Redmile to Plungar: a Walk in the Vale of Belvoir

Richard Hardy

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The Vale of Belvoir is a beautiful part of Leicestershire. It's known for its old villages, most still clustered around a vibrant village pub and church. Some are home to local cheese manufacture; the Vale is known for its Stilton and production of Red Leicester has also started again. The Vale spreads out below the watchful eye of Belvoir Castle, home to the Dukes of Rutland, which perches on the ridge of high ground marking the southern boundary of the Vale. Listeners to BBC's Test Match Special will have heard cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew wax lyrical about 'the Vale' at some length

This is a short walk which takes you between three of those pretty villages and returns you along the towpath of the currently disused but well-maintained Grantham Canal. It's a nice half-day walk which you can perhaps combine with a visit to the castle or to Melton Mowbray, one of the East Midlands food Meccas with its Food Festivals, Cheese Festival, Pork Pie Museum and Cattle Market.

England - Central England - Leicestershire - Canal Walk

2/3/2026 - David Lance Morgan

We did this walk on 1 Feb 2026, which was not at its best due to the rainfall we'd had during January. The fields and stiles were very wet and slippery and wearing gaiters was essential. That said it is a fairly easy walk, going through some pretty villages, with village pubs before returning along the canal towpath, which doesn't look like much of a canal when you first join it but progressively improves. We walked with a dog who was able to run free for much of the walk.

8/3/2016 - Ruth Lush

A great walk, nice distance, brilliant directions, will definitely do this again. Would recommend.

6/9/2013 - Richard Hardy