Leicester Round (11) Somerby to Launde Abbey (5.5m)

November 2004...Weather overcast and humid.

The walk started at Somerby after a long car journey across the bottom of Leicester. The visit to the Church of All Saints was left to after the return journey by car. The path leads downhill crossing headwaters that feed into the Wreake, and on to Owston and the Church of St.Andrew, a Grade I Listed Building, but with no seat in the Churchyard for weary travelers.

Owston is now a tiny hamlet but the humps and hollows in the fields show evidence that this was once a large Augustinian foundation, and the village name appears in the Domesday Book as Osulvestone.

The path then continues through the very muddy Owston Woods and down to Withcote Hall. This was one of the great houses visited by Leland on his survey for Henry VIII, and the Parish Church in the grounds did not seem very accessible.

Leaving Withcote we crossed through a muddy farm, and had our dinner near a barn in the company of a dead sheep. After we climbed the rise to 172m but still could not see much of the Hall or Lake. Walking down the slope on the other side we cross the river Chater and reach Launde Abbey.

Returning by car to Somerby we visited the Church and had our last cup of tea. Thunder was heard, and heavy thunderstorms and lightning were experienced on setting off on the homeward journey.