The route out of Earl Shilton is neither EarDes one nor what I was forced to walk after abandoning a path that was so badly overgrown I couldn't follow it - what I did was to continue on the better used path up to Shilton Road, and use the road to get back to the original route, but this road walk was unpleasant and had one dangerous blind bend, so I changed the design to use a route that looks better. From Earl Shilton, we use a mixture of pavements and alleyway paths to reach Leicester Road, which has a pavement which we follow out to the junction with Shilton Road then take the field path straight on....

Hugh Hudson

Sadly one of the paths, just west of Shilton Road is currently impenetrable - having fought my way through nettles and bramble shoots to enter a rough ungrazed pasture, I couldn't spot any gaps in the thick hedge on the far side or any footpath marker posts, and eventually I retreated to look for an alternative route - at this point I followed the better trodden track out to Shilton Road and used the road to get back on track....

Hugh Hudson

A mix of pasture and cropped fields some large but as always in Leicestershire gates and yellow topped posts make the going easy. Crossing a road we enter wide open space but the yellow topped posts were visible to show me the way and gates made boundary crossing simple, unlike the start where there were stiles. Under the power cables then a bridge leads into a pleasant strip of pasture after those large cropped fields. A pleasant recreation ground might offer a seat if you plan to continue beyond Desford and a shop will provide any needs....

Ken

Flat route, two stiles on the Cadeby to Newbold Verdon section, crosses farmland, through woods, village streets and Market Bosworth Country Park....

K

The walk avoids significant road walking taking a route through fields so a few stiles but mostly gates and potential for cattle. Turning to walk parallel to the busy road the signage was confusing but once into the open field it was straightforward to meet the road at Whittington Grange. A short walk on the road to cross the motorway convinced me it was worth the extra distance taking the field route....

Ken

A mix of headland and cross field paths over cropped fields. Countryside starts along the track to Lockey Farm Boarding Kennels, the recorded path cuts across one field but there was no sign of use or reinstatement so I stayed on the track. Turning by the closed gates to the kennels we are still along the field headland but even after a dry January the ground was still soft here and again later in the walk there were muddy patches. Crossing a minor road the field edge is some distance so it's across the middle but again well walked, unless you are the first visitor after cultivation....

Ken

After a short road section (with a narrow pavement) the field paths were not as good, and mostly ran along field edges which had been planted up to the edge. Then a residential road of very nice houses led into Kirby Muxloe and a good deli-pub lunch at the Royal Oak. Going into the centre of Leicester there were various points of interest including the remains of the Great Central Railway South goods yard horse stables, Newarke Road Bridge, Trinity Hospital, The Newarke Houses Museum, De Montford University, Newarke/Magazine Gateway, the Cathedral, King Richard III visitor centre, many shops, and finally the Clock Tower....

Mary Oz

The path was not overgrown for us and we didn't face the same challenges as Jess, but we think the route makes use of a track which is not marked as a right of way....

danravenellison

We'd not have known if we'd not had the OS paid app, and it feels unlikely it'd be contested by anyone as it runs straight from a well-used footpath through turnip fields to the main road....

Hannah

I'd definitely walk it again and recommend that everyone (who's able) who lives in Desford gives it a go. There are a handful of stiles, a couple of narrow bridges and on the day we walked it (today)......

danravenellison

This new route was great - Slow Ways Dan and I added a new section at the Desford end to stick to footpaths and avoid a short stretch of track that wasn't a right of way....

Hannah

As the route continues it passes through, and around the edge of, more fields, before hitting a residential road that leads all the way to Desford where there is a cafe and pub, very close to the routes end....

Dan Phelan

I walked from Leicester to Desford but was unable to walk the final mile or so because the path is so overgrown and there's no clear route between fields. This route also goes past a slaughter house which is pretty unpleasant. There are some very secluded paths on this route that I wasn't comfortable walking on my own....

JessGreen