CAR FREE WALKS - April to December 2025

Listed below are the Friday, Car Free walks for April to December 2025. To view details of times and meeting places etc please click the highlighted title. (Below the map section.)  NOTE: Walk times and travel arrangements details are sometimes changed so please check the details a few days before the walk and contact the Walk Leader if you plan to come along.  

The basic premise for these walks is that they are accessible by public transport from Leicester City Centre, but walkers are welcome to travel to the start point however they wish. If you have any questions or comments please contact the Walk Leader or Organiser,  Charles de Podesta

The start point for the walks are displayed on the map below. For some walks the intended route (if known) can be displayed on the map. Just click on the Walk Title. GPX files are available to download.

Walking Routes

1. Friday 3^rd January 2025 - Groby to Leicester City Centre. Meet at 8.50am at St Margaret’s Bus Station at 9.05 bus (28) to Groby. The walk starts at 9.30 from outside the Stamford Arms in Groby and the 12 mile route will take us in foot back to Leicster City. Walk Leader: Eileen Pott
2. Friday 17 January 2025 - Attenborough Nature Reserve, Beeston Canal & River Trent. (Nottinghamshire). An 8 to 9 mile circular walk Attenborough Station. Meet 8.30 At Leicester Station for 8.41 train to Attenborough. We will aim to catch the 14.30 train back to Leicester after the walk. Walk Leader: Anne Whichcord
3. Friday 31 January 2025 - Whitwick to Bagworth. Meet at 8.10 at St Margaret’s BS for 8.20 bus (29) to Whitwick. This walk through the old mining area of NW Leicestershire passes through Coalville centre, Snibston Country Park, Snibston Church (St Mary’s), Donnington Le Heath, Sence Valley Park, the edge of Ibstock - Battram Wood, Bagworth New Wood and finishes at Bagworth village where we catch a bus (28) back to Leicester. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
4. Friday 14^th February 2025 - Riverside Walk (River Trent) from Burton Joyce to Fiskerton (Nottinghamshire). Meet at Leicester Railway Station for 8.25 train to Nottingham; bus to Burton Joyce where we follow the Trent for about 9 miles to Fiskerton where we catch the 16.05 direct train back to Leicester. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
5. Friday 28^th February 2025 - A walk from Wigston . Details to be confirmed nearer the date. Walk Leader: Jenny Mann
6. Friday 14^th March 2025 - Loughborough Circular Walk. An 12 mile circular walk from Loughborough Station. Meet at Leicester Railway Station for train to Loughborough. Details to be confirmed nearer the date. Walk Leader: Eileen Pott
7. Friday 28^th March 2025 - Details TBC. Walk Leaders: Liz & Tony Scarborough.

