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 New Parks Library turn left to walk along Aikman Avenue passing the shops and Good Neighbours pub.
[2] Turn second left onto Pindar Road. Cross three streets and continue forward past the children's play area and New Parks Sure Start Children's Centre down the hill to the traffic island.
[3] Turn left onto Samson Road and then first right onto Comet Close.
[4] At the end of Comet Close continue ahead along Fosse Lane and continue down the hill. Look out for some really great view of Leicester, to Scraptoft, Humberstone Heights and the hills to the east.
[5] At the path crossroads turn sharp left and continue forward along the dismantled railway line. (take care on the paths in Stokeswood Park as they are also used by cyclists)
(A) This path is on the route of the former Leicester to Swannington Railway from West Bridge Station to Desford and Coalville. 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.
[6] At the end of this path turn left and bear right to follow the path around the edge of the allotments to exit onto New Parks Crescent.
(B) This area used to be known as Freak's Ground. In the middle ages the Freak family were butchers by trade and would have used this area to graze cattle and sheep to produce meat and wool to sell in the town. The Freak family produced two generations of Mayor of Leicester: Phillip in 1581 and John in 1611.
[7] Bear left at the end of New Parks Crescent all the way around Parks Primary School onto Gillman Road.
[8] At the end of Gillman Road turn right onto Pindar Road. Almost immediately turn first right onto Birds Nest Avenue and continue ahead.
(C) Birds Nest Avenue is so named because it in the vicinity of an access road that led to the 13 century moated lodge located in Leicester Frith Park. Remains of the lodge and its moat are to found in the area of Spinney Park off Battersbee Road.
[9] At the green space on the right turn first left onto Kay Road. At the traffic island take the second exit and continue forward to the junction with Aikman Avenue by the Good Neighbours pub and go right to return to the library.