THE CHARNWOOD CLOVER ULTRA
A 30 Mile ultra tour around Charnwood, Leicestershire
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The Charnwood Clover Ultra is a 30 mile tour of Charnwood in Leicestershire. It consists of 3 different loops of approx 10 miles each, all starting and finishing in the same place at base camp in Woodhouse Eaves- hence it looks like a 3 leaf clover.
Established 2017
It is a self supported race. Base camp is where you can leave your car then refill, refuel and even have a change of clothes waiting after every lap. The course is scenic and hilly, it's ideal for new ultra runners and experienced runners too. Run or walk. No time limits or pressure but run entirely at you own risk!
This is designed for a small number of runners to run it any time of the year. The car park is not large enough to support a mass gathering.
The Clover Run Full Route
Loop 2
Loop 1
Loop 3
For a more detailed map of the Full Clover Run & GPS route visit:
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/906773
The Clover Run Loop 1- 9.8 Miles
Loop 1 Route Description
Loop 1 Route Description
Start at Woodhouse Eaves village hall carpark.
Exit the car park and turn right and immediate right again through the gate and follow the track down to School Lane and the junction of Brand Lane. TAKE CARE CROSSING THE ROAD! Turn right ONTO Brand Lane in approx. 50 yards cross the stile on the left on go across the field towards Rushey Field Farm. At the path, cross over the small bridge with handrails and turn left.
MILE 1. Carry straight on following the footpath over stiles until you reach ‘Rabbit Bridge/railway’. On the stone footpath turn right then first left at the footpath sign. MILE 2. Follow the footpath over the fields to Swithland.
At main street Swithland turn left along the street footpath. Just past the Griffin pub cross the road, TAKE CARE! Follow the off road footpath through 2 gates MILE 3. Follow the foot path to Leicester Road. TAKE CARE crossing the road. Take a right then immediately left on the footpath past the farm/house (on the left). After 200 yards take the left turn. DO NOT GO STRAIGHT ON INTO SWITHLAND WOODS.
Follow path through small copse. Go through the metal gate and turn left on footpath through gate (past sheds/horse field). Keep to the left of the fields and go straight on- MILE 4- until you reach Bradgate Road. CROSS ROAD- TAKE CARE!
Turn right the take the left fork on follow Reservoir Road towards Cropston on the footpath (with the reservoir on right).
As you enter Cropston turn first right following Causeway Lane. MILE 5.
Follow the footpath, go through the open gate and take the footpath on the right (not the footpath to Anstey) to the stile. MILE 6.
Follow the footpath (over 1 stile) and enter Bradgate Park through the large pedestrian gates.
Follow footpath over the bridge and carry straight on with Bradgate House on your right. Make your own way up to the War Memorial – MILE 7.
At the top head towards the entrance gate and through the car park and cross Sharpley Hill TAKE CARE!
Go straight on down Benscliffe Road (stay on the verge) and take the first footpath on the right towards Lingdale Golf Course.
MILE 8. WATCH OUT FOR GOLF BALLS! Follow the path through the golf course and cross Joe Moores Lane TAKE CARE!
Follow the footpath through the golf course and eventually exit through the metal pedestrian gate.
Cross the field and follow the footpath past the stables to Maplewell Road. CROSS THE ROAD- TAKE CARE!
MILE 9. Follow the road downhill on the footpath to Woodhouse Eaves. At the junction turn left and return to the village hall car park.
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For a more detailed map of Loop 1 & GPS route visit:
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/894487
The Clover Run Loop 2- 9.8 Miles
Loop 2 Route Description
Start at Woodhouse Eaves village hall carpark.
Turn left onto main street. Cross over the road. TAKE CARE!!
Turn right at Maplewell road and head uphill about ¼ of a mile on the path.
Turn right into Broombriggs through gate and through next metal gate. After approx. 400 yards take the left path through the wall and head up the steep hill. Follow the path around Broombriggs through various gates (1 MILE at the highest point).
At the last metal gate follow the tarmac drive to the main road. Cross Beacon road with EXTREME CARE!
Enter Beacon Hill park and turn 1st left and follow the track uphill, MILE 2. Cross the carpark and go through the gate to the left of the toilets (water available). Carry straight on following the outer perimeter path.
At the bottom of the hill take the left hand (small) grass path to the gate and exit Beacon hill at the cross roads. Cross straight over Shepshed Road with EXTREME CARE and head up Beacon road.
Take the first left on and go around the large wooden gate and follow the tarmac driveway. Go through the gate/ over the stile on your right. MILE 3. Follow the path to the left of the field, over the stile and down towards the farm.
Turn right before the farm (telegraph pole) through gates, carry straight on, follow the footpath through several fields. At MILE 4 cross over Beacon road with EXTREME CARE! At the end of the grass path turn right then immediately through the old wall and uphill towards Bowden Castle farm buildings.
