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Walk 1455 - printer friendly version

Great Glen and Burton Overy circular Walk

Author - David McMahon

Length - 6.0 miles / 9.8 km

Ascent - 200 feet / 61 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference SP655975
Lat 52.57138801 + Long -1.034988147
Postcode LE8 9GQ (approx. location only)

This circular walk is through Great Glen and Burton Overy; two villages to the east of the City of Leicester, with Great Glen being by far the larger. Great Glen is on the Arriva X3, Leicester to Market Harborough bus route. See website for bus times.

The starting point is Great Glen's village green opposite the Old Greyhound Inn. Walk back along the old London Road towards Leicester. Very soon you will pass The Yews pub. Immediately after, go through the gate to the right. The left hand diagonal path takes you to the village church of St Cuthbert's. However follow the right hand one that parallels the hedgerow and go through another gate to your right. This brings you into Hewitt Close, which leads on to Sence Crescent. Turn left along Sence Crescent to reach Main Street. Cross the road and continue the length of High Street and go to the right.

Take the path to the Recreation Ground and swing to the left and pass through the gate. The bridleway continues around the perimeter of the football/cricket pitch until you are on the opposite side. Just after the gate there is a stile which gives you access to the pitch and you can cross it, but it is not recommended if there's a football game/cricket match on!

From there on is a wide lane which takes you into open country and is more or less a straight run until you reach the old Roman Road (grid ref. SK660003). As you progress you will see the tower of the church of Stretton Magna, the sole remaining building of the medieval village which once stood there. Unfortunately it's on private land.

Once you reach the road you need to do a road walk to the right. Alternatively, as it is a narrow and busy road it is safer to walk along the headland of the field which will bring you out just short of the bridge over the River Sense. Continue along and eventually there is a wide grass verge you can use.

On reaching the T-junction go straight across and follow the bridleway along the left-hand side of the hedgerow for the length of the field. Although it looks as if the path continues straight on, you need to turn left to the next corner and go through into the next field. Carry on in the same direction, but to the right-hand side of the hedgerow. At the end of that field you go through a gap and cross over to the left-hand side of the hedgerow. Continue along on the same side until you reach the road (grid ref.SP671988).

Cross over the road and follow the footpath along the hedgerow. Eventually, you will climb two stiles in quick succession and then angle off to the left. You will see a yellow post at the end of the hedgerow. Continue past it and aim for the far right-hand corner of the field. You will spot the stile just short of the corner to reach Washwood Lane with Burton Overy off to the left.

From this point you have a choice of routes back to Great Glen. Opposite is a bridleway which is 1.25 miles from you starting point. Go through the gate, cross the field, through another gate and continue along the wide sheltered lane. You come onto a road and continue along it in the same direction. Just short of the houses you will see a bridleway sign to the left. Turn onto it and very shortly you will pass a pond followed to reach the driveway of The Hall. This leads to old London Road where you turn right and you are soon back at the start.

Alternatively, there is a footpath into Great Glen, which is a slightly longer route and through more open countryside Walk into the village and here again you have a choice of routes. Firstly, at the first road junction you turn right into Beadswell Lane and walk along it to the end. Secondly, you walk on past the first junction and continue until you reach the junction with Main St. The Bell public house (classic car meet every third Tuesday) ?makes up the left-hand corner. Turn right and you will pass an attractive white-painted thatched cottage which was at one time the village Post Office. Carry on past it and then turn right at the village Coat of Arms into Town St. At the far end it joins up with Beadswell Lane.

Right in the corner you will see a high privet hedge. The narrow footpath is to the left of it and very quickly you're out of the village. Go to the right of the trees and follow on until you're walking parallel to Burton Brook. Once you reach the road, go right and you will pass the driveway for the alternative walk and then you will reach your starting point.

Walk 1455 Route Map

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