This is a varied walk taking in the canal, a stairway of locks and a small reservoir with various places to stop for refreshments.  Quite flat but can be muddy so take your boots.

Starting point: Carlton Corner Bed & Breakfast

Distance: 9.2 miles

Refreshments:

Bridge 61 pub, The Langton Inn pub, Tea Rooms all at Foxton Locks

Turn left outside the B&B, turn left at the junction then first right onto Marsh Drive.  Cross over the A6 and continue into the village by the Coach and Horses pub.  Follow the road past the church and over the railway bridge and turn right at the small roundabout.  Take the first left onto Smeeton Road and follow the road all the way until you reach Smeeton Westerby.  Walk through Smeeton and take the second left onto Debdale Lane.

Continue down Debdale Lane for approximately 2 miles, when you finally get to the road turn right and just before the bridge take the path to the canal towpath.  Turn left at the canal and follow the towpath for approximately and 1 mile until you reach Foxton Locks.

(Foxton Locks is definitely worth spending some time at, with it’s staircase of locks, inclined plane and various places for refreshments)

Once you reach Foxton Locks take the path over the first brick bridge and continue past the Bridge 61 pub.  Take the first little bridge over the canal, turn right and cross over the brick bridge No 61.  Continue through the gate signed “Keep gate closed” and continue across the field following the markers.

At the road turn right and walk up the hill into Gumley.  Walk through the full village and as you come out the other side take the left hand road signed “Gated road to Laughton and Mowsley”.  At the crossroads continue straight on walking towards Saddington Reservoir signed as a gated road to Saddington.

Continue down the road and half way along the reservoir just after the old sailing hut take a path to the right over a little stream.  Proceed through the field, midway along the field turn right and cross the wooden bridge, proceed down to the left.  Continue through 3 fields, at some point you’ll see a marker off to the right, don’t take that.  Keep going straight through the fields.  The path goes round to the left where you need to go through a farm gate and proceed through the tunnel which goes underneath the canal.

Continue through two fields then over a stile and up a path between horse paddocks towards the houses. Walk through the houses until you reach a sign on the right to “pit hill”. Take the path through the allotments and at the end turn left and take the path on the left hand side of the church.  Walk through two fields and then through a path between houses.  At the lane go straight over and continue through several fields until you reach the recreational ground.  Go straight on and take the path finally emerging at the road next to the scout hut.  Cross the road and go straight on down Rosebery Avenue, at the T junction turn right and follow the road down the hill.  At the turn at the bottom of the hill take the path straight on over the tin bridge.

Take the path immediately to the right and at the end turn left and proceed up the park past the primary school.  Cross the road and continue on the path until you meet the A6.  Turn left and follow the road, just around the corner you’ll see a path on the other side of the road taking you to the right.

(On the left hand side you’ll see a great grass mount.  This is Kibworth Munt which was a Norman motte and bailey castle).

At the end of the path turn left and walk to the end of the road, turn right and proceed down the road where you will see Carlton Corner B&B on your left hand side.

 

Hope you enjoyed your walk!!