The Book
Why produce another guide to Leicestershire?

The answer in simple -
We thought we could do it better.

As you can see from the website, like the editors of 'The Illustrated London News', we think that a picture tells a thousand words. Our guide contains over 450 pictures, all of which contribute to a pictorial guided tour of given walks, visiting numerous villages along the way, and giving a feel for the type of walk you are planning to take.

As well as this we provide some background information about the walk presented in a lively way that will help bring the walk to life, whether it be looking at flora and fauna, history, geology or anything else that may increase the enjoyment of readers when following the walk.

Most of all we have tried to convey our enthusiasm for the County we call home, whose diversity is still a source of pleasure and inspiration, be it the craggy northwest around the old Charnwood Forest or the rolling Wolds of the north east; levelling out to the Fens, the classic arable land that surrounds the hills of the Langtons in the south.

This is the land we have enjoyed for much of our lifetimes. If we have managed to convey just some of the pleasures that these walks have given us then we have achieved our aim.

Beauty of Leicestershire
Have a look at some of the photographs taken on the walks that you will see in the book. Watch the slideshow of images across the County, see the impressive view at Hallaton one of the most attractive villages in Leicestershire, click here to see.


Scenic Walks
‘Walking in Leicestershire’ takes the reader on walks, which include numerous villages. It is often worth taking a little time to explore these places in more detail. See a slideshow of beautiful places in Leicestershire, click here.


Buy the Book
Send your completed form and cheque (made payable to
DAR Printing Ltd.) to the address printed on the form.
Click here to see the form

The Authors

Dave Ray
Dave Ray has lead a varied life.

Born in Dagenham in 1946 he left school at fifteen to join the Ford Motor Company, where he served an apprenticeship as an engineer. On completing this he joined the Merchant Navy to 'see the world'.

He saw the inside of a lot of bars all around the Mediterranean and the west coast of South America. He did however manage to fit in some walking in some of these places. His career in the Merchant Navy finished when he was instructed to join a ship taking supplies up the Mekong River to the American Army. Not wishing to be shot at in somebody else's war, he left. This was a move he did not regret.

He came to Leicester in 1970. After doing various jobs he studied Economic History & Sociology at Loughborough University, continuing his education at Crewe and Alsager College to gain a teaching qualification in History. He then went on to do various teaching jobs and social work, until setting up a small printing business in 1986.

Beryl McDowall
Beryl McDowall was born in Shropshire in 1943 and has spent much of her childhood walking around the local countryside, especially walking along the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Having trained as a teacher in Birmingham, she began
her teaching career in Staffordshire, later moving to Hertfordshire. Here her interests in the waterways developed further, and she decided to live on a narrow boat, eventually working full time on cargo-carrying boats. This job brought her to Leicestershire, to steer boats on the River Soar, which she did until the mid-eighties, when she returned to teaching until her retirement.

Beryl is currently involved with the work of the Inland Waterways Associations and the Residential Boat Owners' Association. In addition, she spends time walking with her dog, not only in Leicestershire, but in different parts of the country  to which she travels on her present boat. She enjoys visiting the villages along her route, and talking to the local people.

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