A Beautiful Mindful Walk in Autumn

It’s no secret that I value mindfulness on this blog. Mindful walking is one of my favourite ways to practise being more present, to connect to nature, and to look after my physical and mental health.

Charnwood is an area of Leicestershire with some of the most beautiful countryside and a long history. It is somewhere which has a different feel every season. It never gets old.

The area provides a peaceful pocket to escape to when you need some time out for city life and just want to enjoy being in nature. In a recent spell of autumn sunshine, my family and I took ourselves off on a mindful walk and I really did feel a sense of calm throughout.

Join me for some mindful walk highlights.

Nature thriving

Stumbling across an abandoned building is fascinating. This particular ruin is a derelict watermill. I love how nature is thriving in a place once designated for something so man-made. A perfect representation of how if we all took action to lead more sustainable lives, perhaps nature can continue to thrive and heal. When the sun is shining through the trees, it creates the most magical atmosphere.

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A hidden treasure

A newly-discovered favourite spot. Ulverscroft Priory and the surrounding land are private, which is why they are not advertised anywhere. There is a footpath running past the priory which is well worth walking purely to discover the peaceful setting. The priory itself is stunning and dates back to the 1100s. It is such a shame that the ruins are falling into disrepair and I hope that it can be saved in some way. A few metres further along the path and there is a magnificent view across Ulverscroft Pond. This is a true mindful walk moment for me. The sun shining, breathing in the fresh air, and feeling very Austen-esque.

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A calming road and tearoom with a view

Nearing the end of the walk is a section on road. Normally I prefer walking on footpaths, but when you get a quiet countryside road surrounded by trees and the sunlight streaming through the leaves, there is a real tranquil atmosphere. I love looking down the road and just feeling like anything is possible.

Of course, it’s good to recharge afterwards. The Ulverscroft Grange Tearoom is a wonderful gem and has a large terrace overlooking the Charnwood hills. The perfect place to sit back with a cup of tea and continue to soak up a beautiful mindful walk. The tearoom is run by the Shuttlewood-Clarke Foundation, an organisation working to ease loneliness and suffering and provide support to the elderly and adults of all ages with disabilities. There are also accessible walks available from the tearoom and the foundation runs various activities for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

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This walk is between Newtown Linford and Ulverscroft Priory. It is part of a bigger circuit around the Charnwood area. Directions can be found on Walking Britain.