We are Coalville Ramblers - a friendly group based in the heart of the National Forest. We offer a programme of 3 walks each week, from 5 miles to 10 plus.
Dave H.
This is a circular walk starting from the car park at Staunton Harold Hall. The first part of the walk will be through the grounds of Calke Abbey and Staunton Harold Reservoir, and then on to Melbourne.
We will leave Melbourne via the Pool and follow the path across to Breedon on the Hill for a lunch stop and an opportunity to visit the historic Breedon Hill & Church.
Breedon Hill dominates the local landscape and has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. The Iron Age hillfort has now largely been quarried away but the summit has been a religious site since the 7th century AD. The current church is based on the remnants of a 12th century priory and contains one of the most important collections of Anglo-Saxon carvings in the country as well as the Shirley family tombs.
The final part of the walk will see us head across the fields from Breedon to return to our start point.
It is a reasonable climb up the hill to the church at Breedon. The climb is definitely worth the effort for the views from the top and the opportunity to visit the church. But if anyone does not wish to visit the church there is the option to take their lunch stop at the village green and wait for the rest of the group to rejoin them.
There are toilets at the start / finish of the walk and at Calke and Melbourne. There are no toilets or refreshments in Breedon itself.
Ground conditions for the majority of the walk are currently good to soft but there will be isolated sections of mud, particularly around Breedon. If the field paths deteriorate nearer the date then part of the final section may switch to a quiet country lane.
There are a small number of field stiles but only one of them is the climb over kind.
Please use the large public car park at the rear of the garden centre. This is free on weekdays. Please avoid the actual garden centre car park - it is clearly signed.
