An enjoyable and safe route which weaves a set of thoroughly walkable paths together....

David Sanderson

Much of this route is shared with either IbsCoa two or IbsMar two, and a bit more was familiar from the National Forest Way, but the path round the north side of Cliffe Hill Quarry and the Penny Wakefield Community Woodland were new to me. We start from Markfield on the same paths as the IbsMar two route - heading east below Markfield Hill and over the M1 (a few minor issues with overgrown vegetation and tree branches), an easy walk along the wide Cliffe Lane and the good (if slightly muddy) path along the north side of Old Cliffe Hill Quarry that leads to the road just north of Stanton under Bardon. From here we head a short distance north along the pavement then left along the quiet Billa Barra Lane (named after the hill a little further north, but what was that named after?). A short walk along the pavement of the busy West Lane leads us back onto the IbsMar two route....

Hugh Hudson

A walkable route using excellent surfaced off road paths but also some field paths which can be muddy. The short section of road walking is fairly quiet with a verge, an old lamp standard suggests there may once have been a pavement, now lost in undergrowth. Crossing the road we take a stile and walk along what is becoming an overgrown but once wide surfaced path a green corridor between those sheds we had seen. After a short road link we enter another green space with surfaced paths. It’s now road walking but the route takes back street rather than the main road, although on the day of my walk it was perhaps quieter than usual as the road was closed....

Ken

Pretoria Road is easy walking, initially a standard road it gradually becomes a track with vehicles prohibited. Meeting the road south of Ellistown we use an unrecorded but inviting path with gates clearly intended for our use. Meeting a road we cross and finally enter real countryside with those excellent views to the south. I also see that the modern road has been rerouted south to allow for the quarry expansion....

Ken

Once beyond most of the houses, do not ignore the footpath going down to the left - this is our path, which starts down a few steps and continues mostly between fences to Hill Lane, where we head straight across on a path that starts fenced then crosses a field to reach the M1 bridge. Beyond the bridge we turn right down steps, following a fairly well trodden path, then go left over a footbridge. We go right a few steps then left on a good wide path between fences. This road has a pavement on the east side which we follow left a short distance before crossing with care to join the path signposted as unsuitable for motors....

Hugh Hudson

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

This route has a very pleasant path with great northward views but it’s trapped between long sections of road walking. Cattle and stiles grass and crops, paths not well used perhaps because of road walking to access them. I did search for the plotted old road route but no sign of it so go up to the lights. The road is not unpleasant to walk along but does need care and after turning at the cross roads there was once a pavement but it’s long since that it was maintained and it’s also overgrown in places which forced me to cross the road to walk facing oncoming traffic....

Ken

The first cross field path, with sheep was a delight being the former parkland. The muddy bit comes next to enter a field that is rather rutted compared with the previous easy surface of the parkland. The next path is well used while the next is ignored so I followed the locals around the well walked field edge. To my relief the wide path between the trees is mown. Care is needed as the path swaps from one side of the field boundary to enter the edge of Browns Wood. After passing under the busy road the route is initially along a track but leaves onto a parallel path through fields before a short section of road walk into Markfield passing an inn and ending close to the Co-op and bus stop....

Ken

The walk continued safely off road along a path over the hedge, although having spotted it on the OS map I nearly missed the start. I would therefore go along with Hugh’s suggestion of considering the path used by Marlou-2 although that would miss the pleasant pasture north of Clover Cloud (this sounds far better than the pleasant pasture south of Stinking Wood). The path after the subway may be off route but we have no choice but to follow it and it is surfaced....

Ken

Beyond the houses we turn right again and follow a roughly surfaced lane out to Hill Lane, which has a pavement on the far side. We cross and turn right, then go left and right at Ashby Road to continue up Whitwick Road. We cross Copt Oak Road (the shortcut across the junction doesn'r seem to work but in any case it is easier to cross at the traffic lights), We cross the M1 bridge and immediately turn right on a signposted footpath. At Ashby Road West we turn right for a few meters, cross and turn left across a field and through a wood, another field and over an old railway to Rockingham Close....

Hugh Hudson

Quite a lot of stiles, especially in the western half. Sections of it very muddy in winter. Pretty flat generally....

K

Nice mix of town and country....

David Griffiths

As Ken says, the path out to the A50 underpass is further east than the right of way line. The Leicestershire Round path has more wet and muddy sections and a few stiles, so some may prefer the more direct route out of Markfield (see Marlou two). A band of new houses is passed on a sandy path and we then follow a tarmac path right of the cemetery over Rothley Brook and under the A46....

Hugh Hudson

The route out of Mountsorrel could be shortened easily, either by using the Castle Hill path or the path that goes up right of the church, but in any case the Leicestershire Round path is reached quickly enough. I didn't investigate the shortcut path just before Bradgate Lane which looks slightly shorter than staying on the bridlepath. There is also an option to take the path left around the Bradgate Park car park rather than walking through it (the car park has a toilet building a short distance off route). I am not convinced that using the Round west of John's Lee Wood is the best or easiest route into Markfield - there is a more direct route that involves crossing the A50 on pelican crossings (see Marlou two)....

Hugh Hudson

Eventually we reach a stile on the left where we join a well cut and popular field path that takes us to the edge of Woodhouse (the line through the final field is slightly longer than the right of way and is marked as a footpath on the OS 1:25000 map. Forest Road has a pavement on the left/south which we follow to the church, where we take the quieter lane straight on, then right through houses and up through fields and a sports field to reach Woodhouse Eaves, where we join the Leicestershire Round and follow more pavements to the edge of the village, then take the well marked path that crosses fields into a golf course. Beyond we turn right, crossing Launde Road and continuing onto Leicester Road, then using a fenced alleyway to reach Park Avenue, from where the rather undistinguished meeting point (no benches, and not much in terms of facilities) is a short distance down Main Street....

Hugh Hudson

This was a big enough safety concern for me to fail the route and submit a better plotted alternative (Marlou two)....

Hugh Hudson

Roadside walking does have pavement or a well walked narrow verge. I walked from Markfield, the pavement walk to Field Head is functional but the plotted route to cross the road is not advised. The derelict mill was a disappointment so I wonder if staying on the Round might be a better option especially as it would avoid the pavement walk alongside Sharply Hill. Opposite the large Bradgate car park at Hunt's Hill where there is a loo and may be ice creams a road verge is protected for walking by wooded posts before we head off, back on the Round, towards Woodhouse Eaves crossing a golf course on a fairly well signed path....

Ken

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 section of pavement alongside a busy road before quiet roads, a cycle route and a short riverside path before crossing the river onto the busy city centre streets. The first path and crossing of the busy road is well signed but not quite as shown on the plot which is on the definitive line as shown on Ordnance Survey. Crossing the road the path alongside the cemetery is even better being an excellent tarmac surface and kissing gates indicate, for walkers only. A tunnel provides safe passage under the busy road, the surfaced path is inviting but the public path forks right or a walked path continues along the field edge after the surfaced path turns into the houses. Meeting the road there is a shop at the filling station opposite but crossing the road is an issue and the large traffic islands mean a less than direct but safe passage on foot....

Ken

Between Stanton under Bardon and Markfield at Markfield Lodge Farm SK 47401 09564 the route uses a track that is not public highway....

Ken