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Walk B1 - Swithland, Cropston and Thucaston
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Factfile

 
Distance: 5.5 Miles / 9.5 KM Time: 3h
Suitable For: All Terrain: Footpaths and Road - can be very muddy
Difficulty: Quite Easy O.S. Map: Explorer 246
Starting Point: Swithland Wood North car park (538 130) Parking: At start
Toilets: None Refreshments: Pub in Swithland
 car210.jpg

Click on the car for Driving Directions to the start of this route

 
The Route

Starting from the car park, walk out on to the road and turn right. On the bend, take the footpath on the right into Swithland Woods. Where you reach a track, turn left, climbing over a stile and walking down a tree lined footpath to a road. 

Turn right along the road, and walk through the village of Swithland going straight on at the junction. Shortly after The Griffin Public House, and before the church, turn right along a track, soon veering off to the left along a footpath. Keep straight on along this path until you reach the road, where you turn left then take the first footpath on the right just after the houses. 

Bend right behind the houses, then left across the field. Keep to the left of the hedgerow in the gulley, and head down towards a stile which takes you over a small bridge to the road. Turn right, crossing the Rothley Brook on a bridge, followed by a raised walkway, and continuing into Thurcaston. At the crossroads go straight on, then take a footpath off to the right just before a modern development before the church. 

Walk along this path crossing the brook at an old bridge, and head up a field with ridge and furrow still visible, towards the village of Cropston ahead. When you reach Cropston cross over the residential street and go straight on down to the main road. At the road, turn left, then take the footpath off to the right cutting across fields to Bradgate Road. 

Turn left at the road, then after about 500m take a footpath on the right along the edge of the trees. Head to the right of the large pond, and then continue along the path, which leads behind some wooden cabins. Where you meet the bridleway turn right, and at the end of this bridleway turn left along the track, heading towards the woodlands. 

Once in the woods follow the yellow markers which signify the bridleway. Keep to the clearly marked track, turning right when you reach the fence around the old quarry. Turn right again when the path forks going downhill. Walk through the clearing, turning left at the far end alongside some blue railings. Walk along this path past a hut, back to the car park.

 


MAP:

Map copyright LEICESTERWALK 2004 - Based on Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 mapping.

Disclaimer - We cannot accept responsibility for any loss or injury caused during walks found on this site. Whilst we make every attempt to ensure accuracy of information, rights of way or landmarks may move or change. We advise you always carry the relevant OS map with you.

 

Author's Comments

This walk gets very muddy after rain. There have been some problems with the footpath in Swithland - hopefully resolved now. Also, it is easy to get lost between Cropston and Thurcaston, where the footpath signs lead you into a meander of the brook!

Make sure your map is up to date - as the old pathfinder I used when I first walked this didn't show the modern positioning of paths.

D. Spencer.

 
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