www.leicestershirewaterways.com

For ideas of great short-breaks and holidays inthe area please visit www stayplayexplore.com

For tourist information about Leicester visitwww.visitleicester.info

For tourist information about Leicestershireincluding bookable accommodation visitwww.goleicestershire.com

To find out about the many opportunities for getting involved with our waterways through volunteering opportunities please see the relevantsection of www.leicestershirewaterways.com

© Leicestershire Promotions 2017

All information was believed to be correct at the time of printing. We cannot accept liability for any inaccuracies or omissions or subsequent alterations toany of the information included. We recommend you check all details directlywith establishmentsbefore making a journey. Large print format is available.Please call 0116 225 4000.

Enjoy Leicestershire’s beautiful rivers, canals, waterways and beyond

River SoarTrail

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If you’ve been inspired by our virtual cruise along Leicestershire’s waterways, here you’ll discover everythingyou need to quickly get stuck into a wide range of activitiesbased around the water.

1. Awesome AnglingAngling is a relaxing way to experience the natural surroundings of the waterways. You must purchase anEnvironment Agency Rod Licence - available at any postoffice, or order online at www.getfishing.org.uk. It’s freeif you are under 16.

There are many chances to fish, but it is worth checkingthat the traditional ‘close season’ does not apply atwww.canalrivertrust.org.uk before you pack up yourtackle. Top recommendations include:

River Soar Loughborough. With access via SwingbridgeRoad, LE11 5JB, this stretch is full of silver fish and largeperch. You can buy a day ticket from Netbusters on Nottingham Road in Loughborough.

Grand Union Canal at Crow Mills, South Wigston. Withentry via Countesthorpe Road, LE18 4AD, and free carparking. The canal has a sizeable stock of tench, roach &carp, and you can pick up day tickets on the bank fromthe Wigston Angling Society’s bailiffs.

For further information please visitwww.getfishing.org.uk.

2. Brilliant Bird watchingThe Soar Valley features multiple places of interest tobirdwatchers. Specific picks for ornithologists in the areainclude Watermead Country Park as well as Wanlip Meadowsand Cossington Meadows which are both Leicestershire& Rutland Wildlife Trust nature reserves. Access andparking details can be obtained from their website atwww.lrwt.org.uk.

Closer to Leicester city, Aylestone Meadows is anotherfantastic location in which to find varieties includingbullfinch, willow tits, little owls, sparrowhawks andkestrels. In spring, warblers return in their droves, andthis is also the perfect time of year to come across fieldfares and black redstart. More fascinating facts canbe found on the Leicestershire & Rutland OrnithologicalSociety’s website at www.lros.org.uk.

3. Scenic CyclingTowpaths form a network of scenic routes for cyclists toenjoy, whether for a family afternoon out or traffic-freeroute to work. These leafy green corridors can be relaxingand inspiring, with so much to appreciate as you pedal along.

The Canal & River Trust has a towpath code which it’s usefulto be aware of before you set off on your two-wheeledadventure. You can read it at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/our-campaigns/share-the-space-our-towpath-code.

An interesting route suggested by website www.letsride.co.ukinvolves a steady twelve-mile circuit from Bede Park inLeicester city centre to King Lear’s Lake at WatermeadCountry Park.

Parts of the river are also on National Cycle Route 6 –head to www.sustrans.org.uk for the full picture andlocal route 1 - www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/file/leicester-cycling-route1.

4. Neighbourhood Nature ReservesLeicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust manages over30 important wildlife and geological sites which containamazingly varied animal and plant species, some ofthem extremely rare.

Some fall along the waterways. To the north, LoughboroughBig Meadow is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest,and one of the few Lammas meadows left in England(areas of common land dating back to mediaeval times). Accessed by a stile near the River Soar. Kingfishers areyear-round visitors, and skylarks are seen during Spring.Further south, Mountsorrel Meadows lies on the floodplainof the River Soar and is a patchwork of valuable wetlands.

The site has been designed to encourage overwinteringbirds including lapwing, snipe and redshank. Visitors areasked to use the viewing platform as this ensures an unobstructed view of the reserve without causing disturbance to the wildlife.

Cossington Meadows and Wanlip Meadows have bothbeen created on the site of former gravel works. Althoughmost have been filled, some of the pits have been left toproduce a more diverse habitat. As the reserves also liein the flood plain of the River Soar, when flood water recedes shallow pools form. These dry up in the summerto expose areas of mud, attracting plentiful birds. Formore information, please visit www.lrwt.org.uk/nature-reserves.

5. Waterside WalkingSavour the sights and sounds of our waterways on foot.In addition to the attractions and destinations mentionedin this guide, there are numerous other access points tothe river and canal towpaths. You can plan a walkingroute and view walks on www.choosehowyoumove.co.ukand there are plenty more walking routes around the riverand canal on The Ramblers website www.ramblers.org.ukFoxton Locks is great for a wander and in the city whynot follow the water from Castle Gardens down to Aylestone Meadows? Visit www.canalrivertrust.org.ukfor more ideas and insights.

