Thornton Reservoir

Roy Davenport

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Thornton Reservoir is 150 years old. Built in 1854 and opened to the public in 1997, 75 acres of clear water set in farmland, surrounded by a flat level path 2.7 miles long. This walk allows you to complete about 80% of that path. Boats are available for hire for fishing. Several picnic tables are located around the footway. Using a short loop path you will come across several excellent woodcarvings made on the tops of cut-down trees. The area abounds with birds and waterfowl. Part of the Leicestershire Round is used and you pass through new plantations of the National Forest. Then it's on across farmland and fields to reach Ratby Burroughs, a wood of two halves linked by a footpath and the new Cycle Trail No 63. The northern section contains a sea of bluebells in the spring and the southern sector was newly planted in 1965 / 66. The cycle trail and field-paths then return you to Thornton.

England - Central England - Leicestershire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Good for Kids, Lake/Loch, Mostly Flat, Pub, Public Transport, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

8/10/2011 - Mangal Mistry

09/08/11- I did this beautiful walk today on a sunny day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Author’s instructions were perfect. Walking around the reservoir is wonderful. Then walking away from the dam I went through woods, grassy paths, farm, fields, and cycle trail. Some of the new woods are now fully mature and feel like walking through Amazon forest. At this time of the year, everywhere is buzzing with bees, butterflies, bumble bees, and birds. I fully recommend this walk. You can see photos of my walk at: http://tinyurl.com/3cn5woa

4/17/2009 - Roy Davenport

All OK 17/4/09. Field with very young calves, Mums watched me carefully but no hassle at all as I passed through. RD

7/13/2007 - Walkingworld Administrator

Roy has amended the instructions slightly to avoid the field at wm 5 with cows. This route follows the Official Leicester Round footpath and is usually walked without any difficulty. However when walking with dogs it is paramount to take great care when cows, especially with calves are present and wherever possible avoid them.

7/7/2007 - TERESA Brown

When we did this walk we had to abandon it at point number 5. We took our 2 dogs with us, at point 5 we came across some very hostile cows who decided that there was no way we were crossing their field. Believe me I'm in no way scared of cows, as I'm a farmer's daughter.

2/8/2006 - Walkingworld Administrator

This walk was updated February 2006.