Discover the beauty of rural Leicestershire with a range of walking routes across Melton Borough. Known for its rolling countryside, picturesque villages and far-reaching views, the borough offers plenty of opportunities to explore the landscape on foot.
The area is home to a number of well-established walking routes, including the popular Mowbray Way and The Melton Round, which take walkers through some of the borough’s most attractive countryside and heritage locations. Whether you’re looking for a short circular stroll or a longer-distance challenge, there are routes to suit all abilities and interests.
Visitors can also enjoy Burrough Hill Country Park, one of the area’s most notable outdoor destinations. With its Iron Age hillfort, panoramic views and network of footpaths, it provides a unique opportunity to combine history, nature and exercise in one spectacular setting.
From peaceful country lanes and open farmland to historic trails and scenic viewpoints, Melton Borough offers a wealth of walking experiences for residents and visitors alike.
The Jubilee Way was opened in 1977, to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. This twenty mile walk starts at Burrough Hill Country Park, taking in the rolling hills of High Leicestershire, through Melton Mowbray to Melton Country Park, then across open countryside to the beautiful Vale of Belvoir before ending at Brewer’s Grave, just beyond Woolsthorpe by Belvoir in Lincolnshire.
The Midshires Way is a long distance multi-user route across Middle England, particularly suited for horse riding and mountain biking. It was launched in 1994 as a collaboration between numerous local authorities and user groups.
The route is approximately 225 miles long. It links two National Trails, The Ridgeway and The Pennine Bridleway, and connects with the TransPennine Trail, thus opening up the possibility of a long ride or walk along the length of England.
The Mowbray Way is a peaceful 8¾ mile walk, starting at Scalford
and heading due east across open countryside, via small villages
to eventually reach Buckminster. This route links the long distance
paths of the Jubilee Way (from Burrough on the Hill to Woolsthorpe
by Belvoir) and the Viking Way (from the Humber to Oakham,
Rutland through Lincolnshire).
Journey through the transformed landscape of the National Forest along the 75-mile National Forest Way. Extending from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to Beacon Hill Country Park in Leicestershire, this long-distance walking trail will take you through rocky outcrops, rolling hills, iconic views and places steeped in industrial heritage.
Enjoy a walk at Holwell Reserves, disused quarries, with a mixture of grassland, woodland and exposed rock faces create a peaceful atmosphere throughout the year. A special place for bats, wildflowers, birds and mammals, Holwell Reserves is a hidden gem in the heart of Leicestershire.
A delightful meeting of old and new, people and wildlife, Wymondham Rough is a mosaic of woodland, ponds, grassland and marshes – with a length of disused canal thrown in!
Coombs Meadows (or Combs, Combes or Coombes, depending on provenance!) are a suite of grasslands overlooking the Vale of Belvoir. Take a stroll around this botanical haven this summer, and enjoy some of the best views in Leicestershire from the Belvoir Escarpment across Nottinghamshire.