6. Where for Watersports?If you’d like to ramp your enjoyment of the water up toa new level, there are plenty of ways to get wet! A numberof exciting watersports are available at both WatermeadPark and Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre which is situated on the banks of the River Soar between Birstalland the National Space Centre.

You could try out canoeing, kayaking, bell boating or‘katakanuing’ – where the boat is a hybrid of a canoeand a bell boat. Sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding are also available. visit www.leicestersailboardclub.co.uk, www.lrysa.org.uk, www.lopc.co.uk and www.gocanoeing.org.uk for information.

In addition, the Leicester Triathlon Club runs open waterswimming sessions at King Lear’s Lake within WatermeadPark from May to October, if you feel like a challenge.www.leicestertriathlonclub.co.uk.

You can take a boat trip at Foxton Locks or hire a narrowboatfrom there or various providers along the waterways including Barrow upon Soar, Pillings Lock Marina, UnionWharf and Sileby Mill Boat Yard.

More independent ‘paddlers’ can find lots of routes andinspiration by visiting www.soartour.org.uk

Leave the Leicester Line of the Grand Union CanalatAylestone Meadows - a nature reserve spanning 271acres. Look out for the Glen Parva local nature reserve,accessed off Parsons Drive or over the locks from thetow path.

The meadows contain pasture, scrubland and smallpools which are the habitat for many diverse speciesand are criss-crossed by numerous footpaths. The canalforms the eastern border of the reserve and King’s Lockcan be found in its southern half along with a children’splay area and tea rooms.

Leicester’s Castle Gardensare just a ten-minute strollfrom the lively city centre and attractions. Featuring arock garden and mixed borders, the formal gardens arebounded on one side by the waterway. Nearby cobbledlanes house important buildings such as Mary de Castrochurch and the castle hall.

The King Richard III visitor centreis a ‘must see.’ Re-livethe incredible story of the King’s life, death and discovery.See the original site of his burial in the now famous carpark, and take a short walk to the Cathedral where hewas re–interred in March 2015. Explore 2000 years ofhistory and take in the Jewry Wall roman museum andmediaeval Guildhall along the way.

Continue to Abbey Park, a haven on the northern edgeof Leicester. Opened in 1882 and expanded in 1932 toinclude the area west of the river that had formerly beenSt Mary's Abbey. Large mediaeval walls are still visibletoday, along with ruins of the Abbey and 17th CenturyCavendish House. With decorative planting, boatinglake, tea rooms and miniature railway, you can enter the Park from the river near St Margaret’s Pastures.

The river continues north, winding just behind theaward-winning National Space Centre, which promisesa day full of wonder for all ages just a minute from thetowpath. With six interactive galleries and a unique 3Dsimulator, it also houses a collection of fascinating artefacts and exhibits and the UK’s largest planetarium.There is a gift shop and café, accessible even if youdon’t buy a ticket for the whole attraction.

Next door is the Abbey Pumping Station, an extraordinaryVictorian building displaying Leicester's industrial, technological and scientific heritage complete with itsmagnificent original steam powered beam engines. Just north of here, a new wildlife park has been createdon the banks of Leicester’s River Soar as part of a majorscheme to improve flood defences. Ellis Meadows is anew pond area and wetland habitat, bridged by boardwalks to encourage people to explore the aquaticwildlife for themselves.

Leaving the river here, a walk of around 10 minutestakes you to the Leicester north terminus of the GreatCentral Railwaywhere you can take a round trip on aheritage train and which also has refreshment facilities.

Follow the river to Watermead Country Park- an extensivenetwork of lakes created from 340 acres of former gravelworks and extremely popular for fishing and water sportsalong with walking, picnicking and cycling. A stretch ofthe Grand Union Canal from the River Wreake flows intothe River Soar in the park, where three nature reservescelebrate the diversity of local birdlife, and includehides from which you can sometimes witness sand martins, plovers or even the elusive kingfisher. Look out for the woolly mammoth!

Continue to the bustling village of Birstall, which offersa range of local shops, pubs, restaurants and a gardencentre. The river runs alongside the village, just minutesfrom the centre.

North of Birstall is the junction of the Leicester Navigationwith the River Wreake, canalised to Melton in 1797 andnow under restoration. Note the former Toll House andmetal corrugated isolation hospital.

Follow the river north, past Rothley Brook, Sileby Marina andMountsorrel lockto arrive at Barrow upon Soar(approx.6 miles) which enjoys an enviable riverside locationin a conservation area. The village is famous for a plesiosaurexcavated there in 1851, nicknamed the "Barrow Kipper".Barrow is a lovely place for an amble, topped off with adrink in a selection of pubs set along or near the river.

