Parish Walks

Asfordby Parish Council was formed on 17th December 1894 and the first meeting of the new council was held on January 3rd 1895. The Parish Council has been responsible jointly with Leics. County Council for waymarking, improving and maintaining the public rights of way in the parish. These efforts have been sponsored by the Countryside Commission. In the Centenary Year of the Parish Council it was considered to be appropriate to mark the occasion with a leaflet promoting the rights of way and, as Colonel Richard Dalgliesh was appointed the first Chairman of the Parish Council in 1894, the "Dalgliesh Walk" has been named after him.

The Dalgliesh Walk

(Park in the free car park near the shops in Bradgate Lane)

Leave the car park and turn right into Main Street, passing the village cross on your left. Beyond the cross you will see All Saints Parish Church, built mainly in the 14th century in local stone. The church contains parts of a pre-conquest cross shaft (10th or 11th century) and a cross and candlesticks coloured gold and red but made of cast iron. These were a gift from Holwell Ironworks in 1964.Continue along Main Street and pass both the Old Hall (17th century) and Bluebell Inn on your right, originally a 17th century timber frame house, and noting 159, Main Street opposite with its datestone of 1730. At the cross roads by the telephone box turn left into Station Lane, noticing first the cottage on the corner of Saxelbye Road where William Glover, a shepherd, was murdered in 1825. His gravestone can be seen in the graveyard of All Saints Church. In about 50 metres turn right into a fenced alleyway, then right again into Klondyke Way and left into Glendon Close. Cross the playfield to the far left corner and continue to the road. Turn left. Opposite the sports club turn right and follow a waymarked path, cross the road and continue to the next road. Turn left. At the next road junction take a minor road ahead towards Wartnaby. In about half a mile turn right along a path. After the first field you reach a cross-paths where you can turn right for a short walk back to Asfordby, but the route described here continues straight ahead on a waymarked path.

On reaching the farm track turn left and follow the path downhill to the road. Turn right and keep to the road to Asfordby Valley. On your left you will be able to see Holwell Works which was founded in 1875 by Col. Richard Dalgliesh and around which the villages of Asfordby Valley and Asfordby Hill were established. You will pass under the bridge which carries the railway test track used for high speed trains and enter Brook Crescent. Cross the main road near the telephone box and follow the bridleway ahead. At the old canal turn right and right again immediately before the river bridge. Cross the footbridge over the old canal lock and follow the path near the river to Asfordby. At the road turn left to return to the car park. On route notice the Parish Hall on your right, which was built in 1927 as a memorial to those who gave their lives for their country in the Great War, and further along Main Street the butcher's shop which was once the Primitive Methodist Chapel.

Shorter Walks

Walk A (3.5 miles)

Park as in the Dalgliesh Walk

Leave the car park and turn right into Main Street, passing the Three Horse Shoes and Bluebell Inns. At the cross roads by the telephone box turn right along Saxelbye Road. Cross the bypass and continue. One field before a farm on the left, turn half left and follow a waymarked path uphill. At the top of the hill turn left along the hedge-side following a well marked path. Cross the road and continue. At the next road turn left then soon right opposite Red Lodge. Keep ahead and at the playfield stay on the right hand side to enter Glendon Close. At Klondyke Way turn right then very soon left into a fenced alleyway. At the end of the alleyway turn left then right into Main Street and return to the car park.

Walk B (2.5 miles)

Shorter Walks around the Parish
(Park at the Parish Hall at the east end of Asfordby)

Turn left out of the car park and follow the road to Asfordby Valley. By the telephone box cross the main road and keep ahead on the bridleway. In about 1 mile at the old canal turn right and right again immediately before the river bridge. Cross the footbridge over the old canal lock and follow a waymarked path back to Asfordby

Walk C (3.5 miles)

Walk C (3.5 miles)

(Park as in the Dalgliesh Walk)

Walk north along Bradgate Lane past the flats and turn right into Regency Road. Opposite the doctors' surgery turn left on the signed path. Cross the bypass and continue along the waymarked path, crossing the railway to reach a crossroads at the top of the hill. Turn right here and cross four fields to reach a farm track. Turn left on the track to the road. At the road turn right and follow it to Asfordby Valley. At the main road turn right and return to the car park