Midlands Walkers Hikers Ramblers and Leisure Group

Continuing our 30k+ Walk Challenge events, this one is not in a national park but rather special nonetheless.

The Belvoir Witches Challenge Walk is a 23 mile circular route around the Vale of Belvoir (pronounced Beever!) which covers ground associated with a family of three witches. The Witches of Belvoir were three women, Joan Flower, a mother and Margaret and Philippa, her two daughters who were accused of witchcraft in England around 1618.

The route which begins and ends in the village of Bottesford visits the neighbouring villages of Easthorpe and Muston to reach Grantham Canal at Muston Bridge. It follows the canal via Stenwith Bridge, Woolsthorpe Bridge, Longmoor Bridge, Casthorpe Bridge, and Denton Bridge before crossing the canal at Harlaxton Bridge and leaving it to skirt around Denton Reservoir before reaching the village of Denton. The route then continues along Sewstern Lane to the village of Woolsthorpe by Belvoir and then it passes closely on the north side of Belvoir Castle to follow the Jubilee Way through Old Park Wood and Barkestone Wood from where it continues to the village of Plungar. The Grantham Canal is then followed once more, this time to Redmile and to Bottesford Wharf and the Belvoir Road taking us through local paths back to the start.

As is usual on our Challenge Walk days we provide both printable routes and downloadable gpx tracks. We also offer complimentary use of Outdooractive 3 month trial copies for those currently without a competent mapping app on their phone and the necessary information to help you get up to speed with using this prior to the day.

THERE IS NO DESIGNATED LEADER SO PEOPLE CAN GO AT THEIR OWN PACE ALTHOUGH EXCEPT FOR THE FEW LOONIES WHO WANT TO FELL RUN IT OUR CHALLENGE WALKS TEND TO SPLIT EARLY ON INTO A FASTER AND SLOWER GROUP OR TWO AND IT'S NOT A COMPETITION SO BE NICE AND HELP EACH OTHER!

There will be also be a strategically sited water and pastry stop en route and plenty of photo opportunities.

Please try and share lifts where you can to minimise disruption to the local community.

We meet at the Bottisford Coop which opens at 7am for drinks, snacks and toilet"! Arrive by 8am for registration with refreshments available and then everyone can be ready to depart between 8:15am and 8:45am so you are not all falling over each other at the first stile.
There will be a couple of checkpoints en route to make sure everyone is ok and "finishing line" back at the start for final refreshments and medallions to hang on your mantlepiece.

Emergency transport is available if any participants get into problems on the day.

Another fantastic combination walking weekend in a perfect location, executed in a similar way to that which we did for the hugely successful Yorkshire Three Peaks Weekend earlier in 2025

That is:-

Have a relaxed social and walking or cycling weekend with maybe the challenge of an ascent of the lovely Cadair Idris nearby

OR

Walk the Welsh Three Peaks over the course of the weekend (with additional traveling required)

OR

Take the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge which is to do the same three peaks in 24 hours or less starting Bank Holiday Saturday in the Brecon Beacons!

The choice is yours!

The Welsh three peaks are Pen y Fan, Cadair Idris and Snowdon. What an achievement opportunity for everyone.

To do the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge you use shared transport to do Pen y Fan and Cadair Idris after which you get a meal and a brief rest and we use a local minibus to get you to Snowdon and back. There will be a medallion and certificate provided for all successful participants.

All three options include catered accommodation for 2 or 3 nights as selected.

YHA Kings being the only hostel where you can walk up the lovely Cadair Idris right out the front door, Brilliant. So lucky to have got this.

But South Snowdonia centred on Dolgellau isn't just about Cadair Idris there are loads of spectacular ridge walks and amazing peaks as well as easy and very tough cycling routes for those interested in that.

We will have a choice of walks on each day with a bonus walk Friday for those who can get to the area in time.

All food is included from dinner on Friday to packed lunch on Monday but we have no staff as such so help is needed with preparation and clearing up on a voluntary basis. We do cater for most dietary requirements and preferences but please ask if unsure. We don't normally provide biscuits, cakes or desserts so if you want to bring some of these to share that would be lovely.

YHA Kings has lots of character in a fantastic spot but shopping nearby will be limited so any drinks required need to be brought with you. Yes, we do stay up late, play board games and card games and may even have a bit of music if that's what people want so if you are a sensitive sleeper ear plugs are a good idea.

Those now booking this trip should pay the full amount of just £139 (3 nights) to which a Meetup Booking Fee will be added if you pay via Meetup. You can also pay without Meetup Booking Fees by paying via BACS but please tell us you are doing this so that we can add you to the attendee list manually.

Those who previously paid a deposit need to pay a balance of £89 (two nights) or £99 (three nights) payable by BACS no later than 12 weeks before the event being 5th June 2026.

BACS Details:
Account Code: 40848442
Sort Code: 56-00-61

Account Name: Peak Activities & Leisure Limited

Our bank don't immediately tell us who payments are from so if you can put in the reference your name and the name of the event that will be a huge help in reconciling payments quickly e.g. ConwayWales !

If you have to cancel more than 28 clear days before the event start date you will get a full refund of any balance paid, No refunds will be provided to those cancelling with less than 28 clear days notice. ("clear" means does not include event start date or cancellation date!)