Harborough Guided Walks

18/10/2024

Hello,
Unfortunately, due to a Covid infection we are unable to present the guided walk this Saturday October 19th titled 'Harborough's Role in the Battle of Naseby'
If you have booked a place onto this walk, please accept our apologies. If this cannot be rescheduled for anther date this year, we will certainly be presenting this walk in next year's guided walk programme. www.harboroughwalks.org
James & George

Harborough walks gives information on what guided walks are available in Market Harborough, Lutterworth and the surrounding villages. Check out the list of available guided walks and book the walks through the website.

09/10/2024

Join me, if you dare, for my ‘Haunted Harborough’ ghost walk. During this walk I will be guiding you around the town centre telling tales of ghostly phenomenon, poltergeist and disembodied spirits. You will hear about the haunted typewriter, the ghostly cavalier, the theatre ghost and the most haunted house in town, plus many other tales.
But hurry, the October 30th ghost walk is sold out and the walk on October 29th is filling up. For more information and to book tickets go to https://www.harboroughwalks.org/2023-public-walks

24/09/2024

Well, if you haven't heard enough of me on the town guided walks and the recent Harborough District Walking Festival, then this could be quite fun.
I am really looking forward to this discussion with Len Holden who's knowledge of local history is massive. What's more his quality as a lecturer and public speaker, is likely to make our encounter very entertaining.
But of course, our discussion is only a small part of Quinns Book, Arts & Craft Festival. So if you are unable to make our event, do try and come on the day and visit the fascinating stalls and other speakers.
For more info & to book talk tickets, follow this link : https://www.quinnsbookshop.co.uk/bacfestival2024

16/09/2024

This year’s Harborough District Walking Festival 2024, drew to a close with the now traditional, day long guided walk.
Based around the lost villages of High Leicestershire, although I say it myself, this was a highly enjoyable guided walk. We ventured either close to or visited the deserted villages of Cold Newton, Lowesby, Baggrave, Quenby and Ingarsby and discovered all about their fascinating history.
Covering around 8.5 miles we passed the beautiful houses of Ingarsby Old Hall and Quenby Hall. Our packed lunches were taken at the Ashby Arms in Hungarton, where they very kindly allowed us to use the outside seating area and inside facilities (vitally important on a long walk!).
George and I are proud to say that this year’s Walking Festival has been a great success with record participation. It’s been a joy to have such delightful people of all ages, join us on every one of our walks. Many thanks must go to all those who took part. We have been asked by so many to hold another walking festival in 2025, that we really cannot refuse.

14/09/2024

The Harborough District Walking Festival guided walks held last Wednesday and Thursday were a great success. Fortunately we were able to avoid the worst of the rain showers.
On Wednesday, George told us some intriguing tales about the building of the canals at Foxton Locks and Gumley’s royal connections.
On Thursday we toured the lovely Northants villages of Stoke Albany & Wilbarston and I surprised our walkers by showing them the hand painted six finger signpost in a field above Ashley.
Tomorrow, Sunday, sees the last guided walk of this year’s festival. This is the full day’s walk where we will checkout a number of High Leicestershire’s deserted villages. It promises to be a fascinating walk, which is now completely sold out.

09/09/2024

Yesterday, Sunday, saw us present the first two walks of The Harborough District Walking Festival and what fun they were too.
We were very lucky with the weather as in the early morning it was raining. However, it stopped not long before the start of the morning walk and the sun came out to join us.
We had a lovely group of people of all ages on both walks. They were very chatty and social, which always makes our guided walks so much more enjoyable. It was great to meet some new people and have a number of regulars from last year’s festival join us again. We must be doing something right or they're gluttons for punishment:-)
We all tried some of the ripe blackberries found on route, as well as discovering some unusual items. This included a piece of Roman pottery and a wizard’s face carved into a couple of wooden footpath markers. A special thank you must go to Richard Dear for supplying a number of the photos seen here.
Although the full day’s walk on Sunday 15th is sold out, there are still places available on our Wednesday & Thursday guided walks. For further details and to book the festival walks, follow this link https://www.harboroughwalks.org/walking-festival

