8k Run Charnwood: Scenic Loop by River Soar and Cossington Meadows

Route Overview & Local Insights

Experience the tranquil beauty of Leicestershire's waterways on this refreshing 8.1km loop through Charnwood. Starting in the charming village of Barrow Upon Soar, this flat, low-intensity route follows the gentle curve of the River Soar down to the Lower Moor Nature Reserve. With zero meters of ascent and over five kilometers of paved surfaces, it is an ideal choice for runners looking for a rhythmic, steady-state session or a scenic recovery run. You will enjoy a seamless mix of riverside paths and quiet loops near Sileby, offering wide-open views of the Cossington Meadows wetlands where the terrain remains mercifully level throughout.

The area surrounding the River Soar is steeped in both natural beauty and industrial heritage, once serving as a vital transport artery for the famous "Barrow Lime." As you traverse the paths near Cossington Meadows, keep an eye out for local wildlife; these former gravel pits have been transformed into one of the most significant wetland habitats in the East Midlands, frequently hosting lapwings and graceful grey herons. The village of Barrow Upon Soar itself is world-renowned among paleontologists as the discovery site of the "Kipper," a spectacular Jurassic plesiosaur, making this a run through a landscape that is as geologically significant as it is picturesque.