the bridge and down onto the towpath.  Carry straight on until bridge No. 51, then leave the canal, turn right and climb the lane back to the church

Follow directions for Walk 3 to the canal, then immediately before the canal take the path on the left.  In the second field turn half left across the field climbing to a projecting corner where a stile leads from this field.
1. Follow the hedge on the left to a stile, then cross two more fields and turn left on entering a third.  Follow the hedge to a rough piece of field turn right to enter the garden of a bungalow then through a hedge to the road.
2. Turn left, then right past the church and right at the next junction.  This is Granby Lane, follow this to the canal turning right to return along the towing path.  Leave at the second bridge climbing Jericho Lane back to the church.
The Parish church of Plungar was restored and enlarged in 1856, by Revered Burnaby.  It hides well its 11^th century origins, few clues remain, apart from the exterior of some of the north wall and several pillar bases.
The landscape seen today reflects the changes that occurred during the  enclosures of 1794, when open field systems were replaced by small fields enclosed by thorn hedges.

From the church, Plungar, come out of Church Lane, onto Barkestone Lane and turn right towards Harby.  As the road bends left, go straight on following the footpath fingerpost over the stile.
i. Walk with the hedge on the right until you reach a gate, then in the next field walk with the fence on your left around the private property.
ii. At the path junction turn right to cross a stile then dismantled railway line.  Bear left across the field of ridge and furrow, and in the next field walk with the hedge to the left.