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Leicester - New Parks Holmwood Drive & Glenfield Tunnel

Difficulty Easy

Walking time 45 minutes

Length 2.4km / 1.5mi

Route developer: John Alton

Route checker: Philip Cheesewright

Start location New Parks Library
Route Summary This short circular walk takes in the residential area of New Parks with the opportunity to visit the play area at Lamen Road. The return is via Groby Road and the site of the start of the disused Glenfield Tunnel with one of its ventilation shafts.
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Getting there

First bus services 14, 14A and 94 and Arriva bus service 14 pass the library on Aikman Avenue.  Phone Traveline 0871 200 2233 for more information.

Description

This walk has a number of busy roads, please take care when crossing these and use pedestrian crossings where possible

Some of the pavements and paths are uneven in places - take care.

[1]  From the library turn right onto Aikman Avenue and continue to its junction with New Parks Way.  Cross New Parks Way at the pedestrian crossing and continue forward along Battersbee Road. 

[2]  Turn first right onto Battersbee Way and turn left at its end onto Keightley Road and continue, curving right all the time to the end of the road at Holmwood Drive.  Straight facing is a small childrens play area.  Turn left onto Holmwood Drive and continue to its junction with the main Groby Road.

[3]  Turn right onto Groby Road.  Continue forward to the roundabout, where you cross over New Parks Way at the pedestrian refuges (take care crossing this busy road).  After 50m turn right onto the service road.

[4]  After another 50m turn right into the grassed area of Amhurst Close, which becomes Dillon Road.  Bear right at the end, still on Dillon Road and, after 50m, turn first right onto Dillon Way.

(A)  At the end of Amhurst Drive and to the left are remnants of the old Glenfield Tunnel.  Built as part of  the route of the former Leicester to Swannington Railway from West Bridge Station to Desford and Coalville the tunnel was just under one mile long. Very visible is one of the Grade II listed ventilation shafts that carried smoke out of the tunnel.  The line, engineered by Robert Stephenson, opened in 1832 and carried coal from the Leicestershire coalfield and granite from the Groby quarries. Passenger trains serving Glenfield and Ratby ceased in 1928 and the line finally closed in 1966. It is possible to walk to the Railway Inn at Ratby along the old track bed - with diversions around the closed Glenfield tunnel.

[5]  Turn first left onto New Parks Boulevard and continue ahead to its junction with Aikman Avenue.  Turn left onto Aikman Avenue to return to the library.

POI information No details available.
Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Childrens play area Holmwood Drive/Lamen Road
    Childrens play area Holmwood Drive/Lamen Road
    By - John Alton
  • Glenfield Tunnel ventilation shaft
    Glenfield Tunnel ventilation shaft
    By - John Alton
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