Leave Leicester Station, cross the London Road and go straight down Regent Street. At the snicket at the far end, cut through to New Walk and turn left. Walk up to the Victoria Gates, cross back over London Road and bear right down the Evington Footpath (and not down Evington Road). Follow the footpath straight on, out along Kimberley Road and then cut through the housing estate to Romway Road and Stoughton Drive.

You can take the signed footpath across the Leicestershire Golf Course, which initially follows the course of the Gartree Road but then takes you up to Evington Village, leaving you to work your way back south through the Arboretum to the bottom of Shady Lane; alternatively, turn right down Stoughton Drive and left along Gartree Road, skirting along the southern boundary of the Golf Course. The bottom of Shady Lane is about three miles from Leicester Railway Station.

From here, the course of the Gartree Road is a steady east-south-east towards Glooston, which is about twelve miles from Leicester Railway Station. The traffic drops off noticeably after the turns to Oadby on the right then Stoughton on the left.  By the time you’re out to The Strettons (don’t forget to have a quick walk round the deserted village of Stretton Magna, although St Giles’ Church is looking very sorry for itself, these days) it quietens down and it’s a lovely mix of quiet lanes, field tracks and footpaths.