Meeting the road south of Ellistown I attempted to locate the next path which was signed but badly overgrown so summer shorts encouraged me to find a way around and that I did. Meeting a road we cross and finally enter real countryside with those excellent views to the south. Horsepool Avenue starts well and Google does show a signed and overgrown gap onto Cliffe Hill Road which I didn’t explore as I was attempting to avoid the ups and downs of the plot here. The path from here was overgrown so I followed the industrial road but there is a gate across this which may at times be closed....

Ken

A mostly pleasant, safe and easy to follow route which I started in Ibstock. There are some amazing views from this route as you look to the west, towards Staffordshire....

David Sanderson

Buses to Leicester, Loughborough and Swadlincote from Coalville....

David Sanderson

The path, interrupted by a short section of quiet road, takes us to the National Forest Way, which is on a wide track here, which we follow left over the Sence and up the hill beyond to reach Heather Lane, where we stay on the National Forest Way and turn left. The path into Normanton is direct and fairly well trodden but has a number of stiles, which is probably why the National Forest Way stays on the quiet road. Vicarage Lane leads us over the A42, and beyond we leave the National Forest Way to take a shorter route that starts on a path then joins Packington Nook Lane....

Hugh Hudson

At Manor Road we join the National Forest Way, which takes us down Townsend Lane, then leaves the old lane on a path left, that starts over a stile into a horse pasture, then crosses a fairly wet riverside area with a couple more stiles to reach a bridge over the Sence. We then cross a field (recently ploughed, no sign of a cut path) to an old railway, where the trodden path now takes an easier line than the waymarked right of way, starting along the old railway then joining the old route where it starts to cross a large arable field diagonally....

Hugh Hudson

Rather than taking the main road this route uses a good path created through a fairly new housing estate parallel and just yards from the marked footpath. A cross field path leads to the road and a quiet lane or alternative footpath into Normanton. Back into fields our path annoying follows around field edges before meeting a roadside pavement walk into Measham....

Ken

I walked from Ashby and the route to Packington is great to link the settlements for all users. The definitive path and the plot might follow hedges now removed, so a straight line is best walked and may be marked out on the ground. Again approaching Normanton le Heath the lightly walked path may be off plot but as usual in Leicestershire yellow topped posts offer guidance. We leave the byway and avoid passing the loo block the other side of the hedge, so look out for it if it’s needed, don’t hold on hoping there’s one at the walk end....

Ken

This starts along a road, a pavement either side, parked cars on the left and a grass strip on the right both offer a buffer from the traffic. Taking a right then left at Donington le Heath, we miss the old Manor House museum but this way offers an excellent surfaced path avoiding the narrow lane which has no pavement....

Ken

The route strikes out from the market place between the co-op and the imposing former bank. The path continues to Carlton where we leave 'The Round' and take the village street but veer off to avoid passing The Gate Hangs Well. The farm track from here is inviting but not the path which is again across the field to meet the road for a brief walk along the verge, do not cross before the road junction. We meet The Round again here but that heads east and we take a path northwards towards the hamlet of Belcher's Bar....

Ken

Further along, the route takes a footpath from St Mary's Avenue to Frearson Road, but there isn't a footpath between these roads....

Midland Walker

The cross-field route from Redburrow Lane to Normanton Le Heath follows a footpath down to a field of cows, but then the path seems to disappear. Having passed through the Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee wood, the route heads directly for Ravenstone Road, and then follows this for a few hundred yards....

davej-ashby