Walks near Leicester by train
Leicestershire · East Midlands
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Leicester and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Leicester.
Derby Circular via Allestree Park (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Leicester.
Parks, river and heritage trail.
Museum of Making (30m in)
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
6 lunch spots: Darley Park (1h15 in) — Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys; plus the Joiners Arms (3h in), or the Orangery Café (4h in)
4 end-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Victoria Inn, or the Waterfall
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Similar walk: North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership.
Nottingham Circular via Attenborough Nature Reserve (Nottinghamshire)
30 minutes direct from Leicester.
Off-road walking and cycling alongside canal and river — a waterside network of paths. Passes the historic Trent Bridge.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Oakham Circular via Manton (Rutland)
30 minutes direct from Leicester.
Villages, churches and views across the Vale of Catmose.
Time: 7h (5h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
2 lunch spots: the Horse and Jockey Pub (1h45 in), or the Blue Ball (3h15 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Royal Duke, or the Grainstore Brewery
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Duffield Circular via the Chevin (Derbyshire)
30 minutes from Leicester, with one change.
Undulating countryside with several steep climbs.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Belper Circular via Kilburn (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Leicester, with one change.
Hilly countryside with several steep climbs. Alport Heights — a 314 m peak five miles away — is visible from the route on clear days. Route passes Holbrook.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Ambergate Circular via Pentrich (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Leicester, with one change.
Mixture of hilly and flat terrain with stiles along the way. Telling the story of the Pentrich Rising of 1817, exploring the local men who took part. Route passes through Fritchley and South Wingfield.
Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Cromford Circular via Lea Bridge (Derbyshire)
1 hour from Leicester, with one change.
Historic cotton mill, former railway track to High Peak Junction, canal towpath, deer park, bluebell woodland in Lea Wood, riverside fields and crossing of the River Derwent.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Similar walk: East Midlands Railway.
Matlock Circular via Nine Ladies Stone Circle (Derbyshire)
1 hour from Leicester, with one change.
Nine Ladies is a Bronze Age stone circle constructed between 3300-900 BCE; legend associates stones with women punished for Sunday dancing.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).
Melton Mowbray to Oakham (Leicestershire)
15 minutes direct from Leicester.
Rural countryside.
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
2 lunch spots: Little Spice Box (3h15 in), or the White Lion Inn (3h15 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Railway Inn, or the Grainstore Brewery
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Derby to Long Eaton (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Leicester.
Waterways — River Derwent, Derby & Sandiacre Canal and Erewash Canal.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: Canal Cottage Cafe (2h45 in), or the Navigation (3h15 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: Peking House, or the Sawley Junction
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Derby to Peartree (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Leicester.
Largely urban walking on pavements and a riverside path, through parks and along the line of the Derby Canal.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Waterside Café
Warnings: Only a few trains a day call at Peartree.
Walk details: North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership (tips and turn-by-turn directions).
Derby to Nottingham (Derbyshire)
15 minutes direct from Leicester.
Mixture of off-road cycle path and on-road sections. Part of the longer London-to-Lake-District route.
Time: 8h30 (7h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).