The Leicestershire Round | Thorpe Satchville to Somerby Loop | The 10th Battalion

The Leicestershire Round | Thorpe Satchville to Somerby Loop | The 10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment Welcome to Section 7 of my Leicestershire Round, a circular walk from Thorpe Satchville to Burrough Hill and Somerby, before returning through Burrough on the Hill to Thorpe Satchville. The walk takes in Burrough Hill, one of Leicestershire's finest Iron Age hillforts, before heading to Somerby. Here I look at the remarkable story of the 10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, who were stationed in and around the village before Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. This isn't an Arnhem documentary. The history is only one part of the walk, but the connection between the battalion and this landscape is too important to pass through Somerby without remembering the men who lived and trained here before leaving for Holland. ROUTE Thorpe Satchville → Burrough Hill → Somerby → Burrough on the Hill → Thorpe Satchville OS Maps route: View the route on OS Maps Please check current path conditions and access before setting out. BURROUGH HILL Burrough Hill is home to a nationally important Iron Age hillfort protected as a Scheduled Monument. Historic England describes it as the finest example of a large univallate hillfort in Leicestershire. The ramparts enclose around five hectares and archaeological evidence shows a long period of occupation. Historic England – Burrough Hill SOMERBY AND THE 10TH BATTALION The 10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment was stationed in and around Somerby from December 1943 while preparing for Operation Market Garden. Melton Carnegie Museum records that Battalion Headquarters and the Officers' Mess were in Somerby. Somerby House was used by the officers, troops were billeted at Grove Stables and the 1914–18 Memorial Hall was used as a dining room. The Three Crowns was also a popular pub with the men. Other companies were based in surrounding villages, including Burrough on the Hill and Thorpe Satchville. Melton Carnegie Museum – 10th Battalion ARNHEM On 18 September 1944, the 10th Battalion left the Somerby area for Holland. Friends of the Tenth records that 582 men left on the mission. The battalion suffered devastating losses during the Battle of Arnhem and the fighting around Oosterbeek. Friends of the Tenth was established by relatives of battalion officers and servicemen, members of the Parachute Regimental Association and people from Somerby and the surrounding villages. Friends of the Tenth They have also created the Tenth Battalion Trail, around 15 miles of walking linking locations associated with the battalion's time in High Leicestershire, including Somerby, Burrough on the Hill, Thorpe Satchville and Burrough Hill. Tenth Battalion Trail BURROUGH ON THE HILL From Somerby, the route continues to Burrough on the Hill before returning to Thorpe Satchville. The village is easily confused with Burrough Hill, but they are two different places. Burrough on the Hill is the village, while Burrough Hill is the Iron Age hillfort visited earlier. We also look at St Mary the Virgin, the village church, and some of the history connected with it and the surrounding area. The church contains parts dating from the medieval period, including a 13th-century font, and has connections with nearby Owston Abbey. The village also has a connection with the 10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment and is included on the Tenth Battalion Trail. THE SADDLE, TWYFORD Once back at Thorpe Satchville, we finished the day by driving to Twyford for a well-earned beer at The Saddle. The Stilton Cheese Inn wasn't open, so The Saddle became our stop before heading home. The Saddle 10 Main Street, Twyford Leicestershire LE14 2HU The Saddle – Twyford Please check opening times before travelling. THE LEICESTERSHIRE ROUND This is Section 7 of my Leicestershire Round project. I've been tackling the Round in sections and circular walks, giving me the chance to explore more of the surrounding countryside and the history of the places we pass through. This section takes us from an Iron Age hillfort at Burrough Hill, through Somerby's important connection with the 10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, and on to the medieval history of Burrough on the Hill. Thanks for joining me for Section 7 of the Leicestershire Round. If you enjoy walking videos that combine countryside, local history and exploring along the way, there's plenty more on the channel. #HikingWithMe #LeicestershireRound #Leicestershire #Somerby #ThorpeSatchville #BurroughHill #BurroughOnTheHill #10thBattalion #ParachuteRegiment #Arnhem #LocalHistory #WalkingUK #LeicestershireWalks #HiddenHistory #TrigWalks #LeicestershireRound #Leicestershire #Walking #LocalHistory #HikingWithMe