1. Friday 11 April 2025 - A walk from Great Oxendon (Northamptonshire) to Kibworth Beauchamp (Leicestershire). A 9 mile walk via East Farndom & Lubenham with Lunch at Foxton Top Lock (5.5 miles). Then on to Kibworth. Meet at Leicester Haymarket Bus Station for X7 bus to Great Oxendon. We will use the X7 or X3 bus from Kibworth back to Leicester. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
2. 25^th April 2025 - A circular walk from Loughborough Rail Station. The exact route is being finalise but we will be going east from Loughborough- into Nottinghamshire. The walk will be about 11 miles long. Walk Leader: Eileen Potts
3. 16^th May 2025 - Spondon to Dale Abbey in South Derbyshire. A circular 10 mile walk heading to the village of Dale Abbey to see the remains of the Augustinian Abbey, the uniquely idiosyncratic, Grade 1 listed, All Saints Church and the nearby Hermitage Cave. Along the way we pass through the 18th Century Moravian Settlement at Ockbrook and pass through the grounds of Locko Park on the way back to the station. Meet at Leicester Railway Station for the train to Spondon. (Change at Long Eaton on the outward journey. Change at Beeston on the return journey). Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
4. Friday 30^th May 2025 - A 10.5 mile circular walk from Nuneaton RailwayStation (Warwickshire) taking us through Sandon Park, Caldecote, the River Anker, Hartshill Country Park and the Coventry Canal. Meet at Leicester Railway Station for the train to Nuneaton. Walk Leader; Steve Crane
5. Friday 13^th June 2025 - Maidwell (Northamptonshire) to Market Harborough. The route passes by the old Harrington Airfield with its WW2 and Cold War history. Then via the villages of Harrington & Arthingworth and through the old railway tunnel at Great Oxendon on to Market Harborough. Meet at the Haymarket Bus Station for the X7 bus to Maidwell. We return from Market Harborough using the X7 or X3 bus. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
6. Friday 27^th June 2025 - Coleshill Railway Station in Warwickshire. An 11 mile circular walk from Coleshill Station. The route will be finalised nearer the date. Meet at Leicester Railway Station for the train to Coleshill. Walk Leader: Eileen Pott.
7. Friday 11^th July 2025 - Breedon on the Hill to Ashby de la Zouch. CANCELLED DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER This 9 mile walk takes in Breedon Hill (with it’s great views and historic church), Staunton Harold Ridgeway Walk and House with options for refreshments. Then to Lount Wood and the Ivanhoe Way into Ashby for bus back to Leicester. NOTE: There are two long bus rides (about 90 minutes each) and we probably will not be back in Leicester until after 5.00pm. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
8. Friday 25^th July 2025 - Stamford (Lincolnshire) - A circular walk of about 10 miles from Stamford Station which will take in Burghley Park. The precise route will be decided nearer the time. Walk Leader: John Hancock
9. Friday 8^th August 2025 - Erewash Valley (South Derbyshire) - A walk exploring the Erewash Valley taking in the historic Bennerley Viaduct. NOTE: The route for this walk has not been finalised so travel arrangements may be changed. Walk Leader: Anne Whichcord
10. Friday 22^nd August 2025 - Lowdham to Burton Joyce (Nottinghamshire) - A train to Lowdham and then a 9 mile walk the local area including Gonalston, Caythorpe, Gunthorpe and the River Trent. The walk finishes at Burton Joyce Station where we catch the train home. Walk Leader: Reg Simpson
11. Friday 5^th September 2025 - Kettering (Northamptonshire) - An 11 mile circular walk from Kettering Station via Pytchely, Broughton & Gt Cransley. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
12. Friday 19^th September 2025 - Ruddington (Nottinghamshire) to Loughborough - A train to Nottingham, a bus to Ruddington (Notts) and a walk to Loughborough Station (via - Rushcliffe Country Park, Bunny - Lantern lane (East leake) - near Stanford on Soar). About 12 miles. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
13. Friday 3^rd October 2025 - Dunton Bassett to Glen Parva (Leicestershire) - A 10 mile Linear walk from Broughton Road, Dunton Bassett to Glen Parva via Willoughby Waterleys, Peatling Magna, Foston and the Grand Union Canal. Walk Leader: Mike Gale
14. Friday 17^th October 2025 - Barrow upon Soar to Syston. (Leicestershire) A short train journey to Barrow and then a walk to Syston for another train back to Leicester. The route passes by Seagrave, LCFC Training Ground and Ratcliffe College. Walk Leader: Anne Whichcord
15. Friday 31^st October 2025- Brixworth and Pitsford Resevoir (Northamptonshire). NOTE: The date for this walk  has changed. It was previously scheduled for 14th November 2026. It combines a walk around Pitsford Resevoir with a visit to the historic Saxon Church at Brixworth. Walk Leader: Jenny Mann
16. Friday 14^th November 2025 - Quorn to Thurmaston. (Leicestershire)- WALK CANCELLED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER.  NOTE: The date for this walk  has changed. It was previously scheduled for 31st October 2026. A linear walk from Quorn to Thurmaston. The final route is to be confirmed. Walk Leader: Jenny Mann
17. Friday 28^th November 2025 - Huncote to Broughton Astley - NOTE - THIS ROUTE HAS BEEN AMENDED SLIGHTLY. Road works in Dunton Bassett have disrupted bus routes so we will finish the walk at Broughton Astley (Red Admiral pub)rather than Dunton Bassett. We will take the same bus (No. 84) Back to Leicester. A 10 mile walk via Croft Hill, Croft, Sapcote, Sutton Lodge, Frolesworth and Leire. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
18. Friday 12th December 2025 - Market Bosworth- CANCELLED due bus strike. REPLACED by a walk from Duffield to Derby. See below. A 9 mile circular walk from Market Bosworth via Far Coton, Bosworh Wharf Bridge and Carlton. Walk Leader: Charles de Podesta
19. Friday 12^th December 2025 - Duffield to Derby (Derbyshire) -  A train from Leicester to Duffield then a walk via Horsley Carr, Morley and the Great Northern Greenway finishing at Derby Station for a train back to Leicester.  Leader: Charles de Podesta