Turn left and follow the footpath over a stile (beware stinging nettles), through a gate and around Cattens rough. Go down to the yellow footpath path in the hedge to your right and back up across the field to Cattens Rough. Stay right, following the wall round to the right until the path heads downhill to Shepshed Road and Bawden cottage farm. Cross straight over Charley Road-TAKE CARE! MILE 5.
Follow the field downhill, at the bottom turn right through, stay to the right and over the stile. Head downhill over a stiles and gates until you reach Shepshed Road. Cross with EXTREME CARE! Head up Dean’s lane- BEWARE OF TRAFFIC. At the top take the first footpath on the left. Follow this down to the stream and cross through the gate and turn right. MILE 6. Follow the grass path straight through several fields until the end.
Cross bridge on right and follow the path uphill. At the footpath fork turn left through the stone wall and follow the path uphill through the trees and over the rocks (take photos)! Follow the footpath through several gates to Woodhouse lane. Cross with EXTREME CARE! Stay to the left and enter Jubilee wood at the lower entrance. MILE 7. Go through the wood (keeping to the left path) and enter The Outwoods. Take the footpath and turn left, follow around the perimeter.
In approx. 1 mile take the left path (not sign posted) which will bring you to a stone wall and enter the field. MILE 8.
At the bottom turn right and follow the path past a cottage. At the junction turn left then turn right uphill and follow the path down to Woodhouse Eaves.
At Forest road cross over TAKE EXTREME CARE! Go past the Bulls Head Pub along main street and back to the carpark. 9.5 miles.
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For a more detailed map of Loop 2 & GPS route visit:
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/894510
The Clover Run Loop 3- 10.4 Miles
Loop 3 Route Description
The first and last 2 miles are the reverse of Loops 1 & 2.
Start at Woodhouse Eaves village hall car park. Turn left onto Main Street Cross over road. TAKE CARE! Go down to Maplwell road.Turn right at the shops and head up the hill for approx 1/2 mile on the path. Pass Broombriggs entrance then turn next left (TAKE CARE CROSSING THE ROAD).
Take the footpath, go past the stables, diagonally across the field then enter Lingdale golf course. BEWARE OF GOLF BALLS! Follow the footpath through the golf course (QUIET PLEASE) MILE 1 until you reach Joe Moore's Lane. CROSS ROAD WITH CARE! and continue up and eventually exit the golf course. Go up and down the path and through the gate to Benscliffe Road. Turn left and cross 2 roads (TAKE CARE) then enter Bradgate Park and through the car park through the main gates and turn right.
Stay to the right outer footpath downhill until the main car park MILE 3. Exit Bradgate Park and turn right through Newtown Linford. Stay on footpath. Cross the road TAKE CARE at the junction an go up Markfield Road.Take the first footpath on right and enter field through gate. (BEWARE POSSIBLE EVIL COWS (A detour is available off Main Street, follow footpath on left, past the house, through fields, turn left over stream then 1st left at the fork and follow route uphill -Turn right and rejoin traIl} Follow yellow arrow to scout camp. Follow path through 1 gate then enter Bailey Sim Wood then to John Lees Wood. MILE 4. Follow main footpath past campsite to the farm.
Go through gate and past the farm and turn right (BEWARE EVIL DOGS), Through horse jumping field and turn left following yellow footpath markers up hill. Go through gate and a small wood then 2 fields followed by another small wood (turn left through gate). Follow the path, stay in the woods. DO NOT FOLLOW to the A50 main road!
Take a right turn near the wooden fence and follow footpath. Turn right at end of path (not left through tunnel), continue path through gates, over a stone bridge, through 2 fields, across farm road and eventually arrive uphill to Lea Lane. Turn left on road to crossroad and turn right TAKE CARE!. Go down Priory Lane on the right hand side of the road.
Before Ulverscroft lane take the left footpath over the cattle grid to Ulverscroft Priory. Go down lane, through gate and take right hand fork in road and through gate. with the farm on the left turn right at next gate (telegraph pole) and go up hilltop stile. Continue to the right of the field then take the tarmac private road MILE 8, to the gate.
Turn right at main road. TAKE CARE, run on the right hand verge until cross roads. EXTREME CARE at cross roads and enter Beacon Hill gate. Through trees then take the path right up to the upper car park (water fountain).
Take right hand footpath and take the outer footpath down MILE 9 until fork in path. Take right hand path, through gate and straight on to the bottom and cross Beacon Road and down to Woodhouse Eaves.
Go downhill on footpath to the Bulls Head Pub, MILE 10, turn right and through village to the village car park.
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For a more detailed map of Loop 3 & GPS route visit:
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1566936?units=km
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A detour is available below if the cows are really evil bearing in mind there could be cows on the detour!
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