The Leicestershire Round | Launde Abbey to Allexton & East Norton Tunnel Loop

Welcome back to Hiking with Me, and another walk along the Leicestershire Round. This time I'm starting at Launde Abbey and following the Leicestershire Round through the countryside to Belton-in-Rutland and on to Allexton. Once I reach Allexton, the official Round section of this walk is complete, but rather than simply retracing my steps, I've added a loop back through East Norton Tunnel, East Norton and Loddington before returning to Launde Abbey. It's around 13 miles of rolling countryside, historic villages, old railway history and some fascinating stories hidden in the landscape. 🏰 LAUNDE ABBEY Our walk starts at Launde Abbey, a place with more than 900 years of history. Between 1119 and 1125, during the reign of Henry I, Sir Richard Bassett and his wife Maud founded an Augustinian priory here, dedicated to St John the Baptist. The priory remained here for around 400 years before the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The property was later bought by Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's chief minister. Cromwell planned a house at Launde but was executed in 1540 before he could live here. His son Gregory later built the Tudor manor house using parts of the former priory. 🏡 BELTON-IN-RUTLAND The Leicestershire Round then takes us into Belton-in-Rutland. We've looked into the devastating fire of 1776, when a servant girl reportedly threw away hot ashes and, with a strong northerly wind, the fire spread through the village. Properties along Main Street were affected, including Ivydene Cottage at number 23, and St Peter's Church also suffered from the heat. The old churchyard was closed in 1901, with a new cemetery established outside the village. We'll also pass the former Sun Inn, another reminder of the changing face of village life. 🏰 ALLEXTON From Belton we continue across the countryside to Allexton. Allexton was also closely connected with Allexton Hall and its estate. The present hall was rebuilt in 1902, but earlier buildings occupied the site, including a medieval moated manor house. By the time we reach Allexton, we've completed the Leicestershire Round section of this walk. 🚂 EAST NORTON TUNNEL But the walk isn't over. Our return takes us through East Norton and along the route of the former railway. The line through East Norton was part of the railway between Bottesford and Market Harborough. Passenger services began in 1879, with the station eventually closing to passengers in 1953. Freight continued for longer. East Norton Tunnel is 144 yards long and was built to carry the railway through the hillside. Today the railway has disappeared, but sections of the old route, embankments and other features can still be found in the landscape. It's another example of how quickly an important part of the local landscape can disappear and become hidden in plain sight. ⛪ EAST NORTON & LODDINGTON From East Norton we continue towards Loddington. Loddington is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, and in 1125 its manor was granted to Launde Priory by Richard Bassett and Maud. St Michael's Church, built from local ironstone, is another reminder of the area's long history and its connection with Launde. From Loddington, we continue through the countryside and eventually return to Launde Abbey, completing the circular route. 🌳 THE LEICESTERSHIRE ROUND This walk combines the official Leicestershire Round with an additional return loop, giving us the chance to explore even more of the history around this part of Leicestershire and Rutland. From a medieval priory and Tudor history to a village fire, Norman architecture, old pubs, historic estates and a forgotten railway tunnel, there is plenty to discover if you take the time to look. Thanks for joining me on another walk. If you enjoy walking, local history, forgotten places and discovering the stories behind the landscape, please consider subscribing to Hiking with Me. 📍 START & FINISH: Launde Abbey 🥾 ROUTE: Launde Abbey → Belton-in-Rutland → Allexton → East Norton Tunnel → East Norton → Loddington → Launde Abbey 📏 DISTANCE: Approximately 13 miles ⛰️ TERRAIN: Rolling countryside, fields, tracks and rural paths 📚 SERIES: The Leicestershire Round 🔗 ROUTE & USEFUL LINKS 🗺️ OS Maps route: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/3393... 🏰 Launde Abbey: https://www.laundeabbey.org.uk/ 🏰 Launde Abbey history: https://www.laundeabbey.org.uk/about/... ⛪ Churches Conservation Trust: https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/ 🚂 East Norton railway history: https://eastnorton.webador.co.uk/the-... #LeicestershireRound #HikingWithMe #LostInLeicestershire #LocalHistory #Leicestershire #Rutland #LaundeAbbey #BeltonInRutland #Allexton #EastNorton #EastNortonTunnel #Loddington #WalkingUK #CountrysideWalks #HiddenHistory #ForgottenPlaces #RailwayHistory #VillageHistory #HistoricChurches #Hiking #Walking