Feature /// Great walks
Launde Abbey & Withcote Hall Immerse yourself in history, hills and tranquility on this undulating route. By Will Hetherington Photography: Will Hetherington
Difficulty rating (out of five)
You can park in the car park at Launde Abbey but I would suggest you only do so if you are planning on making some sort of contribution either as a small donation or in the coffee shop. After all places like this don’t run on thin air and it is an extraordinary place which should be preserved. From the abbey walk to the signpost on the road directly in front and turn right towards Braunston. Cross the cattle grid and take the footpath off to the right after 100 yards. Follow this path as it crosses a couple of fields and the
first of many dips on this walk. When you reach the field with Launde Park Wood on your right there should be a footpath running diagonally down the hill to the far corner, but I walked round the edge of the field to get to the corner because I could see no sign of the path through the wet plough. When you do get to the bottom corner the path heads into the trees and crosses the Chater and turns right immediately afterwards. This section of the bridleway will get very muddy in the wet winter months I would imagine. The path soon takes a sharp left and heads uphill and, while the bridleway then takes a right turn to head east, you should continue along the footpath heading north with a very deep stream bed to the left in heavy vegetation. Keep going straight until you get to the woodland at the end
Clockwise, from above
This part of west Rutland and east Leicestershire has plenty of hills; Launde Abbey now serves as a retreat, wedding venue and understated tourist attraction; the Abbey is surrounded by parkland
of the field and then take the footpath to the left. Here the path is not exactly where it is marked on the map so make sure you do get to the woodland before you turn left because the path is fenced off around the perimeter. I made this mistake and had to walk all the way back to pick up the path. From this point the path heads west past Withcote Lodge on the hilltop to the left and Cottage Farm shortly after on the right. You then cross the Braunston to Launde road and pass Avenue Farm on the right before turning north west along the avenue towards Withcote Hall. The first part of the avenue is still tree lined but they have disappeared on the second half. When you reach the cowshed at the end of the field turn left into the yard and then take the left hand footpath which leads up and over the hill. On top of this hill you should stop for a while to enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the area before continuing south to the bridge back over the Chater and then another short steep climb before heading back down to the cattle grid in front of Launde Abbey.
5 2 O C T OBE R 2015 ///
52-53 walk feature SR OK.indd 52
17/09/2015 12:06