LOPC – Waterside CC – Touring, River Route

River Guide

The start of this paddle is from the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre (LOPC) – This centre has been in situ for well over 50 years and has provided countless memories and opportunities for young and old people alike !
After around half a mile, we approach the Watermead Way Bridge which denotes the end of LOPC’s land and the start of Watermead Park.
After another half mile we approach the “One Man Plank” where there is a curved weir with an elevated walking pathway on top, so pedestrians can cross the river here and continue south, toward Leicester. There’re three choices here, There is a portage point here marked with a waymarker to drop in below the Weir and continue our journey. There is also a simple portage around the lock, also marked with a Waymarker. and finally we have the “Birstall Drop Weir” where there once was a Saxon Era Mill.
Just after all three options above, the channels converge together again at The White Horse, Public House. It would be rude not to stop here, perhaps !?
From here the river proceeds past Raynsway Marina around a mile later and just after this, we approach the Thurmaston Weir.
The weir is a “W” shape which gives it an obvious consideration on how one might shoot it with the a additiolow footbridge just before the drop itself. Again, this weir can be portaged at the Lock, denoted by a Waymarker.
After here we proceed just over another half mile and discover another small weir with a footbridge over it (Seeing a theme here ?) This is where the River Soar continues to the left (Down the weir) and the Grand Union Canal continues straight, to the Hope & Anchor, Another Public House and becomes the River Wreake, which joins the River Soar, someway downstream.
Once down the weir or Portaged, we continue on the “Backwater” following the River Soar in it’s natural state and path for around 2.5 Miles. On this route there is another little weir that can be shot easily in all craft. On this route, you also pass the main Sewerage Works for Leicester City and become up-close-and-personal with their Huge Wind Turbine !
Our Lunch Stop will likely take place here or where the River Wreake Terminates and Joins The River Soar, an area Otherwise known as Cossington Weir.
The Large Weir here can be shot in almost any condition (apart from flooding) and to that end would be described as uncomplicated but like the others on this river, can easily be Portaged, following the Waymarkers provided.
We are now passing The Lovely Village of Cossington, between that and the Main A6 Bypass. After a mile, we are presented with a small island, it is temping to go river right and see whats round there but alas, it has been overgrown and shallow for some years, so best not to bother…There is a small structure on this island and we are to believe it was once home to a scout group or similar organisation but has since been unoccupied for many years and fallen in disrepair.
After another Mile, we reach Sileby Weirs & Lock – There 3 weirs to choose from here and the Lock which can be easily Portaged.
We will be going down the first weir to the left, on our approach to the Lock itself.
It is worth noting that this area was also the site of an old Mill, long gone, the area houses an Engineering Works, 2 Marinas, a Yatch Chandlers & a Packhorse Bridge.
This, once again takes us along the natural route of the River Soar, In places, mere feet and inches from the Canalised section that adjoins the Lock and other 2 weirs.
After a short half mile on the BackWater. We rejoin the main waterway and a 90 Degree Corner.
Paddling along here for another Mile will bring you to the Slash Lane Weir, We likely won’t be paddling down here today but you will be aware of it from our weekly paddling sessions, As this forms part of “The Mountsorrel Loop” that we regularly utilise for these sessions.
Just 200 Meters downstream of here we pass under the Main A6 Bypass that we were earlier traversing alongside of.
If we were continuing our paddle along the River Soar from here we would pas under the A6 Bypass another 4 times, before reaching Barrow Upon Soar. This is a novel example of how much this River meanders across this rather wide section of the Soar Valley which is basically a Large Floodplain.
Alas, this however marks the last 500Meters of our trip and we will soon see the Lock Approach and The Waterside Inn, Where we call Home !

You have paddled 7.4 Miles – Treat yourself in the Public House