Burton on the Wolds, Walton, Cotes, Hoton

Date: 2012-08-08

From: Burton on the Wolds

Region: Leicestershire, East of Loughborough

Walk :  Circular

OS Sheet: Explorer 246

Start Grid: SK 589 211

Distance: 8.45 ml, 13.6 km 

Height Gain: 357 ft, 109 m

Height Lost: 357 ft, 109 m

Notes:  The walk is mainly though fields and along farm tracks. There are several sections of road walking joining things together. No stiles, a couple of gates and two foot bridges.

Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.

From the mini roundabout, South along Barrow Road at top of hill, footpath on left to Walton on the Wolds. At road turn right, to footpath on right heading North West to the hedgeline at top of the ridge turn left to Nottingham Road. Turn right, to footpath on left, East to Burton Bandalls Farm. Turn left onto bridleway East to Cotes Road. Turn right to Loughborough Road left then right into Back Lane into Cotes. Cross the A60 into Stanford Lane to bridleway on right to Moat Hill and on to Hoton. Follow A60 South West through Village, turn left on road to Prestwold, at bend take footpath on left all the way to Burton on the Wolds.

  

Journey

This is the second of my walks based on the Number 8 bus from, and back to Loughborough. The previous Number 8 walk was from Harlaxton was the furthest one from home, this one from Burton on the Wolds is the nearest. 

Burton on the Wolds

The morning was warm and sunny with a cooling breeze which was great and walk was a nice steady stroll through very pleasant, well farmed countryside. Burton on the Wolds and Walton on the Wolds are both pretty villages. Walton probably the more so, as it is smaller and is not blighted by a main route to and from the A46 Fosse Way as Burton is. I can vouch for the quality of the beer and food in the pub in each village.

May Cottage, Walton on the Wolds

Clouds, Trees and Tracks

Shortly before reaching Burton Bandells you pass the Natural Burial Ground, a very peaceful location.

Burton Bandells is the home of Muggins Pottery. Muggins. http://www.muggins.com

As you walk from Cotes along Stanford Lane you are looking for the bridle way on the right. If it is as badly overgrown as in the photo above, just walk on another 100 metres or so and you will be able to join the path just as it starts to climb the slopes of Moat Hill and on to Hoton Hills. 

The path up and along the ridge, almost as far as Hoton, is broad and easy going. The views into the valley below and onto the hills beyond can be stunning. This path is just as good, possibly better when walked in reverse, from Hoton. Having said that, I have walked this route both ways, as a check, and I reckon as a route it is better walked this way round.

Stanford Church Tower

Standing prominent on the far slope is the imposing face of Stamford Hall. Please note its Stanford Hall, Nottinghamshire, not to be confused with Stanford Hall, Leicestershire. This Stanford Hall was built in 1774, and has passed through various hands since then, including Sir Julien Cahn, The Co-operative Union and two developers. It has now been purchased by the Duke of Westminster and is being converted into a ‘Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre’ (DNRC) where injured service men and others can be treated and rehabilitated, with I understand accommodation for their families to use when necessary. It is a wonderful location for this purpose.

Stanford Hall, Nottinghamshire

 Hoton was decorated with bunting and there were dozens of 4 pint milk cartons with their bottoms cut off, painted and decorated, filled with plants and strapped to lamp columns sign posts etc. I believe this was done for the Torch coming to the Village and has carried on through the Olympics. 

Milk Carton Flower Arrangements

Packe Inn Hoton

 In Route above I described the route I planned and walked. However there is an alternative route between Hoton and Burton on the Wolds which may be more to appealing. I like both. Instead of turning left at the cattle grid carry on South along Prestwold Road to the next footpath on the left at a gap in the wall, follow the path south from here to Prestwold Church through the next field and across the stream, turn left, East, along its south bank passing in front of Prestwold Hall and on to Burton on the Wolds. 

Burton on the Wolds (seen from the North)