Loughborough Canal Walk

The towpath along Loughborough Canal is one of those walks that sneaks up on you. You set out expecting a pleasant mile or two and end up staying far longer than planned, watching narrowboats chug past and the water reflect whatever the sky's doing that day.

This is proper canal country - the kind of place where Victorian engineering still works exactly as it did 200 years ago. The walk itself is dead straightforward, flat underfoot and clearly marked, which makes it ideal if you've got kids in tow or anyone who finds hills a bore. The real draw is the pace of it all. Everything moves slowly here. You'll see anglers, cyclists, and the occasional barge operator who'll wave if you're friendly.

Barrow upon Soar sits just nearby and makes a natural stopping point for a pub lunch. Allow two to three hours if you're ambling and taking photos. Longer if you're the type to sit on a bench and properly switch off. No fees that I'm aware of - it's just a public towpath.

For a park holiday in the area, this works brilliantly alongside time at Hill Top Caravan Park or the glamping at Ragdale. You're not looking at dramatic scenery or Instagram moments, but that's rather the point. It's the kind of walk where you leave feeling calmer than when you arrived. Walkers and canal enthusiasts will get the most from it. Anyone after adventure or drama should look elsewhere.