Grand Union Canal from Great Glen

A short Leicestershire walk that explores the countryside to the south of Great Glen. The walk also includes a short section of the Grand Union Canal including Crane's Lock.

Technical sheet

293133
A Great Glen walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 26/09/23
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.52 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 1h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 11 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 11 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 110 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 92 m
  • ⚐
    District: Great Glen 
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 52.571258° / W 1.033582°

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Path Blocked at start of walk

Description

(S/E)This easy walk starts from Great Glen, a popular village to the east of Leicester just off the A6. The bus service is the Arriva X3 (see timetable). The walk starts from the village green. Commence by walking down the cul-de-sac to the left-hand side of the Pug and Greyhound pub. At the end cross over the stile and carry on along the farm track as it firstly bends to the left and then to the right and then reaches a bridge over the Great Glen Bypass.

(1)After the bridge, continue along the track past the first hedgerow until it reaches the second one. Turn left before it and then cross the footbridge and carry on straight across the field to the next hedgerow. Cross another footbridge and afterwards aim slightly diagonally right until you reach the next hedgerow. Go the right and carry on along the grassy track which will take you under the railway line and eventually onto the canal by Cranes Lock.

(2)Turn right and continue along the canal towpath until you reach a set of steps. Go down them and through the railway line tunnel and then continue along the well-marked and well-trodden footpath until you reach the bypass again.

(3)This time cross it at ground level and carry on for a short distance until you reach a more substantial footbridge than previous. Here you have a choice; straight ahead will bring you out on the old A6, whereas a right turn, a stile and a gate followed by a narrow alleyway will bring you out where you started. Hope you've enjoyed yourself.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 99 m - Start: Great Glen village green
  2. 1 : km 0.87 - alt. 108 m - Cross over the Great Glen Bypass
  3. 2 : km 2.33 - alt. 95 m - Turn right at Crane's Lock
  4. 3 : km 4.17 - alt. 98 m - Cross the bypass again
  5. S/E : km 4.52 - alt. 99 m - Finish: Great Glen village green

Useful Information

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Reviews and comments

3.2 / 5
Based on 2 reviews

Clarity of route description
3.5 / 5
Clarity of route map
4 / 5
Walk interest
2 / 5
NoviceWalker
NoviceWalker
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 2.5 / 5

Date of walk : 26/09/23
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Walk interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

Sadly I couldn’t even start the walk as the narrow path next to the pub has been blocked by a post put up to support the neighbours fence. The path is a little overgrown so watch out for the nettles and slippery moss.

I couldn’t find another way to access the path as the pub boundary is fenced off.

I have a couple of pics but can’t see an option to be able to upload them?

#Nicky#
#Nicky#
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : 02/09/22
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

We enjoyed the walk it was on even terrain so easy for all abilities we would think.
one word of warning the guidance for the last part of the walk was down right dangerous the end footpath which is clearly marked takes you to the A6 bypass, to get over this you would have needed to climb over a crash barrier across 2 lanes of speeding traffic, climb over the 2 crash barriers in the middle then across another 2 lanes of traffic and climb over the final crash barrier where there was no path! Obviously we did not do this, a farmer thinks route was planned prior to the bypass and gave us directions to get back into Great Glen via another route.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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