Visit Leicester has just launched an exciting range of brand-new trails that will take you on a wild ride through the very best that Leicestershire has to offer. Get ready to uncover hidden gems, remarkable attractions, and the fascinating stories that make them shine.
The trails cater to a variety of interests, including guiding visitors to the finest family attractions, uncovering the region’s industrial and historic past, delving into the royal roots of Melton Mowbray, navigating Leicestershire’s picturesque waterways, and experiencing the charm of Leicestershire’s scenic landscapes and delightful towns and villages.
The trails include:
- Leicestershire’s Industrial Past including Moira Furnace, Conkers, Great Central Railway, Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust, Triumph Visitor Centre, Foxton Locks, Everards, Stoney Cove and more
- Uncover Royal Melton including The Anne of Cleves, St Mary’s Church, Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe, Livestock Market, Melton Royal Mile Walk, Long Clawson Dairy, The Melton Cheeseboard, 8 Windsor Street, Stapleford Park, Belvoir Castle and more
- Beautiful Gardens and Landscapes including 1620s House & Garden, The Charnwood Forest, Stoneywell, The National Forest, Staunton Harold Estate, Snibston Colliery Park, Bosworth Battlefield, Everards Meadows and more
- Historic Leicestershire including Ashby Castle, Bosworth Battlefield, Kirby Muxloe Castle, Tithe Barn, Stoneywell, New Walk, Leicester Guildhall, The Newarke, King Richard III Visitor Centre, The Charnwood Forest, Royal Melton and more
- Leicestershire’s Historic Towns and Villages including Ashby de la Zouch, Woodhouse Eaves, Quorn, Rothley, Mountsorrel, Kibworth Harcourt, Kibworth Beauchamp, Smeeton Westerby, Loughborough, Lutterworth, Market Bosworth, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray and Cosby
- Fun Family Days Out including Conkers, Great Central Railway, Twycross Zoo, Wistow Maze & Wistow Rural Centre, Abbey Pumping Station, Twinlakes Family Theme Park, Moira Furnace & Ashby Canal, National Space Centre, Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, The Battlefield Line and more
- Three Leicester Riverside Maps – created in partnership with the Canal & River Trust as a series of three maps that highlight walking and cycling routes along the River Soar and Grand Union Canal:
- The route starts north of the city at Watermead Country Park, a beautiful open space ideal for bird watching, cycling and gentle walks. The river and canal run their separate paths through the city passing by attractions like Belgrave Hall, Abbey Pumping Station, The National Space Centre, Abbey Park, Newarke Houses Museum, Castle Gardens and King Power Stadium
- The southern end of Leicester’s riverside passes by the Great Central Way mile straight, and through Leicester’s largest and richest nature reserve at Aylestone Meadows
- The route concludes at Everards Meadows; 70 acres of beautiful green space with pathways and cycleways where you will find Everards Brewery beer hall and shop. You can stop here for a well-earned rest, food and of course local beer.
The trails are based on Visit Leicester’s popular Uncover the Story campaign and aim to shine a light on some of the county’s hidden treasures, allowing visitors to plan their trip with the confidence that they’ll be seeing something worthwhile. The campaign also aims to help people to uncover the fascinating stories behind some of our remarkable attractions and locations.
Hard copies of the Riverside Maps are available at the Visit Leicester Information Centre (4a St Martins, Leicester LE1 5DB).
For more information, visit www.visitleicester.info
