Marhin two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Marhin here.

A good Leicestershire country walk, two country parks and a bit of canal. There is a mix of grass and cropped fields plus stiles, gates and steps. Cafe at Sutton Wharf half way. No direct transport link between start and end. A direct field walk is available from Sutton Cheney to Harper’s Hill but that would miss the option for a cafe stop half way.

I started from Market Bosworth which appears to have just an hourly bus from Leicester. A short pavement walk takes us to the popular Country Park. Lots of paths here and the lake pulled me in the wrong direction so take care as we leave the park by a gate. The path is very well walked but once beyond the park others users almost vanish. Initially through woodland then after an isolated house we cross cropped fields but still well trodden so should be easy to follow.

I felt it was a shame to miss out Sutton Cheney which would offer an inn or two and a change of scene. The road walk along Ambion Lane has a pavement which ends where we take the bridleway. The visitor centre may no longer offer us the site of the famous battle but it does provide a loo and cafe. The path to Sutton Wharf is well walked and before flood damage, seen on my visit, it had offered a good surface.

Sutton Wharf offers another cafe which was buzzing, so appears the location of choice and is for us, half way. We cross the canal to join the towpath for a stretch, still on the Leicestershire Round. Leaving at the next bridge where a towpath seat offers a peaceful spot for a break if you have a packed lunch and flask.

Crossing the bridge the path remains signed for ‘The Round’ a walk devised by members of the Leicestershire Footpath Association to mark their centenary back in 1987. Current members still take pride in the walk with wardens keeping a close eye on any issues.

The path to Rogue’s Lane is now the Ambion Way and beyond that the additional funding for recreational routes is lost which might explain why we now have stiles rather than gates. The path is less used but yellow topped posts still guide us. More steps, I forgot to mention those at the canal, take us to a busy road on the edge of Hinckley, a central refuge permits a safer crossing. On the opposite pavement the plot is wrong, Marhin -1 was correct here, we need to take a wider loop onto the access road to the supermarket which is equally busy to cross, so again care is needed to access the footpath. Don’t continue along the supermarket road.

The footpath takes us into a pleasant park where we turn right along a surfaced path. Turning onto the plotted route in the corner the fence confirms there is no route there. Back on track it’s an easy walk into town, a few roads to cross and the first has a zebra. The meeting place in Hinckley is located in the town, not the rail station, handy for shops and buses. I headed for the bus station and hopped on a 148 to Earl Shilton for my next walk of the day to Desford. Hinear had been snailed so I try and avoid those Slow Ways.

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