[1] From Gorse Hill take the entrance opposite Gynsill Lane into the Anstey Quarter of Castle Hill Country Park. Continue ahead through the trees and pass to the left of a small brick building and continue along the embankment. This area is part of a flood prevention scheme. Just before the path bears to the right, take the downhill path on the left and swing right by a small bench to reach King William's Bridge.
(A) Castle Hill Country Park, established in the 1980's by Leicester City Council, comprises 84 hectares of mixed grassland, woodland and newly created wetlands. It has had mixed fortunes over the years having been woodland, monastic grange and parkland in the medieval ages - King Edward IV, elder brother of Richard III, established a Royal Deer Park here in 1482. More recently, in the 19th and 20th Centuries, the lands have been used variously for sewage treatment, agriculture and flood prevention purposes. The A46 Leicester Western By Pass divided the Park into two in the 1990s. There are many remnant banks and ditches dating from medieval times and structures from its past life when the Abbey Pumping Station pumped Leicester's sewage to the treatment works at Beaumont Leys.
(B) King William's Bridge is a pack horse bridge, possibly dating from the 17th Century, which was restored in 2008. Originally recorded as the ‘Dambridge’, it was named after King William III who ruled, with Queen Mary, from 1688 to 1702. He passed this way in 1696 on his way to visit Lord Grey, Earl of Stamford (son of Thomas, Lord Grey of Groby - the only Lord to sign the death warrant of King Charles I) at his residence in Bradgate Park. This area was grazed by sheep and to the east of the bridge are the remains of an old tunnel which is thought to be part of an old sheep wash.
[2] Turn right, follow the bridle path and fork right to walk across the bridge over the A46. Follow the path round to the left and continue ahead. At a clearing, go left through a kissing gate to enter the Castle Hill Quarter of the park. After a short distance bear right to take the mown path which passes through the gap in the trees. Then bear left along the mown path and continue uphill. Continue ahead across a grassy area and enter the wood on the wide track to the left of a bench.
[3] After a short distance turn first right, by the sign post, onto the woodland track. At the end of the track pass through the gap in front, over the footbridge. Take the path to the left by the trees along the bottom of the orchard and then, after a short distance, take the path through the gap in the trees on your left. Continue ahead on the uphill mown path to enter the site of the Castle Hill Earthworks. Keep straight ahead and continue down the hill with the medieval fish pond to the left.
(C) The Castle Hill Earthworks is a scheduled monument and is misnamed because it is actually the site of a medieval monastic grange. It was associated with the Knights Hospitaller who originally cared for the sick and wounded pilgrims who visited the holy land in the middle ages. They then became a military order who protected pilgrims and were active in the Crusades. Their income from properties such as that on Castle Hill went to supporting the crusaders. The Knights were in this area from around 1240 to 1482, when King Edward IV exchanged a rectory in Boston for the Hospitaller’s Beaumont Leys property. The medieval fishpond was another source of food and income for the Knights Hospitaller.
[4] Approaching the bottom of the hill turn right at a cross path by an old tree trunk and pass through the metal kissing gate. Follow the path up the hill into the Hill Ground Nature Reserve, turn left and carry on down the hill to a tunnel under the A46. (Take care along this path as it is used by horses and there are hoof prints which can be a potential trip hazard)
[5] Turn right immediately before the tunnel and continue ahead on the path. Turn left at the end and cross a bridge over the A46. When the main track goes left, go straight on along a narrow path between a fence and a hedge. On entering a field go half left with a hedge on the right to reach Anstey Lane, Thurcaston. Cross the road and follow the bridle path opposite towards Cropston. At its end cross the old 'coffin' packhorse bridge and follow the path over the field towards a waymark at a protruding hedge corner. Then take the right hand path into the village.
(D) The 'coffin' bridge, dating from the 16th/17th century is a Grade II listed scheduled ancient monument. It spans the Rothley Brook and was used to take coffins from Cropston to Thurcaston Church
[6] Turn left on Waterfield Road and almost immediately turn right onto Ridley Close. At the bend in the road take the path on the left between houses 20 & 22 to emerge by the Bradgate Arms. Turn left and continue forward over the crossroads along Causeway Lane. (Beware of traffic when crossing this crossroads.) At the end, carry straight on along the bridle path, soon with Cropston Reservoir to the right. On reaching a gate on the left, go through and turn right to follow the path downhill with the hedge on the right to reach a stile. Cross the field, go ahead on the track and follow it to a tall gate in the high wooden fence surrounding the deer park.
[7] Upon entering Bradgate Park take the path in front to join the main track through the park. Turn left, with Bradgate House to the right, and follow the driveway to the main park entrance in Newtown Linford and exit with All Saints Church on the right.
(E) Bradgate Park covers an area of over 800 acres and, in the middle ages was a deer hunting park for the Lord of Groby Manor. You may glimpse some red and fallow deer amongst the abundant flora and fauna. The park also contains some of the oldest and youngest rocks in England, which were created by volcanic activity. The estate was owned by the Grey family and Lady Jane Grey (Queen of England for 9 days) was born in the now ruined Bradgate House and spent her early years in the area. The park is a very popular visitor attraction with close to a million visitors each year who come to enjoy the walks, history and nature.
[8] Turn right, cross the road and then almost immediately turn left onto the path by the Old Post Office. Continue ahead to exit at the road. Cross over and take the footpath opposite. (Be careful crossing this busy road with its limited visibility). Continue forward onto the track and, at the bottom of the slope bear left, keep on the track, ignoring any side paths, until the track ends at a wooden kissing gate by a rusty old green metal gate. Go through and continue ahead on a narrow path to Newtown Linford Lane, passing Groby Pool on your right.
(F) Groby Pool is the largest natural expanse of water in Leicestershire, covering 15 Hectares. The pool is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest with a wide range of flora and fauna and is a popular local attraction for its variety of waterfowl.
[9] Turn left onto Newtown Linford Lane and follow the road round. (Take care on rather windy and busy country road). Turn right just before Sevenoaks Garden Centre and Cafe into the old Sheet Hedges Wood, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Pass to the left of the information point and take the right hand track. Continue forward over a little footbridge and up the hill, now following orange arrows. Continue on the path as it bends to the left near the end of the wood and exit the wood over a stile you will spot on the right just as an orange arrow points left.
[10] Turn right and continue forward to follow this path through the fields all the way to Anstey. It follows a track at first, then continues straight on along the left edge of a few more fields. After passing through a kissing gate fork right on the following path then go down the left edge of the next field to emerge opposite the cemetery. Cross the road, turn right, and almost immediately take the footpath on the left down towards the A46.
[11] Just before the path goes over a stream, before the A46 bridge, turn sharp left to take the path to the other side of the field. Continue ahead and follow the field path to a kissing gate in the left hedge. Go through and cross the field onto Millfield Close. Turn right and then almost immediately take the path on the right between houses 18 & 20 and continue ahead on Latimer Street.
[12] Turn right on the footpath between the two school buildings to emerge onto the green. Cross the Anstey Pack Horse Bridge and continue for a short distance right along Leicester Road to return to the start.
(G) This packhorse bridge is a Grade II listed scheduled ancient monument dating from the 16th/17th centuries.. The bridge spans the Rothley Brook and, together with Gorse Hill, was on the original route from Leicester to Ashby de la Zouch and its important castle.