8th - 15th September 2024
Come and discover an often overlooked part of England. The Harborough district is an area of rolling countryside, ancient pastures and farmland, streams, woodland spinneys and beautiful villages. Canals, battles and buried treasure are all there to be explored – not to mention local characters and ancient customs.
Supported by Harborough District Council
All the festival walks are led by two experienced guides. Consequently you not only get to enjoy the lovely countryside, but your walk will be enhanced with fascinating details of the local area and its history.
Supported again by Harborough District Council, this year we are pleased to announce a new sponsor. Very appropriately Involved Holidays organise guided walking holidays in the UK and abroad.
Sponsored by Involved Holidays
your guides
James Carpenter is a trained Blue Badge Tourist Guide and a member of the Institute of Tourist Guides. He has lived locally all his life. History has been his passion and with a background in farming, he has the wealth of knowledge to make your walk a thoroughly delightful experience.
George Keeping is an outdoor writer and footpaths consultant who has written and contributed to guidebooks across the Midlands. He has led guided walks in Market Harborough, and with a background in archaeology and conservation, is as fascinated with what goes on beneath the soil as he is with the wide landscapes of Harborough District above.
Please note: All the guided walks will be led by James Carpenter MITG and assisted by George Keeping.
the festival walks - September 10th - 17th
Browse down to
book tickets
SUNday SEPTEMBER 10th
Morning walk
Medbourne, Blaston, Nevill Holt Circular Walk
Today there are two guided walks centred around the beautiful Nevill Holt house. On this walk we visit two of South Leicestershire’s gems in Medbourne and Blaston. We also walk in the footsteps of Romans as we pass ancient villa and town sites and pass close to the course of the Roman Gartree road.
Distance: 6.5 miles
Grade: Easy, mainly on quiet roads & tracks
Starting Time:10.00am
Meeting Place: The Nevill Arms
Grid Ref. SP7995 9394
What3Words: simple.town.grudging
Parking: On the road by the village hall
afternoon walk
Great Easton, Bringhurst, Drayton, Nevill Holt, Circular Walk
Whereas in the morning the walk takes us west of Nevill Holt, this time we are on its eastern side. We discover more about the house and climb Drayton hill for fabulous views over the river Welland to Rockingham Castle. Not forgetting visits to two more lovely villages: Great Easton and Bringhurst.
Distance: 6 miles
Grade: Moderate. Includes a steepish road walk
up to Nevill Holt
Starting Time: 2.30pm
Meeting Place: Outside the Sun Inn Great Easton
Grid Ref: SP84949219
What3Words: arena.hologram.district
Parking: High St.,Barnsdale & Cross Bank
WEDNESday SEPTEMBER 13 th
AFTERNOON walk
Wistow, Kilby Circular Walk
Distance: 4.5 miles
Grade: Moderate
Starting Time: 2.00pm
Meeting Place & Parking: Wistow Rural Centre
Grid Ref: SP63839591
What3Words: printer.blank.squashes
This is the shortest walk of the festival and takes us along part of the Grand Union Canal. We will also check out some unusual graves in Newton Harcourt church graveyard, discover a long-disused rifle testing range, see where Charles I stayed and learn of the weird legends concerning a martyred saint. To finish, Wistow Rural Centre is on hand for afternoon tea.
tHurSday SEPTEMBER 14TH
AFTERNOON walk
Tur Langton, Stonton Wyville, Shangton Circular Walk
Distance: 6 miles
Grade: Moderate
Starting Time: 2.00pm
Meeting Place: Tur Langton Church
Grid Ref: SP71379456
What3Words: fight.catapult.scorecard
Parking: Main St.
This walk could be subtitled ‘Romans and Water’. With three more lovely villages to see, we will cross the Stonton Brook three times and discover the site of monastic fishponds. We will also walk along part of the Roman Gartree road to find where the Gar Tree originally stood. Then we finish back at Tur Langton where afternoon tea is available.
FRIday SEPTEMBER 15TH
afternoon walk
Welham, Sutton Bassett, River Welland Circular Walk
Distance: 6.5 miles
Grade: Easy
Starting Time: 2.00pm
Meeting Place: Welham church
Grid Ref: SP76539247
What3Words: pickup.acute.plotter
Parking: On village street.
In association with
The Harborough Woodland Group
With river conservation a hot topic at present, a large part of this walk follows the course of the Welland and includes a tour, led by Bruce Durham, of recent tree planting and river conservation on Welham Lane. However, we also visit Welham, Weston by Welland and Sutton Bassett taking in fabulous views over the Welland Valley on our journey.
Sunday SEPTEMBER 17TH
ALL DAY walk
Launde Abbey & Rutland Circular walk
The walking festival finishes with a 7.5 mile all-day walk. Starting at historic Launde Abbey, the walk takes us past the Tudor Withcote Hall and into the delightful countryside of Rutland, stopping to eat your packed lunch at Braunston in Rutland. We then climb the ridge between the rivers Charter and Gwash for beautiful views over Rutland, before heading back to Launde Abbey where refreshments are available.
NB: This is an all day walk: Please bring a packed lunch.
Distance: 7.5 miles
Grade: Moderate/hard
Starting Time: 11.00am
Meeting Place: Launde Abbey
Parking: On grass outside the abbey car park.
price PER WALK
£7.00 per person
Attendance on the walks by prior booking only.
Walking Conditions
All the routes are easy to moderate walking through open farmland and villages. There may be some slopes to climb plus a some field stiles, but nothing too strenuous. The paths are generally good, however there could be some muddy patches. We cannot predict the weather and therefore proper walking footwear and weatherproofs are recommended. We will be walking through pastures with cattle and sheep present and are therefore unable to allow dogs on the walks.