06/09/2024

At last! Harborough District Walking Festival starts this Sunday. All the Sunday guided walks are sold out. But there are still places for our countryside weekday walks, Wednesday Sept. 11th around Foxton Locks and Gumley and Thursday Sept 12th a circular walk taking in the villages of Wilbarston, Ashley & Stoke Albany. If you have not been able to book the Sunday walks, we look forward to seeing on one of these. For further details and to book the festival walks, follow this link https://www.harboroughwalks.org/walking-festival

27/08/2024

🌿🏞️ Step into September with the Harborough Walking Festival 2024! 🏞️🌿

Discover the hidden gems of the Harborough District and beyond from 8th - 15th September 2024 at the Harborough Walking Festival! 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️

Join our local experts, James Carpenter and George Keeping, for six unforgettable walks through some of the most picturesque and historic areas of Leicestershire. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just love a leisurely stroll, these walks, ranging from 5 to 7.5 miles, are perfect for you! 🌳✨

Walk Highlights Include:
🌾 The charming village of Great Easton
🏰 The historic trails of Medbourne
🚤 The scenic views at Foxton Locks
🌄 The rolling hills of Wilbarston
🌳 The beauty of Billesdon
🕰️ Discover the mysteries of the Lost Villages of High Leicestershire

Unfortunately, this event is for humans only, so please leave your furry friends at home. 🐾

Supported by Harborough District Council, Visit Harborough District, and proudly sponsored by Involved Holidays, a leading guided walking holiday company exploring the UK and Europe. 🌍✈️

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to explore the heart of Leicestershire. Secure your spot today and make memories that will last a lifetime! 📅👟

Only £8 per person per walk. Book your place today via our website
https://www.harboroughwalks.org/walking-festival

23/08/2024

As part of this year’s Harborough District Walking Festival, September 8th to 15th, we have two intriguing mid-week guided walks.
On Thursday Sept 12th we venture just across the county border for a 6 ½ mile guided walk in the rolling countryside of Northamptonshire. We visit the ancient villages of Wilbarston, Ashley and Stoke Albany with a profusion of attractive ironstone houses and discover an odd signpost and other surprises on route. Why not finish the walk with lunch at the Milking Parlour Café or the Fox Inn in Wilbarston or The White Horse in Stoke Albany.
Join us on Friday Sept. 13th for the morning guided walk to discover Billesdon and the delightful countryside that surrounds it. We take in fascinating local landmarks such as Billesdon Coplow Hill, Botany Bay Covert and the interestingly named ‘Sludge Hall’. We can thoroughly recommend finishing this walk with lunch at The Queen’s Head Billesdon. For further details and to book the festival walks, follow this link https://www.harboroughwalks.org/walking-festival

15/08/2024

This year’s Harborough District Walking Festival has six fascinating guided walks, starting with two walks on Sunday September 8th. These are based around the beautiful Nevill Holt House. As well as Nevill Holt, the morning guided walk takes in the villages of Great Easton, Bringhurst and Drayton. From the top of Drayton hill, we will see fabulous views of the Welland Valley and Rockingham Castle
The afternoon guided walk includes the Leicestershire gems of Medbourne and Blaston. We also walk the footsteps of Romans along the Gartree Road, passing close to ancient villa sites.
For further details and to book the festival walks, follow this link – https://www.harboroughwalks.org/walking-festival

05/08/2024

For the third year running we are delighted to present the Harborough District Walking Festival. Between Sept. 8th and 15th, we have organised six delightful countryside guided walks. The walks are designed to highlight the beautiful local countryside and as we are experienced countryside guides, your walk will be enhanced with fascinating details about natural and ancient history. What’s more, as with previous Harborough Walking Festivals, you will be in the company of a friendly group of walkers.
Look out for future posts focusing on each Festival walk. For further details and to book a walk, follow this link – https://www.harboroughwalks.org/walking-festival

02/08/2024

A first for me last evening and that was presenting a guided walk in a thunderstorm. Hats off to these brave souls who joined me to the bitter end.

