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Leicester: Groby Road to Glenfield Tunnel

Difficulty Easy Access

Walking time 40 minutes

Length 3.2km / 2.0mi

Route developer: John Alton

Route checker: Philip Cheesewright

Start location LOROS, Groby Road, Leicester
Route Summary A short circular walk taking in parts of the historic Leicester to Swannington railway line. The outward route is through quiet residential streets - observing some remains of the old railway - and the return is via the busy Groby Road
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

There are frequent bus services along Groby Road. The hospice is in fact in Duncombe Road, off Groby Road.

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]  Turn right outside LOROS and continue forward down Duncombe Road then right into Heathley Park Drive to reach Groby Road.

[2]  Cross Groby Road at the pedestrian crossing and turn right to walk up the hill.

Take care on the pavement as it is shared with cyclists.

[3]  After about 300 metres, just after the Skoda dealers, turn left to take the path onto Jowett Close - keeping to the footpath on the left.  

(A)  Glenfield Tunnel was on the route of the Leicester and Swannington Railway which linked the coalfields of North West Leicestershire and granite quarries of Groby with Leicester.  The route was opened in 1832 and was engineered by Robert Stephenson.  The tunnel was only the second in the world on a passenger railway and the line was the fifth to built in the UK.  Passenger services from Leicester West Bridge  to Glenfield, Ratby, Desford etc ceased in 1928.  The line was finally closed in 1966.  The ventilation shafts are listed structures.

[4]  At the end cross right over Jowett Close and continue past the tunnel ventilation shaft on your right. Cross Amhurst Close and continue.

[5]  Turn first right onto Dillon Way and walk forward. Cross New Parks Boulevard then cross left and and take the path to the pedestrian crossing over New Parks Way. 

[6]  Cross over then cross New Parks Boulevard and go right to Kemp Road. Go left, passing another ventilation shaft (B) on the right.  Continue over two streets to the junction of Kemp to the Road with Lamen Road.

[7]  Cross right onto Lamen Road and then right again onto Holmwood Drive - note a further ventilation shaft at No. 9 (C).

[8]  At the end of Holmwood Drive turn right onto Groby  Road and continue forward.

Take care on the pavement as it is shared with cyclists.

[9]  Cross over Groby Road at the pedestrian crossing just past Groby Road Gardens and go right to cross the hospital entrance then Glenfrith Way, using the pedestrian crossing.

[10]  Turn right and keep on down Groby Road.  You pass the main gateway of Gilroes Cemetery, then a small side turning. 

[11]  Take the next turn left onto Allerton Drive.  Continue round to the end then turn left to return to LOROS.

POI information No details available.
Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Concreted over entrance to Glenfield Tunnel
    Concreted over entrance to Glenfield Tunnel
    By - John Alton
  • Ventilation shaft on New Parks Way
    Ventilation shaft on New Parks Way
    By - John Alton
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