Polmar two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Polmar here.

Walked from Bosworth to Polesworth. A good route, easy to follow, but lots of mud and shallow water in this wet winter. Plenty of stiles, one or two of them wobbly or awkward.

Between Market Bosworth and Sibson, the route is very similar to AthMar two, which I walked in this direction in summer conditions a couple of years ago. On that occasion, we had to struggle through the large field west of the canal without seeing any trace of a path, so this time I was surprised to see a clear tractor track leading straight from the little pool to the corner where the exit sign is, which made it much easier even if this track was wet in places. The old pub in Sibson is still advertising for new management.

The route out of Sibson starts through a gravelled garden, then a horse pasture. Having crossed the stream I went wrong here, as there is a barbed wire fence not shown on the 1:25000 map, and the original right of way line is above it, but this led to an impasse. After retreating I realised that the waymark arrow pointed slightly left. This path is not well used and has a lot of stiles and muddy corners, but no major impediments, and the twin villages of Sheepy Parva and Sheepy Magna are reached easily enough. We pass the pub (Black Horse) in Sheepy Magna and head through a residential estate to reach the track north, which is also easy to follow as long as you watch out for the junction at the farm.

The path beyond is well cut and leads to a crossroads of cut grass paths where we head left, then bend right towards Orton-on-the-Hill. A signposted footpath takes us along the drive of a house (the higher of the two possibilities) then across the edge of the lawn to an overgrown little gap and a plank bridge. After one more field we cross a farm lane into a huge field with a well cut path that descends over a road (which is open to the field) and continues beyond to a farm, where there are just enough signs to make following the rest of the path to Warton easy. There is a shop and a pub here, but we are well past the halfway point. From here onwards the rest of the walk is on pavements, but the road to Polesworth has a lot of little ups and downs, and the pavements disappear into muddy spots at times and are obviously used by horses.

Polesworth has a railway station on the West Coast Main Line, but it is only served by one train a day, which is far too early to be useful unless you live there, but fortunately there is also a good bus service to Tamworth which passes the station there.

Polmar is fundamentally a sound route that needs a few tweaks to make following it as easy a possible here’s my effort. There are places where the available path may be off line and strays from the plot or the plot does not follow what’s on the OS map. There could be cattle and horses plus mud and invisible paths because these are in places not well used. Some services along the route but mostly inns in the centre so may not be open when you pass.

I walked from Polesworth starting along a roadside pavement and continued on this to Warton. Here is a shop and inn that may be of use approaching Polesworth. The next section of path is signed, easy to locate and soon leads to the border into Leicestershire. Here we encounter a large ploughed field and no sign of a path. Fortunately it’s crop free for me so keeping a close eye on the plotted line I find the correct point to cross the road. From here the path is cleared through the standing crop.

The path enters a private garden which may be off putting in the opposite direction although a sign offers direction and assurance. We don’t enter Orton where an inn is available off route. At the exit from Hill Top / Walnut Rise turn right taking a narrow lane. This becomes a footpath passing Hollis Farm after which we bear left onto a bridleway.

The bridleway starts well with a trampled path along Green Lane, an old uncultivated route. After crossing a rutted muddy lane we again meet a large field and the bridleway route vanishes under the plough. The crossing footpath is also invisible only the plot and GPS will show us where to turn. Back along the woodland edge our route is better defined and some yellow topped posts will assist. The old Tithe Barn looks nothing from the path but see http://www.greatbarns.org.uk/newhouse_grange_barn.html which says “it is surrounded by modern farm buildings, so it is difficult to get a view of the outside, but the interior is magnificent”. The site offers a picture. New House Grange no longer complies with the name.

We meet another ORPA (Other Route with Public Access) but it’s best to stick with the footpath along the visible track. We follow this defined track to eventually pass through the recreation ground of Sheepy Magna where there are seats and picnic tables, ideal for a lunch break.

Half way and there is an inn here. Pressing on to Sheepy Parva there is also a posh restaurant by the old mill pond. The path to Sibson is through pasture so there could be horses and cattle and in places mud and rough ground but I enjoyed this path with some fields yellow with buttercups. Sibson offers a hotel and perhaps soon a timber framed inn that was closed awaiting refurbishment as I passed.

Another large field but the path was evident and clear if a little off line. It appeared to pass between two tall round storage tanks at The Valley Farm but the cleared route took us around them. The next cross field path was unavailable but a mown path offers a good alternative. Crossing a minor road we enter another large field with undefined path so follow the plot to locate a short yellow post then continue to a humped bridge over the Ashby canal.

Far Coton Farm offers some attractive buildings then a short dog leg along the road then across a paddock to meet a road at the crossing of the Battlefield Heritage Railway line. As we approach journeys end the path is well walked so even off line it’s easy to follow. A few estate roads lead to the to the attractive town centre which has all services and buses to Leicester.

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