Ashoak two

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This is the route I walked while following ASHOAK 1 from Ashby Folville to Oakham, apart from straightening a couple of the lines across large pastures. It would be an excellent and enjoyable route in dry conditions, but it wet winter conditions there is a lot of wet and muddy ground, and several large wet and very sticky clay fields to cross, and there are quite a lot of little ups and downs. The waymarking is good, thanks to Leicestershire County Council's excellent footpath marker posts. There are pubs en route in Burrough on the Hill and Somerby, where there is also a small shop and a number of benches. There are plenty of stiles and a few muddy sections, so it is not wheelable.

From the Carington Arms in Ashby Folvile, we head up Highfield End then turn right onto the Leicestershire Round, which we follow as far as Thorpe Satchville. The path is well signed and waymarked, but there is not always a path on the ground to follow, especially across the large pastures.

Here we leave the Leicestershire Round, and cross Main Street to take the footpath that starts across a playing field. In the second field the waymark is in the corner not where the right of way line suggests. We then cross a very wet clay field and more arable fields, then join a lane just below Burrough on the Hill. Take care on the short main road section through the village, which has a narrow verge but no pavement. We soon leave the main road, then take a lovely path through pastures and a small wilder area with gorse bushes, where we climb fairly steeply then follow field edges to the quiet Newbold Lane, which we follow into Somerby, turning right onto High Street, which has a good pavement on the north side. We pass the Stilton Cheese pub, which boasts an impressive number of local CAMRA pub of the year awards. Sadly I didn't have enough time to stop there!

We follow High Street to a T junction at the east end of the village, where we go straight on initially on a lane. The field path is well signposted, though it takes a bit of nerve to follow it through the farmyard at Oaklands. Eventually it moves slightly north of the right of way line to avoid an artificial pool by using the southern edge of a new wood. On my last visit last spring, this path was full of butterflies and damselflies, but this time there was just short grass. We then cross right through a small wood and up the hill to the Main Street of Cold Overton (no facilities here). The next field path can be a little confusing, as the line down to the left around a small fenced off area is not well marked, but you should find the exit easily enough if you trust the right of way line.

We cross the road, go left a few steps and follow a little path to a large pasture, where the slope makes it easy to drift too far right, so keep an eye on the navigation. More clay fields take us up to Cold Overton Road, which is fairly busy but wide enough to feel safe, with verges if necessary. We then turn left at the top of a hill onto Manor Lane, which is quiet because it is signposted as unsuitable for motors. This leads us down the hill past the hall into Barleythorpe. From here all is pavements and paved paths, and very easy, though for those planning to leave Oakham by train there is a temptation to stop at the station (which I resisted as I had plenty of time before the next train).

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