[1] Leave the college campus onto Belgrave Gate. Turn left and walk towards the roundabout.
[2] At the roundabout turn left following the footpath towards the first exit signposted ‘Abbey Park’. Continue along Abbey Park Road following the watercourse to the left. This is an offshoot of the Grand Union Canal.
[3] After approximately 100 metres from the roundabout, immediately after the bridge, turn left down the ramp and join the path on the canal bank and turn right along it. Continue forward for about 600 metres to a bridge..
Take care on the canal path and keep away from the edge. This path is also used by cyclists - keep aware at all times
(A) The canal is the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal, which runs from London to Birmingham. On the left is Limekiln Lock, which is named after lime kilns located at the site of a shoe works. Canal boats brought in coal and took away lime. Destinations for canal barges included London 130 miles and Manchester 145 miles. Access to these markets helped fuel the Industrial Revolution.
[4] Immediately after the overbridge take the steps/ramp on the right into the car park. Go through the park gate on the right and take Caves Walk immediately to the left. Continue to the end of Caves Walk, with St Margaret's Pasture to the left and the miniature railway to the right.
(B) Abbey Park was purchased for a flood alleviation scheme in 1876. It was opened as a public park on 29th May 1882 by the Prince and Princess of Wales. The decorative Victorian park contains lakes, trees, shrubberies and is has many sporting facilities.
[5] Bear right onto the path next to the River Soar and continue ahead to the bridge.
(C) To the right as you walk along Caves Walk is a miniature railway. In 1949 the Parks Committee gave the Leicester Society of Model Engineers permission to install a miniature railway for model engines on Abbey Park. The railway is open to the public most Sundays throughout the summer.
[6] Turn left over the bridge towards the Pavilion Cafe.
(D) Note the statue of Cardinal Wolsey in front of the cafe. Thomas Wolsey was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic church in the time of Henry VIII, and was the second most powerful man in the land. He lived in Hampton Court Palace, near London. But when he failed to arrange Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon he was stripped of his office, and demoted to Archbishop of York. Henry took Hampton Court Palace. Wolsey was then accused of treason, and was on his way back to London when he fell ill and died in Leicester and was buried in the Abbey in 1530.
Turn right just before the cafe to pass through the brick archway. (Mind your head due to restricted height of the archway).
[7] Continue forward to walk along the inside of the Abbey defensive wall with the Abbey ruins on the left.
(E) The Abbey was founded in 1143 and closed by Henry VIII in 1538 during the period known as the dissolution of the monasteries . The buildings were demolished or fell into ruin. These low walls are not the original walls of the Abbey but were built in the twentieth century to show where the walls of the building would have been.
[8] At the top of the park take the second path on the left and walk along the wall and through the car park.
[9] On your right is the park entrance, but go left (beware of moving cars) to pass by Cavendish House and through the Abbey Gateway. Almost immediately turn left towards the Abbey ruins. The ruins of Abbey Church are straight in front.
(F) This mansion was built with stone from the disused abbey. The house passed through many aristocratic families and was acquired by William Cavendish (first Earl of Devonshire) in 1613, and became known as Cavendish House. The house was used by King Charles I during the siege of Leicester in the English Civil War. The house was eventually looted and destroyed by fire in 1645.
[10] Turn right to walk alongside the ruins and then first right to join the path around the oval to return to the Pavilion Cafe. Turn left and re-cross the bridge.
[11] Follow the path around to the left with the weir and river on the left. After about 200 metres turn right onto the main path and continue past the bowls club and wood carvings on the left. At the path 't' junction turn left onto the wide main path.
[12] After about 100 metres turn left to exit the park through the ornate gates onto Abbey Park Road. Turn right along Abbey Park Road. Cross the car park entrance (Take care when crossing) and continue to the roundabout.
[13] Follow the path round to the right and return to the college.