Aylestone Meadows, Leicester’s largest nature preserve, has been a recreation destination for more than 100 years. It’s a mosaic of pastures, trees, river margins and
small ponds, criss-crossed by several miles of paths. Along with Riverside Park, it’s also part of the southern section of the River Soar/Grand Union Canal paths. 

For running, it’s an area to create your own route. The preserve runs between Evesham Rd. and Soar Valley Way. It’s ~2 miles north-south. There are three principal paths: a path along the River Soar along the east side of the reserve; interior paths of the reserve east of River Biam; and the Great Central Way path along the west side. It’s a nice mix of waterside and meadows. 

You can also extend the run with our River Soar route, north toward Leicester City Center or a more narrow riverside path south toward Glen Parva. Also the Great Central Way heads north toward Leicester.