Walks near Loughborough 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 Loughborough and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Loughborough.
Nottingham Circular via Attenborough Nature Reserve (Nottinghamshire)
30 minutes direct from Loughborough.
Off-road walking and cycling alongside canal and river — a waterside network of paths. Passes the historic Trent Bridge.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Derby Circular via Allestree Park (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Loughborough.
Parks, river and heritage trail.
Time: 5h–10h30
6 lunch spots: Darley Park (1h–2h30 in) — Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys; plus the Joiners Arms (3h–6h in), or the Orangery Café (3h–6h 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.
Duffield Circular via the Chevin (Derbyshire)
30 minutes from Loughborough, with one change.
Undulating countryside with several steep climbs.
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 Loughborough, 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.
Warnings: Several steep climbs.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Similar walk: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Oakham Circular via Manton (Rutland)
45 minutes from Loughborough, with one change.
Villages, churches and views across the Vale of Catmose.
Time: 5h–10h30
2 lunch spots: the Horse and Jockey Pub (2h–3h30 in), or the Blue Ball (3h30–6h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Royal Duke, or the Grainstore Brewery
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Ambergate Circular via Pentrich (Derbyshire)
45 minutes from Loughborough, 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.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Cromford Circular via Lea Bridge (Derbyshire)
1 hour from Loughborough, 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.
Walk details: Visit Amber Valley (PDF).
Similar walk: East Midlands Railway.
Nottingham to East Midlands Parkway (Nottinghamshire)
30 minutes direct from Loughborough.
Canal, river, wooded track and roadside footpath.
Time: 4h30–9h30
2 lunch spots: Wilford Farm (1h30–3h in), or Dovecote Barn Café (3h–6h in)
Warnings: Short stretch on busy A453.
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Derby to Long Eaton (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Loughborough.
Waterways — River Derwent, Derby & Sandiacre Canal and Erewash Canal.
Time: 5h30–11h
2 lunch spots: Canal Cottage Cafe (2h30–5h30 in), or the Navigation (3h–6h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: Peking House, or the Sawley Junction
Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.
Derby to Peartree (Derbyshire)
30 minutes direct from Loughborough.
Largely urban walking on pavements and a riverside path, through parks and along the line of the Derby Canal.
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)
30 minutes direct from Loughborough.
Mixture of off-road cycle path and on-road sections. Part of the longer London-to-Lake-District route.
Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Sheffield to Meadowhall Interchange (Yorkshire)
1 hour direct from Loughborough.
Flat urban canal towpaths and riverside paths along the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal and Five Weirs Walk, past Victoria Quays and the Tinsley locks. An easy waterside start to the trail.
Victoria Quays: A large canal basin in Sheffield constructed 1816-1819 as the terminus of the Sheffield Canal.
The Sheffield & Tinsley Canal: A canal opened in 1819 to link the city with the navigable River Don, famous for featuring in the opening scenes of the film The Full Monty.
Walk details: Penistone Line Trail / Penistone Line Partnership (PDF).