Belvoir Witches 30k+ Walk Challenge
Details
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.
Overall distance: 38k
Accumulated ascent: 420m
Nearest postcode: NG130EE
What3Words: jetting.darting.astounded
Google Street View: https://maps.app.goo.gl/otzjdXrFWbLrcfCA6
Any questions, please ask below or email [[gordon@peakmeetupgroup.com](mailto:gordon@peakmeetupgroup.com)](mailto:gordon@peakmeetupgroup.com)