Walk 2
From glorious woodland, rocky crags and reservoirs to fabulous open views, explore the delightful Charnwood countryside on this 2 night walking holiday. Your base is a wonderful, award winning B&B surrounded by woodland and overlooking the undulating Bradgate Park. Each room has it's own snug, making it perfect for social distancing. Catch your breath, after an uphill walk, admiring the far reaching views from Beacon Hill summit. Here you will find Highland cattle, sheep and even alpacas, grazing on the heathland. Explore the unusual rhododendron labyrinth and seek out the chainsaw carvings. Learn about traditional farming traditions at Broombriggs Farm, where you will find both arable fields and livestock including Limousin, Belgian Blue and Highland cattle. A community orchard is the perfect place for a picnic. Dessert can be freshly picked in season! Warm up with a mulled wine or local. Admire the extensive herd of deer and Old John folly, as you ramble through Bradgate Park to the bustling village of Newtown Linford for a well earned afternoon tea or local beer. As winter draws to a close, the ancient Charnwood woodland is home to glorious displays of snowdrops and bluebells. Lovers of steam and vintage will love a walk to the Great Central Railway, where regular steam trains run all the way into Leicester. The Quorn Station has a 1940's theme, complete with roaring fires, air raid shelter, vintage luggage, stationmaster office and NAAFI tea room. Rothley station is designed to feel like a country station in 1912, with goods yard, gas lamps, roaring fires in the waiting room and signal box. The quirky Ellie's cafe is in a converted goods shed.
This walking holiday route can be shortened or lengthened. Ask for more information.
NIGHTS
2
DAILY MILEAGE
8 - 10 miles
AVAILABILITY
Start any day, all year
ACCOMMODATION
Single centre, luxurious B&B with ensuite and exclusive use of your own cosy snug
Bed and Breakfast
PRICE
£365.00
Price includes
Ensuite accommodation on a b&b basis, car parking, luggage transfer when moving hotels, detailed self-guide route to follow at your own pace. We're on hand to offer local support when required
Price excludes
Travel to your holiday starting point. Entry to attractions. Single supplement. Dinners. Extra nights. Travel insurance
ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS
Enjoying a ride on the heritage Great Central Railway.
Admiring the far reaching views from the craggy summit of Beacon Hill.
Sampling the local beer and cider – there's even a local vineyard.
The wonderful accommodation, where you will even enjoy your own snug.
Fabulous countryside, including the magnificent Bradgate Park, where you will find herds of wild deer.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive – The base for your walking holiday is the luxurious Horseshoe Farm B&B, sitting in glorious countryside, opposite Bradgate Park. Arrive at your leisure. We will meet you when you have settled in and answer any questions that you might have. We have lots of options for a short walk to enjoy this afternoon or evening and will provide details of our favourite places for dinner in the area. After dinner you can curl up in your own personal snug, perfect for a little after dinner reading or game of cards.
Day 2: Breakfast is a real treat at Horseshoe Cottage. Honey comes from the bees in the garden, bread is freshly baked and apple juice pressed from their own orchard apples. Today you will be walking around 8 miles through rolling countryside to the craggy summit of Beacon Hill. Step out of the door and straight into beautiful woodland. In season, this woodland is full of bluebells. Listen for the woodpecker's call as you walk. The village of Woodhouse Eaves is the perfect coffee stop. There's a fabulous little cafe, with a secluded suntrap garden. A short stroll through the pretty village brings you to Beacon Hill Country Park, one of the highest points in Leicestershire. Much of the park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the diversity of flora and fauna found here. There are many different walking routes within the Park, depending on how energetic you feel. As you walk through the park, look out for Highland cattle, sheep, rare breed pigs and even Alpaca grazing the heathland and meadows. Explore the boardwalk through the unusual Rhododendron Labyrinth. The rocky summit of Beacon Hill was formed from volcanic activity over 700 million years ago. Rocks found here are among the oldest found anywhere in the world. As you near the summit look out for an unusual rock formation, named the Old Man of the Beacon. You will spot a number of wooden chainsaw sculptures throughout the area, created by the resident chainsaw artist. Your walk continues through neighbouring Broombriggs Farm where you will find both arable fields and livestock including Limousin, Belgian Blue and Highland cattle. A community orchard is the perfect place for a picnic. Dessert can be freshly picked in season! Continue through the countryside and to the vast open Bradgate Park, famous for the Old John folly and it's large herd of deer. The park is also home to the ruins of Bradgate House, which was the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey. Lady Jane became queen for just 9 days before being overthrown by Mary 1. Your walk takes you past Old John, into the heart of the park. If you are still full of energy then continue through the park to the village of Newtown Linford for a well earned afternoon tea, local beer or early dinner. Whichever option you choose, your day's adventures end opposite the Horseshoe Farm B&B.
Day 3: Lovers of steam and vintage will love today's 8 mile walk to the Great Central Railway. After a hearty breakfast and a woodland walk you will come to the small village of Woodhouse and the Quorn and Woodhouse station of the Great Central Railway. The station has a 1940's theme, with roaring fires in winter, vintage luggage, an air raid shelter and even a NAAFI tea room. Depending on the timetable, you could choose to catch a train here to the end of the line in Leicester and then catch a train back to Rothley station, from where it is a short walk back to Horseshoe Farm. If you are not catching a train then the next stop on today's walk is the beautiful Swithland Reservoir. Look out for steam trains crossing the reservoir on a viaduct. Birdwatchers will want their binoculars as they look out for Peregrines, Mandarin ducks and Great Crested Grebe. Peep over the wall at the beautifully kept water gardens at the neighbouring Water Works. These are the filter beds and holding tanks for the neighbouring pump house. The Victorian pump house was built to look like a stately house. Swithland village is the perfect place for a well earned pint or late lunch, before heading over the fields back to your starting point. Alternatively, a 3 mile diversion will take you to Rothley station, on the Great Central Railway. This station has been designed to replicate a country station in 1912, with goods yard, gas lamps, roaring fires in the waiting room and signal box. The quirky Ellie's cafe is in a converted goods shed and does an excellent afternoon tea.