Walk 1: Braunstone Town to Enderby

A distance of 3 1/4 miles taking approximately 1 1/4 hours and includes a mixture of residential, industrial and agricultural land use.

Parking

Parking may be available at the Shakespeare Public House after seeking the landlord's consent.

Bus Service

Arriva operate bus services along the Braunstone Lane and Shakespeare Drive. Bus Stops can be found in the proximity of the starting point for the walk.

Ease of Access

This walk is suitable for prams and wheelchairs until you reach the track leading into Brockenhurst Drive. (Radar Keys are available for the disabled from Braunstone Civic Centre). Access may be available beyond this point as far as Abbey Farm if the gate is unlocked.

Start

START at the Car Park of the Shakespeare Public House, Braunstone Lane in the Old Village of Braunstone. Enter Shakespeare Park through the gap in the fence at the side of the Public House and head for the right hand corner. Pass the play area on your left and continue through the car park and onto Avon Road.

Cross Avon Road, to the track opposite. Continue along the track (Lubbesthorpe Bridle Road). The houses should be set back on the right and a bridleway sign on the left. Continue through Merrileys Park, the rear of the Vue Multiplex Cinema (formerly Warner Brothers) at Meridian Leisure Park should be on your right.

Continue in a straight line across the parkland and go through a metal gate alongside a brick shed where a track will take you directly on to Brockenhurst Drive.

(Not suitable for prams and wheelchairs beyond this point if the gate is locked.)

Turn left onto Brockenhurst Drive and then right into Staplehurst Avenue. Rejoin the footpath at the end of the Avenue. Continue along this footpath noting to your right the close proximity of Meridian Industrial Estate with its two prominent masts.

At the footpath junction with Woodcote Road and Lubbesthorpe Road turn immediate right onto Lubbesthorpe Road. Continue Watergate Lane and turn right. Continue beyond the entrance to Osiers Nature Park on the left. This woodland is owned and managed by Blaby District Council. If you have time you may which to explore the woodland making use of the various footpaths through the site.

The route now leaves the residential area and passes over Lubbesthorpe Way (A563 Leicester Outer Ring Road) and the East Meridian Industrial Estate Road. Continue along Watergate Lane under the M1 Motorway Bridge where the road name changes to Lubbesthorpe Bridle Road. Continue until Abbey Farm is reached on your left.

(Not suitable for prams and wheelchairs beyond this point)

Pass Abbey Farm, and take an immediate left turn onto the unmade track (be careful not to take the track which leads to Hopyard Farm).

Cross the cattle grid and head towards the M69 Motorway. A bridge carries the track over the Motorway.

Keeping to the edge of the field continue up the slope to the farm ahead.

At the farm take the right turn shown by the waymarker post, (the path almost turns back on itself).

Pass by Keepers Cottage to your right and continue along this track beyond Warren Farm to your left to reach a waymarker by the side of a stile and gate.

Continue as directed with Fox Covert to your right and Enderby Warren Quarry Landfill site to your left. Continue to Harrold’s Lane (the track on your left).

Turn left into Harrold’s Lane and proceed as directed by the waymarker sign.

Leave Harold’s Lane where it bears left and go straight ahead along the footpath which brings you out into the car park of The Plough Public House.

Cross Hall Walk (B582) and take the footpath with its brick enclosed entrance and surface made of old style granite sets. The pathway leads you into Moores Lane where you go straight ahead.

You reach the car park and rear entrance of The New Inn Public House which is the FINISH of this walk.

TO RETURN TO BRAUNSTONE TOWN: FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR WALK

TO RETURN VIA LEICESTER FOREST EAST: FOLLOW WALKS 3 AND 5

Map

Acknowledgements

This webpage uses the text of the 2002 Golden Jubilee Walks leaflet, by permission from the Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project