Tag Archives: Ivanhoe Way long distance footpath

The Ivanhoe Way – CASTLES, BEARS AND BLUEBELLS

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Section 3 – Ashby de la Zouch to Heath End

History, shopping, entertainment … Ashby-de-la-Zouch has all three and then some!  The third stretch of the Ivanhoe Way is only 3.5 miles long so you’ve plenty of time to explore this busy market town before you start.

Begin with the castle.

Ashby Castle

Ashby castle

Although a ruin, it has plenty to interest.  Mary Queen of Scots stayed here before her ill-fated trip to Fotheringhay and Sir Walter Scott used it for the tournament scenes of Ivanhoe, the book which gives its name to the walk.

In the town, one of the first things you will notice is the proliferation of pubs!  Yes Ashby people are a thirsty lot and with good reason!  Many serve a delicious range of home cooked meals and fine ales and for the more energetic, there’s always the disco dance floor.  Mind you behave yourself, though, the White Hart keeps a bear in its cellar!  Fortunately it is stuffed, but the tale goes that in former times the creature was much more lively and the landlord often let it lose on unruly drinkers!

If shopping is more your thing, look for the award winning Mill Lane Mews.   It’s situated between David’s delicatessen and Owen Jones chemist.  This ally of Victorian shops brings you out onto North Street where we pick up the third section of the Way.

A short tramp behind the houses brings you to the quaintly named Feather bed lane.  This climbs steadily up to Old Parks and rewards with fine views of sleek barley fields, and perhaps a field of early hay baking in the June sunshine.

A gradual descent skirts South wood which in spring and summer is carpeted with blue-bells and blousy rhododendrons.  Keep your eye open for animals too.  We are now in deer country with red, fallow and tiny muntjac all being common to the area around Heath End.

Once upon a time there used to be a pub here called the Saracen’s Head, or Norman’s as it was known locally.   A real old fashioned hostelry that served ale from a jug brought up from the cellar by Norman himself.  Sadly Norman has passed on and the pub de-licensed.

Refreshment now entails an extra half mile to Staunton Harold nurseries but that’s O.K., choose between the courtyard and nursery tea-rooms, both excellent.  Decisions, decisions!

The Ivanhoe Way – DOCTORS OF PHYSICK, MAD EARLS AND SECRET TUNNELS

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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.

Moira Furnace and the Ashby Canal. Photograph ...
Image via Wikipedia

This 19th 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!

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THE IVANHOE WAY

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The Ivanhoe Way is a circular, 35 mile walk through North West Leicestershire that conveniently splits into 6 easily managed sections suitable for anyone of average fitness.

All sections are mainly flat with a few steeper inclines. You are advised to wear strong shoes or preferably boots and take water proof and warm clothing in case of bad weather. Don’t forget to keep dogs on leads near livestock!

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