Walk 2: Braunstone Town to Leicester Forest East

A distance of 3 miles taking approximately 1 hour from the urban fringe of Braunstone Town; through the Thorpe Astley Development and attractive countryside to Leicester Forest East.

Parking

Parking may be available at the Shakespeare Public House after seeking the Landlord’s consent.

Bus Services

Arriva operates 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 open countryside after Jewsbury Way.

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 Function Room of the Public House and head for the Play Area in the right hand corner. Pass the play area on your left and continue through the Park’s car park to Avon Road.

Cross Avon Road and take the track opposite (Lubbesthorpe Bridle Road). The track leads onwards and by bollards where more bollards to your right separate the roads Kingsway North to the right and Shakespeare Drive to the left.

Turn right along Kingsway North passing the Winstanley School Playing Fields and School entrance on your left, turning left into the footpath-cycleway between Winstanley and Kingsway Schools.

After going through the Lubbesthorpe Way Subway, turn left and go by the Withers Way roundabout to your left. Follow the footpath which runs directly ahead meandering through a grassed area. The pathway makes a turn to the right at the back of the Aldi Superstore and keeping the brook on your left make a left turn over the brook bridge. Take the footpath to your immediate right – the brook is now on your right. Keeping the brook on your right, cross Foxon Way and continue until you have crossed Jewsbury Way.

(Not suitable for prams and wheelchairs beyond this point).

Beyond Jewsbury Way the tarmac pathway gives way to a field footpath and with the hedgerow and brook still on your right continue to the M1 Motorway where you pass under a subway.

The path veers to the right and leads you to a stile and gate where a marker points the way along the field boundary of the M1 Motorway Leicester Forest East Service Station. Follow the field edge walking towards the next waymarker. On reaching the waymarker proceed as directed reaching a gate on your right. Go straight ahead as directed by the two marker posts either side of the stream, over which the footpath passes. Head towards the next waymarker, keeping the field boundary hedge on your right, to reach the three directional waymarker, where you can either:-

Divert to the right FINISHING the walk at the junction of Baines Lane and the A47 (Leicester to Hinckley Road).
Or
Continue onwards FINISHING the walk at The Red Cow Public House, Hinckley Road (A47).

FOR BAINES LANE follow the waymarker’s right hand arrow by crossing a footbridge in the hedgerow to join a track. Go straight ahead reaching a stile in the hedgerow where a waymarker sign directs you towards Baines Lane. On reaching the junction with Baines Lane, turn left at the gate or stile as directed. After crossing over the M1 Motorway, fork to the left to reach the main Leicester to Hinckley Road (A47).

FOR THE RED COW PUBLIC HOUSE continue onwards, keeping the hedge on your right, through three fields crossing stiles and following the direction indicated by the waymarkers until you reach a footbridge with safety railings.

Passing over the footbridge with a pond to your right, the waymarker now directs you diagonally across a field (note the location of Old Warren Farm on your left). Crossing a stile you find yourself in a tiny enclosed area where, to your right, you cross a stile and continuing onwards along the boundary of the fields you reach a stile and waymarker which points you in an ongoing direction.

When you have traversed this field the route makes a left turn, where a notice is attached to a pylon, and a right turn to take you over a footbridge and through a ‘kissing gate’ into the residential area and forward to the junction with Forest House Lane.

Walk 3 joins here **

Turn right along Forest House Lane and left into Carnation Close. Continue along the whole length of Carnation Close and forwards along a footpath which connects with the junction of Lark Close and Woodpecker Drive. Make a sharp right turn and proceed along a footpath through a landscaped area which will take you across Teal Close on its way to Warren Lane. Turn right along Warren Lane and reaching its junction with St David’s Close, fork right proceeding to the end of the Close where a gap, in the hedge to your left, takes you on to the pavement adjoining the Leicester to Hinckley Road (A47).

Turn right on the A47 road and using the right hand side pavement cross the road named Stafford Leys and onwards until The Red Cow Public House appears on your left. Be sure to make a safe crossing of this busy road reaching the Public House which is the FINISH of this walk.

TO RETURN TO BRAUNSTONE TOWN: FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR WALK 5.

TO RETURN VIA ENDERBY: FOLLOW WALKS 6 AND 4.

Map

Acknowledgements

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