Narlei two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 71.43% of reviewers

I agree with David that NarLei Three should be used due to plotting inaccuracies. I am also aware that the people who reviewed route Two during the November 2022 Swarm actually walked route Three.

I caught the train to Narborough which was a small little village but has amenities.

This was a lovely walk! I walked this route with some fellow Slow Wayers as part of the Leicester swarm this weekend.
The route was mainly off road, taking us on pathways and alongside the canal for much of the journey. The route only had a short part that went through residential housing but it was possible to walk on pavements and find crossings across roads when it was needed. There was one steepish hill that was slightly challenging but seems accessible for most people, you may just need to take it slowly. The rest if the route was flat and easy for a gentle walk. There were some bike barriers on the cycle path that may reduce accessible passing for a wheelchair user or pushchair which was the only downside of this walk.

We stopped for a cuppa and cake at the Tea rooms on the Canal side which was a welcome comfort break.

A great walk to meander in a group but equally good for a solo walked or runner.

I also walked this route as part of the November 2022 swarm and the addition of a delightful tea room puts it in the 5 star category for me.
The path along the canal was pleasantly quiet for a rather mild Saturday in November.
I actually re-walked about an hour of this route the following day, leaving the path at the Aylestone Boathouse site to reach Fosse Park where I picked up a bus back to London.
This additional connectivity to transport, avoiding main roads, cements this a 5 star walk.

DON'T DOWNLOAD THIS VERSION OF THE ROUTE. FOLLOW NARLEI THREE INSTEAD. I followed this route from Narborough to Leicester. Although it was clearly a route that had been tracked rather than plotted, I was able to follow it. This was until I got into Whetstone when I got to the section by the roundabout at the meeting of the A426 and the B582. The route clearly ask you to leave the road to go through a residential area. I found that the short cut was through a private residents' car park and was not even sure if it could be exited on the other side. I instead rejoined then main road and walked around the roundabout which was a much more straightforward, sensible option. Narlei 3 follows the route I took so I shall be writing my review for that.

I joined the Leicester swarm to be led with a friendly group by Lynne. Easy walk through variety of settings (villages, suburbs, fields, river, canal) mainly on the flat with a few places on the canal to sit for a break. The Kings lock tea rooms is a good stopping point with take away and sit down refreshments plus toilet. Unusual view under the M1 of the cows resting! Plenty of transport options for the return journey.

A great walk into central Leicester, following a pretty and direct path, and enhanced by the Lock Keeper's cafe being open along the canal. Despite running through a low-lying stretch between the canal and river, the path was compacted and not too muddy. I'm running a new phone, so my few photos of the route went straight to my Komoot app, but can be viewed at https://www.komoot.com/tour/978094601, which also covered Bronar 1 first.
If the canal-side route does look as if it is going to be too muddy, it is possible to make a minor diversion along Cork Lane and Needham Avenue in Aylestone or Glen Parva, to join the Great Central Way, but maybe the nicest part of the walk would be missed. Just before this section, in Blaby, we took a minor diversion through the Winchester Avenue industrial estate, rather than a 3-400 yard stretch by the busy dual carriageway - it was a Saturday, so the industrial estate was quiet.

This route from Narborough to Leicester is a simple and straightforward route to follow.

We walked along a road and onto a footpath beside a field for the first part of the route, before using the Great Central Way and through Whetstone. We crossed the Stour at several points and over a small hill before joining the canal and walking the best bit of the route. This part was made even better by a short stop at the King's Lock tearoom.
We continued on our way and rejoined the Great Central Way a couple of bridges along the canal. This is where the only steps that couldn't be avoided as we had to climb them to get onto the trail.

The rest of the journey was a straight line into Leicester, walking along the maple-lined Great Central Way. Be aware that you share this trail with cyclists.

Please note: I made a mistake uploading Narlei two and so you should use the Narlei three gpx file if you want to follow this route.

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