Section 1 – Shackerstone – Snarestone – Measham is approximately 5 miles.  It follows the canal towpath and open farm land.  Mainly flat throughout,  Knight’s helmet symbols mark the way but you are strongly advised to purchase a copy of the excellent guide from Ashby-de-la-Zouch Tourist Information office price £1.  Tel. 01530 411767 which explains the route in detail.

You may also like to get a copy of the Landranger maps 140 and 128 which details other footpaths in the area that can be used to create a circular route for your return journey.

There is something slightly fey about Shackerstone, our starting point for the Ivanhoe Way.  A sleepy village of warm stone and mellow brick, it has the beguiling innocence of a chocolate box postcard laced with the shivery, other worldliness of Tom’s Midnight garden.

Tucked just a few miles away from Market Bosworth, allow plenty of time for exploring before you start the first section of the walk.  Mysterious humps and hollows in a field next to Station Road are the remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle and the station, where our walk begins, is an intriguing time slip of early twentieth century life.  It has a small gift shop, a Victorian tea rooms, a museum of “railwayarnia” and two flower bedecked platforms joined by a unique, wooden footbridge.

Apart from providing a lofty vantage point for quiet reflection, the bridge gives good views of the Battle Field steam trains that regularly chuff their way to Shenton and the Bosworth Battle field site where an unlucky king tried to trade his horse for a crown.

Tempting as the station delights are, it’s a two and half mile

walk to Snarestone, so best foot forward!   The route is well marked and follows the tow path for a short way before passing through a variety of rolling meadows and fields of oil seed rape.  Keep your eye open for spring flowers.  In spite of what the doom and gloom environmentalists tell you, blue-bells, primroses and shy hedgerow violets can be spotted by the sharp eyed.

At Snarestone the Ashby Canal comes to a halt.  Plans to re-open the closed section linking to Moira are underway so the return journey by boat is a distinct possibility!   For now though, you may like to quench your thirst at the Globe Inn.  It’s just a few yards from the path and also serves meals.

Suitably replete, continue the Way across the village playing fields towards Measham.  Signage is good and takes you past the Red Bank Brick Works and alongside the disused Midland Railway Line.  This section of the walk ends at the old station which will eventually house the Measham museum of village life and a new medical history garden.  Presently located on the High Street opposite St. Laurence church, it is open Tuesdays 10 am-12 noon, 2 pm-5 pm, Saturdays, 10 am-12 noon and on request.