BOOTS BOATS AND BOOZERS

As a keen long distance walker, when I am not in open countryside I like walking along canals and rivers or round lakes. Water has always had an attraction, just as well really, as a pint is nearly all water,.as indeed are we,.

Canals and navigable rivers were industrial corridors in the old days and working them hard work. Many a bargee needed a pint and as such canal side pubs abounded. Some have been lost but leisure uses of these reaches has given a new lease of life to others.

In my younger days when pubs had limited opening hours, many a canal side pub had a special license and could open all day. Very welcome it was. I recall one beside a big ditch which had been de-watered and abandoned over 20 years previously but still had such a license. There was nobody nearby to object. The village bobby was certainly not going to as he was usually in there after finishing his shift.

Another recollection where water featured was a Christmas meet with my mountaineering club when after a 12 mile walk over the hills in pouring rain we decided we just could not get to our chosen destination before closing time – a pub in Borrowdale beyond the head of Derwentwater. Fairly desperate for a pint and somewhere in the dry we decided to go over the duck boards which cross the swampy land near the head of the lake. Bad idea! With all the rain the lake was several hundred yards longer than usual and two foot deeper. Not to be beaten we removed our outer trousers and hoisting them high waded across the boards. Those of the short leg department were worried about getting sensitive parts wet and the others showed us no sympathy. 

Cars were stopping on the other side with people staring at these nutters. Unfortunately we gave them plenty of amusement as the boards stopped well short of the new shore and nobody had dry undies. On top of that the posh second choice pub would not let us in ringing wet but a kind soul took our money in and brought pints out.

Round the country there are some superb long distance paths following watercourses but we are not without them in Leicestershire.

One fascinating one is to walk from the Hope and Anchor in Wanlip to the Black Horse in Aylestone. It follows the River Soar/Grand Union Canal and you can cross the entire city without having to cross a road.

The Hope and Anchor is a Hungry Horse pub, generous cheap food and some real ale but a great location at the top end of Watermead Country Park. Passing through the park down one side you could pop into the Harrow in Thurcaston or down the other side, the White Horse at Birstall

Depending on time of day as you come south, a short detour will take in the Tom Hoskins, once a brewery.It is still a good local with excellent ales. You make your way through Abbey Park and then pass the closed down Northbridge Tavern, also previously a good local. By coincidence it was the brewery tap for of Hoskins & Oldfield beers when brewed nearby. Hoskins brothers' ales are still brewed under license and they have the Ale Wagon in the city. There used to be other good locals just off the route but the Black Horse at Braunstone Gate is the next one still standing and as you walk the river through Bede Island you find the Western, a Steaming Billy outlet. A typical back-street local, it does have good ales mainly from micro breweries.

Ploughing on with the fascinating walk of about 20 kilometres you finally come to the Black Horse at Aylestone, a really good all round pub.  As you follow the canal you will usually see some narrow boats often in their traditional colourful livery

There are other waterside options; there are two pubs in Thornton within walking distance of the reservoir and in Cropston two more by that reservoir. Swithland Reservoir has the nearby Griffin and these are all pretty good pubs.

The wheel at Branston is near Knipton Reservoir, the Crown and Queens Head in Heather are near Sence Valley Lakes, the Priory near Nanpanton Reservoir, the Stamford near Groby Pool and they and the pubs by Rutland Water all give opportunities.  

Then there all the pubs on the banks of the canals and by rivers. There is the Lime Kiln on Ashby Canal and if you follow this canal you get within walking distance of the excellent George & Dragon at Stoke Golding and the nearby Dog & Hedgehog at Daddlington. Perhaps not a surprise but we have two Navigations, one at Kilby Bridge and one Barrow on Soar. Also in Barrow we have the Boat House, closed at the moment. Mountsorrell has the Waterside and the Swan and there is the Gate Hangs Well at Syston, Cossington has the Red Lion and the Royal Oak all in Soar Valley. The Old Crown at Shardlow is the Leicester side of the Trent.

We have the Bradgate and the Linford on the River Lin.   There are pubs near the River Eye though Melton Mowbray.  At Foxton we have Bridge 61 and the Foxton Locks Inn. The Odd House is near Gilwiskaw Brook, a lovely tributary of the Mease. The Swift goes through Lutterworth and the Fox near the river is an excellent all rounder.

Rothley Brook runs from Thornton Reservoir through Desford, Ratby, Glenfield, and Anstey with good pubs to be found in all the villages. It then goes through Rothley itself before joining the Soar. It actually flows through the gardens of the charming Woodman’s Stroke in Rothley.

Following the Grand Union Canal southwards there is a spur into Market Harborough with its many pubsand you eventually reach North Kilworth

Despite being as far from the sea as you can be in England, it seems you are never far from water in Leicestershire so why not have a stroll by it. You won’t go thirsty.

Roy Denney