24/07/2024

I have two guided walks coming up in early August. On August 1st there is another chance to discover Harborough’s role in the Battle of Naseby. This was a pivotal battle in the English Civil war and we discuss the events leading up to the battle as the Royalist army camped out in the town, and the repercussions of the aftermath.
Or why not join me on Sunday August 4th for a relaxing amble around the lovely village of Great Easton. With many charming ironstone thatched cottages, I will tell intriguing stories of corsets, a holy well and waspy bread making. For more info and to book tickets go to www.harboroughwalks.org.
Many thanks to Kay Carpenter for use of the Great Easton painting. www.kaycarpenter.art

09/07/2024

‘Harborough to Great Bowden and Back Again’ Guided Walk.
Would you like to find out about the man who rowed across the Atlantic in a bottle, or the company who supplied rubber buttons for a James Bond film, where pyramids and palm trees could be found on St Mary’s Rd. and about the woman who gave birth to a cat? Then come and join me on my guided walk this Sunday July 14th at 2.00pm.
There’s a lot of history about St Mary’s Road that’s rarely told. Learn about the businesses that thrived along this busy street. Discover the fascinating past of the enigmatic ancient chapel of Mary in Arden and Harborough’s relationship with Gt. Bowden.
We will be taking a leisurely stroll along St. Mary’s Rd. to the railway station, up Great Bowden Rd. to Great Bowden village. We’ll then take the ancient route over the fields up Bowden Ridge, following the footpath back into town. For more info and to book tickets go to www.harboroughwalks.org.

14/06/2024

Billesdon walk
There’s a gem of a village that you’ve probably heard of but may never have visited and that’s Billesdon. Bypassed by the A47 in 1986 and just off the Harborough to Melton Mowbray Road, this ancient village has a delightful village centre, a vibrant village shop and two excellent pubs. Come Join me on a guided walk of Billesdon Wednesday 26th June at 7.00pm and find out about Queen Adelaide’s Teapot; the odd, if useful, gift given to one couple on their wedding day and who was named as ‘the cleverest rough-rider in the world’. For more info and to book tickets go to www.harboroughwalks.org.

24/05/2024

On Sunday June 9th at 2.00pm I will present my first village guided walk of the season around the beautiful village of Hallaton. Famous for the Easter Monday tradition of Bottle Kicking, Hallaton at one time had its own castle and was a renowned centre of pilgrimage. Come and join me on this intriguing, guided walk and find out about the lamplighter with a ‘intemperate disposition’ and why Rose Cottage had a dubious reputation.
If you missed my guided walk about Harborough’s role in the Battle of Naseby, I will be repeating it on Tuesday June 11th at 7.00pm. This guided walk around Harborough, offers a fascinating insight, not only into the days leading up to the battle and its aftermath, but also how the English Civil War affect the lives of ordinary folks in the Midlands. This walk is presented in association with The Naseby Battlefield Project. For more info and to book go to www.harboroughwalks.org.

07/05/2024

Do you wish to know more about our lovely town. If so, why not join me on my two May guided walks, where we will look beyond the shops and cafés and into the nooks and crannies of Harborough's past life.
'The Story of Harborough' guided walk, Thursday 16th at 7.00pm, will give you an insight into the heyday of the town’s cattle market, its inns, the coaching trade and school life in the Old Grammar School. We may even get to talk about corsets and blancmange!
'The Yards of Harborough' guided walk, Wednesday 22nd at 7.00pm, will take you beyond the High St., into parts you may never have visited before. Find out what life was like behind the prosperous façade and discover a hidden secret about Harborough’s past.

