Oakthorpe Willesley Circular

Dave and Sam Asbury

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Our walk starts at Saltersford Valley Picnic Area. Take time to study the notice-board (particularly for summer events). We leave and head past Lowlands Farm to Willesley Basin and Woods, where you can find plenty of grass for a picnic or tea stop whilst watching the birds and wildlife. After the woods there is a little bit of unavoidable road-walking before heading through a well-landscaped golf course.

A small diversion around a church and then we follow a path between an older and newly planted wood (Waymark 8), so you can watch it grow. Then it's an straight and easy track back.

This walk was walked and written in early May 2007.

For an alternative, slightly shorter walk it may be possible to use the car park at SK 32935 14099 and head straight for wp3, then end the walk just after wp9 taking the next right back to wp3 then the car park (refer to map). Note we have not tried this ourselves.

England - Central England - Leicestershire - Woodland or Forest

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Good for Kids, Lake/Loch, Mostly Flat, Play Area, Public Transport, Wildlife, Woodland

10/31/2017 - Mangal Mistry

Nearest Post code to the car park is DE12 7RF

5/5/2014 - Graham Brookes

Step stiles in first half mile of walk only suitable for small dogs unless you can carry your dog across. Lane N of Willesley estate is narrow with no footpath and can be busy. Willesley Wood and Willesley Park (golf course and scout camp site) excellent for all dogs and worth visiting as they are the best parts of this walk route.

5/5/2014 - Graham Brookes

Good in parts. Trees in Willesley Wood maturing nicely - pleasant walking by lakes with some open vistas through trees and a small area of dense bluebells in spring. Excellent walking over Willesley Park (golf course and scout camp site) - birdsong and large mature trees. Skylarks by Pastures Lane. Half mile road walk on busy country lane unfortunate although can be part bypassed to north (as stated in route description) or by trespassing around anglers' lake on the Willesley estate (far better). Good underfoot - not muddy.

7/26/2011 - Mangal Mistry

27/07/11 - I did this short, beautiful, easy walk again. At this time of the year it is really nice with woodlands in full bloom, and plenty of wildlife. This time I took a detour opposite Pasture Farm gate. Here I turned right at yellow marker and then left at point 3, thus avoiding walking along slightly boring Pastures Lane. On returning to the car park, it is also worth visiting the picnic site lakes at the back of the car park. Thoroughly enjoyable walk. Note: there are plenty more yellow posts so it's even easier to follow the route. At point 7, after walking along the fence on right, it is the 2nd post where you cross Wellesley Park. My photos of the walk at : http://tinyurl.com/3zxug3v