Otherwise known as the Leicester Three Peaks.

Distance: 15 miles

Time to walk: 8hrs – with time for lunch and snacks

Difficulty: Stiles, overgrown paths, diversions round the quarries (where the directions suddenly stop), muddy paths – Moderate/challenging

Parking:  Start from the Bradgate Park Pay and Display car park at Newton Linford (Newtown Linford car park LE6 0HB, Car/Small Van/Motorcycle Monday – Friday £3.00; Weekends/Bank Holidays £4.00)

Public toilets: Conservatory Tea-shop at Newton Linford, April – October (inclusive) : Daily – 10.00am – 5.00pm, November – March (inclusive) : Daily – 10.00am – 4.00pm

Map of the route: (Download directions from here)

The morning started nice and bright with a chill in the air. Ted, myself and 3 friends headed off to complete the Charwood Peaks walk. Leaving the car park we headed into Bradgate park and climbed up the hill to the obelisk – The Prince Albert’s Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Regiment memorial. Look out for the herds of deer that roam the park.

Bradgate park has many paths through it – mostly the ground is covered with bracken and there are lots rocky outcrops. Within the boundary of the park are the remains of the former home of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for 9 days. The park is a lovely place just to walk and admire the ancient oak trees and watch the deer and there are always families about enjoying it. It has a fabulous tea shop as well by the ruins of the old house.

After the obelisk we headed through the wooded copse upto Old John Tower which sits atop the highest hill in Bradgate park – and the first summit of the 3 peaks.

From Old John Tower we headed down and out of the park. We crossed the road and headed across the golf course and into Broombriggs Farm Country Park. Heading up towards the summit of Beacon hill we passed several wooden sculptures.

When we reached the summit the sun was still out and we stopped for a snack break.

From Beacon hill we headed on the long slog over to Bardon Hill. Part of the route runs parallel to the M1 and some of the footpaths are very overgrown. It was at this point we wished we had packed a set of secateurs! As we walked the sky started to cloud over and the temperature dropped several degrees. This was also the start of several diversions as we skirted our way around the quarries. We reached the summit of Beacon Hill as the heavens opened and we got wet.

A quick summit selfie before we headed under the trees to eat lunch as the weather showed no signs of breaking.

Ted wasn’t too impressed with the rain but cheered up a bit when he got some lunch – and a bit of my marmite sandwich.

From the summit we headed towards Billa Barra trying to negotiate the diversions that had been put in place around the quarries. The diversion signs suddenly ended and we had to revert back to our OS Map to find our way to get back onto the route. At Billa Barra we passed the Noon Column and headed to Hill Hole Quarry Nature Reserve. The steps out of the nature reserve were steep and slippy but as we headed out the weather cleared up and the blue skies came back..

We then passed into Cover Cloud Wood, past the Scout camp and headed back towards Newton Linford. We stopped for a quick drink in the pub before heading back to our cars.

The walk was long and mostly enjoyable, the section getting to and from Beacon Hill was a bit of a slog in places though.