03/05/2024

A couple of days ago George and I carried out our last recce for the Harborough Walking Festival and again we were very lucky with the weather.
As part of the walking festival we offer one shorter route, so we checked out a 5 mile walk based on Foxton Locks. Although I am sure most people have visited the locks, most will not have ventured out into the picturesque surrounding area. The walk takes in the lovely village of Gumley, the local countryside, with a return along the Grand Union Canal footpath. A very pleasant way to spend half a day, especially if like us you pass a Heron perched in a tree.
And whilst on the subject of the Harborough Walking Festival, check out the May edition of The Active Magazine. There’s a fascinating article about our last year’s sponsor ‘Involved Holidays’ and their guided walking holiday in Mallorca.

24/04/2024

22/04/2024

What a great start to the guided walks programme we had yesterday afternoon. I had an excellent turnout of 20 people for the walk entitled ‘Harborough’s Role in the Battle of Naseby’ and luckily the weather held out.
What made the walk that extra special was having two Royalist Infantry soldiers on the walk. Many thanks go the Michelle and Richard from the Sealed Knot for joining us.
This is the feature walk of the season to highlight the quality restoration of the Naseby Battle information boards placed around the town. The work was carried out by the Harborough District Council in association with Naseby Battlefield Project Group.
My next guided walk is ‘The Story of Harborough’ on May 16th at 7.00pm.

20/04/2024

Checking out a longer guided walk.
Yesterday George and I walked in one of my favourite local areas; high Leicestershire, east of the county town including Hungarton, Lowesby and Cold Newton.
On the last Sunday of the Harborough Walking Festival, we like to present a full day’s walk and this area is ideal as there’s so much history with long distance views across the county and beyond. This walk will also major on the fascinating history of the lost villages of Leicestershire as it includes 4 deserted village sites and the ancient Halls associated with them.
We had a lovely lunch at the Ashby Arms in Hungarton, which I can thoroughly recommend and where we hopefully will stop on route for a packed lunch.

15/04/2024

George and I picked a lovely sunny day last Friday to recce another walk for this year’s September Harborough Walking Festival. This 6.5-mile walk took in the countryside just over the county boundary in Northamptonshire. It included the ancient settlements of Wilbarston, Ashley and Stoke Albany with their mellow ironstone built houses. With great views across the countryside and one added surprise along the way, we will definitely be including this in our walking festival.

05/04/2024

New Guided Walks Leaflet Out Today.
The leaflet, produced in association with Harborough Distict Council, gives you details of this year’s public guided walks in Harborough and surrounding villages. It's available at the indoor market, the library and a number of cafes and outlets in and around the town.
The first walk of the season in ‘Harborough’s Role in the Battle of Naseby’ on Sunday 21st April 2:00pm. For further info and to book go to www.harboroughwalks.org

14/03/2024

Today I launch the Harborough Guided Walk Programme 2024. There are 17 guided walks in total starting in late April through to December.
Alongside the firm favourites, I have included new guided walks of the lovely local villages Billesdon and Great Easton.
In association with The Naseby Battlefield Trust, the featured walk for this season, is ‘Harborough’s role in the Battle of Naseby’. A fascinating insight into how the battle and the Civil War affected the people of Harborough. This will be the first walk of the season on Sunday April 21st at 2:00pm.
All walks can be booked from the website: www.harboroughwalks.org

11/03/2024

Hello to our walking friends.
It's been a while since my last post. But after a very soggy start to the walking year, last Friday, George and I were able to get out on our first recce of the guided walks for this year’s Harborough Walking Festival.
We look for interest areas to visit, check out routes and hopefully centre them in places where there are refreshments and toilets. Our first recce took us out from the lovely village of Billesdon; across fields to Billesdon Coplow and back round past the interestingly named Sludge Hall. A few stiles and a couple of short steep climbs, but plenty to talk about and discover. We hope you can join us during the Walking Festival, which is taking place this year between 8th – 15th September.