We must reserve the right not to allow anyone on a walk who seems unlikely to be able to cope with the conditions on the day.
We will do our best to keep to the published programme but must reserve the right to cancel or amend walks if this proves to be necessary.
refreshment stops &and comfort breaks
We have done our utmost to plan the walks to finish close to or within easy driving distance of a local pub or café. Wherever possible there will be toilet facilities available somewhere on the routes.
Any questions?
If you need any help or further information, please email, james.carpenter@harboroughwalks.org
About Our Sponsor
Involved Holidays is an independently owned tour operator, specialising in group travel and walking holidays in the UK and Europe. With over twenty years of experience in the travel industry we are passionate about making sure our customers have an unforgettable experience on their holiday, giving them the opportunity to meet like minded people and make memories to last a lifetime.
Our holidays offer the perfect combination of walking and leisure time to discover the local area you are visiting at your own pace. All our walks are led by friendly, experienced local guides, who have vast amounts of knowledge, giving you a real taste and insight into your chosen destination.
Our detailed itineraries ensure you see the most stunning scenery, experience local cultures, and walk off the beaten track to discover hidden gems!
Book your tickets here
- Sun, 21 Apr21 Apr 2024, 14:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKThe Battle of Naseby in 1645 was the decisive battle in the English Civil War. Discovery the town’s roll in this famous battle and how the civil war affected the people who lived there. Part of the proceeds from the walk will be donated to The Naseby Battlefield Project.
- Thu, 16 May16 May 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKEstablished as a medieval market town. Later famed for Corsets and blancmange, with links to the Civil War and beginnings of tourism. Learn more about its intriguing past and the people that have made it their home.
- Wed, 22 May22 May 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKLife behind the prosperous high street. This walk takes you in to some of the 50 plus yards of Harborough to discovery their intruiging history and learn about the people who lived there.
- Sun, 09 Jun09 Jun 2024, 14:00The Buttercross, Eastgate, Hallaton, Market Harborough LE16 8UB, UKThis beautiful village, best known for the traditional Easter Bottle kicking, has an amazing past. Once a place of holy pilgramage, with a medieval castle and so many attractive stone buildings, it is one of the jewels of South leicestershire.
- Tue, 11 Jun11 Jun 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKThe Battle of Naseby in 1645 was the decisive battle in the English Civil War. Discovery the town’s roll in this famous battle and how the civil war affected the people who lived there. Part of the proceeds from the walk will be donated to The Naseby Battlefield Project.
- Wed, 26 Jun26 Jun 2024, 19:00The Market Place, Market Rd, Billesdon, Leicester LE7 9AJ, UKA guided walk around Billesdon gives you a real feel for a village community, where its people shine through the history.
- Sun, 14 Jul14 Jul 2024, 14:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKEnjoy a leisurely stroll from Harborough to Great Bowden along St Mary's road, Great Bowden road and back into the town via the ancient path across the fields and over Bowden ridge. There are so many interesting things to discover.
- Tue, 23 Jul23 Jul 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKEstablished as a medieval market town. Later famed for Corsets and blancmange, with links to the Civil War and beginnings of tourism. Learn more about its intriguing past and the people that have made it their home.
- Thu, 01 Aug01 Aug 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKThe Battle of Naseby in 1645 was the decisive battle in the English Civil War. Discovery the town’s roll in this famous battle and how the civil war affected the people who lived there. Part of the proceeds from the walk will be donated to The Naseby Battlefield Project.
- Sun, 04 Aug04 Aug 2024, 14:00By The Sun Inn, Cross Bank, Great Easton, Market Harborough LE16 8SR, UKEnjoy an amble around this lovely golden ironstone village with its many thatched 17th Century houses and intriguing stories about corsets, a 'holy' well and waspy dough.
- Tue, 27 Aug27 Aug 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKLife behind the prosperous high street. This walk takes you in to some of the 50 plus yards of Harborough to discovery their intruiging history and learn about the people who lived there.
- Wed, 11 Sept11 Sept 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKEstablished as a medieval market town. Later famed for Corsets and blancmange, with links to the Civil War and beginnings of tourism. Learn more about its intriguing past and the people that have made it their home.
- Sat, 19 Oct19 Oct 2024, 14:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKThe Battle of Naseby in 1645 was the decisive battle in the English Civil War. Discovery the town’s roll in this famous battle and how the civil war affected the people who lived there. Part of the proceeds from the walk will be donated to The Naseby Battlefield Project.
- Tue, 29 Oct29 Oct 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKJoin me if you dare, for tales of ghosts, ghouls and Poltergeist in 'Haunted Harborough'
- Wed, 30 Oct30 Oct 2024, 19:00The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKJoin me if you dare, for tales of ghosts, ghouls and Poltergeist in 'Haunted Harborough'
- Wed, 04 Dec04 Dec 2024, 18:30The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKThe Christmas crib, Santa, Christmas carols, mince pies, cards and crackers. Your Victorian guide will explain how these traditional elements of Christmas have evolved to become an essential part of our seasonal festivities. The walk finishes at Duncan Murray Wines for mince pies and a season drink.
- Thu, 05 Dec05 Dec 2024, 18:30The Old Grammar School, 40 The Square, Market Harborough LE16 7PA, UKThe Christmas crib, Santa, Christmas carols, mince pies, cards and crackers. Your Victorian guide will explain how these traditional elements of Christmas have evolved to become an essential part of our seasonal festivities. The walk finishes at Duncan Murray Wines for mince pies and a season drink.