Section 2 – Measham, Moira and Ashby de la Zouch.

Proud of its industrial heritage, Measham has risen from the ashes of pit closure to regenerate into the first model village in the National Forest.  It now boasts a small museum housing the collection of Dr Hart, a local GP practising during the early part of the previous century.  With a new medical history garden, it will eventually located at Measham station which makes a fitting start to the second stage of the Ivanhoe Way.

The knight’s helmet waymarks lead along the old railway line to cross former colliery sites, like that at Donisthorpe, now re-named Donisthorpe Woodland Park.  Little remains of its former existence except the gates fashioned in the shape of pit head winding wheels and the only sound that now disturbs the evening air is the sweet trill of a blackbird.

An easy walk brings you to the bridge in the centre of the park.  This is a good moment to stand and reflect upon the changes that time has wrought for just a little further on, is Moira furnace.

This 19^th century blast furnace houses an excellent museum explaining its brief, but turbulent history and that of its founder, the entrepreneurial Earl of Moira.   A very pleasant tea-room and several craft shops provide welcome diversion should your feet begin to throb!

The Way continues through the village and brings you to a rather special oak tree which marks the centre of the new National Forest.  Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire fought off tough opposition to get the forest sited here and Moira is not only its heart, but hosts Conkers Discovery Park.

Conkers is well worth a visit so make a short detour by turning left into Rawdon Road.  Conkers is situated a quarter of a mile on the left.

Retrace you steps to the tree and turn right into Willesley Lane.  It’s a straight walk through new woodland and arable fields to Ashby with some fine views of the surrounding countryside.

Look carefully and you may even be able to spot the ruined Hastings tower of Ashby castle.  Destroyed by Cromwell during the civil war, rumour has it that a network of secret passages fans out into the surrounding countryside to allow besieged soldiers to escape, so mind where you put your feet!

Tags: Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Donisthorpe Woodland Park, Ivanhoe way, Ivanhoe Way long distance footpath, Leicestershire, Measham, National Forest

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