[1] Face the main entrance of the Peepul Centre in the car park at the back. Turn left and follow the footpath under trees about 50m then turn left onto the path just before the playground. Continue past the grey building with tall chimneys then go left onto Donaldson Road. Go right past the garages then where the road bends right go straight on across the car park to emerge onto Belgrave Road.
[2] Cross Belgrave road using the pedestrian crossing at the bottom of the Belgrave Flyover. Turn left at the other side of the crossing and continue along Belgrave Road. Turn second right onto Abbey Park Street and, at the end, turn right onto Abbey Park Road and continue to just past the canal bridge.
Note the old Wolsey Building on your right, now converted to flats.
[3] Cross the road by turning right down the ramp onto the canal towpath then going under the road. Turn right immediately after the bridge and take the steps or ramp up to join the road. Turn left along Abbey Park Road past the car park entrance. Enter Abbey Park through the main entrance. Turn right onto the main path. Pass by the parks office and entrance to the bowling green and then turn right just after the tree carving. Turn right again to visit the Redland Garden of the Senses.
(A) Abbey Park was purchased as 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 River Soar divides this beautiful park into two distinct areas: to the east of the river lies the highly decorative Victorian part of the park with its evergreen shrubberies, trees, lakes and formally planted flower displays and to the west of the river lies the fascinating Abbey Grounds. Within this area are the remains of the twelfth century Leicester Abbey, which was founded in 1143, and the ruins of Cavendish House, a seventeenth century mansion.
(B) The Garden of the Senses has been designed to appeal to all the senses - sight, sound, smell and touch. These are excited by plants and flowers, water features, wind chimes, plants that pick up the sound of the breeze and sculptures.
[4] Return to the first path junction and go right towards the River Soar. Follow the path to the left along the river bank until you reach the stone bridge.
(C) The River Soar is a tributary of the River Trent in the English East Midlands. It rises near Hinckley flowing into the Trent near Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire. It is believed the name "Leicester" is derived from the words castra (camp) of the Ligore, meaning dwellers on the 'River Legro' (an early name for the River Soar). In the early 10th century it was recorded as Ligeraceaster ("the town of the Ligor people"). The Domesday Book later recorded it as Ledecestre.
[5] Cross the stone bridge over the River Soar. With the cafe in front of you note the statue of Cardinal Wolsey walk a few steps to your right where you will notice some iron railings. Directly behind the railings go through the door in the stone wall. You will emerge in front of the ruins of The Abbey (D). See additional point of interest information below. Follow the path forwards around the right hand side of the Abbey along the line of the wall. Take care when passing through the stone wall as there is restricted headroom. Where the wall turns left follow it through the car park. On your right is the park gate. Turn left through an archway in the standing ruins of Cavendish House (E). See additional point of interest information below.
[6] You will emerge from the woods onto a large field. Follow the path round to the right and continue past the tennis courts and seating areas to the children's playground at the bottom of the field. Follow the railings to exit the field via a gate; this takes you onto the river bank. Turn right along the river bank and continue with the river on your left until you come to a bridge. Cross the bridge and turn left along the path with the river on your left for 50m. Turn left through the gate, pass the miniature railway (F) on the right and take the first path on the right. Cross the main path and take the path that aims directly at the Education Centre. Turn left at the next path junction and follow it round to a junction where there are toilets then turn right.
(F) The Leicester Society of Model Engineers was founded in 1909. 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.
[7] By the Education Centre you will see a small gate which is the entrance into the Friendship Gardens (G) on your left. Enter the Friendship Gardens and cross the first bridge and then a second bridge towards the miniature pagoda.
(G) Officially opened in 1989, many of the plants in this area are of Chinese origin and the paintings on the ceiling of the ‘Pagoda’ were actually painted in Taiwan.
Take care on the bridges as they can be very slippery in damp conditions. The area can be avoided by carrying on around the outside of the Gardens by the left hand side of the Education Centre.
[8] Exit the Friendship Gardens by the gate behind the pagoda and turn right to join the main path around the lake. Go left on this path with the lake on your left and continue to the car park. Take care around the unfenced water, particular with young children. Cross the car park and turn right onto Abbey Park Road and continue to the first pedestrian crossing, on the left, at the start of the traffic island (Belgrave Flyover). Cross over the two carriageways to the other side of Abbey Park Road and take the pedestrian crossings under the Belgrave Flyover to the other side of Belgrave Road. Take care crossing the car park.
[9] Turn left and continue for a short distance up Belgrave Road and then turn right onto the pedestrian way leading to Sainsburys entrance. Continue left then go right round the side of the building to return to the Centre.