Belvoir Castle was first built by Robert Todens a standard bearer for William the Conqueror . Over the centuries it has been rebuilt numerous times .Therefore it is now a faux historic castle in Leicestershire six miles west of Grantham and 10 miles north east of Melton Mowbray. So there has been a castle here dating from 1066, however in many differing guises.

The Walk

 Our walk today starts in the castle car park . From the car park it is a short walk on a road around the castle on our right. We then proceed around the castle across 2 fields until we turn east towards  Woolsthorpe by Belvoir. From here we head North to the Duck public house. It’s a little early however but I do intend to have a little break here . Did I hear a few of our walkers cheering ?

 We then continue our walk beside the Grantham Canal, or what’s left of it. We will continue along the canal a little further than planned because of the difficulties experienced on the recce which you wouldn’t want to encounter. At a certain point on the canal we turn West to follow the flow. Continuing on in the same direction to reach Redmile . From here it’s a short walk across a few fields back to the car park where we started .

You will be pleased to note we can enjoy various refreshments to help us recover from our activities .Please join me on the walk in an area we have not in my recollection walked before...

 Barry

 'B' Walk - Leader- Jane Taylor. Distance - 8 miles. Ascent - 535 ft. Grade - Easy. Clockwise.

 Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire is a destination that the club hasn’t visited before and we originally planned to go there in January 2025 before the day had to be cancelled due to heavy snow. Now it provides us with an easy summer walk instead.

The name “Belvoir” meaning “Beautiful View” in French, and nowadays pronounced Beaver, has its roots in Norman times. Since the Norman Conquest in 1066 Belvoir Castle has been built and rebuilt four times and is now the ancestral home of the Duke of Rutland.

 We begin our walk from Belvoir Castle car park where there are toilets for us to call at. From the car park you can take in the views for miles around as, with the exception of the hill which the castle is built on, the surrounding area is fairly flat and offers the beautiful view that the inhabitants of that first Belvoir Castle must have enjoyed from their higher vantage point.

 From the car park we follow the Jubilee Way towards the attractive little village of Woolsthorpe by Belvoir, starting off along a wide grassy verge beside the road, before we turn into farmland and across the fields and over the River Devon. We will go through the village and past the Chequers Inn to join a footpath that takes us up slightly and along the outskirts, then back down to join the road to Stenwith and the Grantham Canal at Stenwith Bridge.

Depending upon the weather we can either shelter here under the bridge for an early lunch break or carry on a little way along the canal to Middle Lock and rest on the bench and wall there. Further along the canal we will reach Woolsthorpe Wharfe where we will call in at The Duck Inn for refreshments and to use the facilities. For anyone who prefers to there is a small picnic area close by, especially if you still have pack up to eat.

 Once back on the canal towpath we begin walking on the Cross Britain Way. But not for long because at the next bridge over the canal we join our third “Way” of the day, the Viking Way and back in the direction of, would you believe it, the Jubilee Way again! After walking through Fanny’s Wood the views open up ahead of us and we can see Woolsthorpe by Belvoir at the bottom of the grassy hill that we must descend and Belvoir Castle in the distance. Back down in the village we retrace our steps to the car park for Belvoir Castle where we will all be meeting up. There should be ample time to browse around The Engine Yard retail outlet with its café/bistro, farm shop and gift shops before our journey home.

'C' Walk - Leaders - Maureen & Barbara. Dist - 6.5 miles. Ascent - 285 ft. Grade - Mod., Clockwise