A few miles on, Pillings Lock is a flood lock built to protectthe Grand Union Canal route when a neighbouring branchof the River Soar floods. The nearby marina is the locationof Pillings Boat House restaurant and bar which is wellworth a visit in its own right.

Loughborough, where the renovated canal basin is fivetoten minutes on foot from many attractions which includethe fascinating Charnwood Museum, Carillon War Memorialin spacious Queen’s Park, the atmospheric Great CentralRailway and numerous places to eat and shop.

The river leaves Leicestershire at Kegworthwhere it istrulya focal point for the village, making this the perfectplaceto enjoy the river and surrounding meadowswhich are renowned for walking, cycling, bird watching,fishing, boating and picnicking.

For times, prices and more details of all the places mentioned visit www.goleicestershire.com

The River Soar Trail is a 39 mile route through the centreof Leicestershire with urban and rural landscapes andendless opportunities for leisure, recreation, exercise andrelaxation for all the family.

We start our journey following the flow of the river whereit enters Leicestershire near Market Harborough. The Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal made it no furthersouth than here. About 15 minutes’ walk from the towncentre, the restored canal basin Union Wharfis nowa thriving centre with workshops, apartments, businessesand a restaurant. The attractive market town is knownfor its stilted Old Grammar School, next to theChurch. Independent local shops nestle comfortably next tolarger retailers, coffee shops, and restaurants.

Follow the canal north to Foxton Locks- celebratedfor its flight of 10 locks, built in the early 19th Centuryand remains of the historic Victorian inclined plane boatlift. The Boiler House brings the historic site to life usingthe latest digital technology. A network of footpaths andtowpaths are ideal for both walking and cycling.

Head through (or over if not in a boat!) Saddington Tunnel.Around 4 miles north, is the delightful hamlet of Wistow.Enjoy the Maize Maze which features a new design eachsummer and the thriving Rural Centre which brings together a range of eclectic shops with an art gallery,café, garden centre and model village. There are numerouscountry walks around St Wistan’s Church and the countryside just minutes away from the water.

IntroductionJoin us for a journey along Leicestershire’s scenic waterways

The next stop – things to do and see along the waterways

As the Grand Union Canal & River Soar meanderthrough Leicestershire, they visit numerous placesof interest and beauty along the way. A rich part ofthe county’s heritage, parts of the waterways wereonce profitable commercial navigation routes. Asearly as 1776, the Soar Navigation Company beganto ‘canalise’ the River Soar, starting at the Soar’sjunction with the River Trent.

This expansion meant that industry could start todevelop along the canal, as it created a vital transportation mechanism. Industries includingwind and watermills, brewing and malting becameestablished. It was also thanks to the canal thatLeicester’s hosiery industry expanded so rapidly, as it needed both a constant supply of water andexcellent transport links.

What became known as ‘The Leicester Line’ of canalswas eventually bought by the Grand Union in 1932to become part of the Grand Union Canal – Britain’slongest route of canals linking London to Birmingham.

Today the waterways offer numerous opportunitiesto enjoy the city and county, whether walking orcycling along the many miles of towpath, or leavingthe waterside to enjoy a wealth of facilities for

recreation and leisure.

Partnership

Produced byLeicestershire Promotions Ltd for

Supported by:

National Space Centre

www.choosehowyoumove.co.ukwww.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/carparklocationswww.leicester.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/parking-in-leicesterwww.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Useful Information (details of access/car parks)

North Kilworth MarinaStation Road, North Kilworth,Leicestershire LE17 6HYwww.northkilworthmarina.co.uk 01858 450550 (opening during 2017)

Union Wharf Narrowboats LtdCanal Basin, Leicester Road,Market Harborough LE16 7UWMoorings, pump out, day boat hire.www.unionwharfmarina.com 01858 432123

Debdale Wharf MarinaMoorings, repairs, docking,fuel, chandlery, pumpout.enquiries@debdalewharf.co.uk01162 793034

Leicester MarinaPinfold Road, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8ASMoorings, Pump out, fuel, Launderette, Showers, Water,Calor gas, Slipway, Brokerage,Coal.www.leicestermarina.co.uk 0116 2606166

Sileby Mill BoatyardMoorings, repairs, docking, fuel,chandlery, pumpout, boatsales.silebymill@tiscali.co.uk01509 813583

Pillings Lock Marina LtdFlesh Hovel Lane, Quorn,Loughbrough LE12 8FEMoorings ,repairs, docking,fuel, chandlery, pump out,boat sales, day boat hire, caféand restaurant.www.pillingslock.com 01509 620 990

Redhill MarinaRatcliffe On Soar, NG11 0EBMoorings, chandlery, marinestorage, boat hire and boatsales, pump-out, fuel 01509 672770

Boat yards/marinas (see map overleaf for locations)

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