Ashby De La Zouch offers distinctive points of interest in history, literature, and nature. Ashby de la Zouch Castle, the Parish Church of St Helen, and Ashby Market Hall represent different historical themes; Ashby Museum complements them with exhibitions and events. The Ivanhoe Way brings a literary connection into your travel plans, while Ingles Hill Wood draws attention to a natural area. This lets you decide whether to focus on architectural history, literature, or nature during your stay.

Architectural history with different accents

Ashby de la Zouch Castle reached its greatest prominence as a purpose-built status symbol for William, Lord Hastings. The Parish Church of St Helen offers a different historical perspective: its core dates from the 14th century and was extended from 1474 onwards. Ashby Market Hall was founded in 1856 by Henry Isaac Stevens. Today, it houses independent retailers and caterers in a Victorian setting. The three places therefore represent different aspects: the castle as a deliberately created status symbol, the church as a building with several construction phases, and the market hall as a historic establishment with a present-day use.

Ashby Museum offers a year-round programme of events and exhibitions. Individual events and dates change; if a particular programme is important for your trip, check the relevant dates in advance. The information about the museum’s layout is also useful for finding your way around: a gently sloping ramp leads to the main entrance, and the reception area, both exhibition galleries, and toilets are all on the same level. You can take this layout into account if the routes through the museum matter to your plans.

Literary connection and a walk through the Bath Grounds

The Ivanhoe Way is named as a tribute to Sir Walter Scott and his novel Ivanhoe. The novel is set around Ashby de la Zouch Castle and in the surrounding countryside. The name of the route therefore points to a specific literary setting and offers a different way to approach the castle’s history than considering its historical role.

The Bath Grounds also reveal history in a different way: on a walk, you can read about the former Ivanhoe Spa and Dolly Shepherd, an Edwardian-era parachutist. These two historical references lead from an earlier spa to a person from a later period. The information thus complements the architectural history with themes to discover on a walk through the Grounds.

Nature at Ingles Hill Wood

Ingles Hill Wood offers a focus on nature, with specific insights into the landscape and habitats. The woodland covers 24 hectares and consists of a mix of broadleaf and coniferous trees. There are also hay meadows, bat boxes, and a good variety of butterfly species. The focus here is therefore not only on tree species, but also on meadows, habitat measures, and wildlife.

There are two stated ways to get there: you can reach Ingles Hill Wood on foot via Burton Road, or by car via a car park in a lay-by on the Ashby Bypass. Check conditions before your visit. This lets you weigh up the town’s historical and literary themes against a visit focused on nature, without needing to combine the different offerings into a fixed itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Sapcote, Higham on the Hill, Castle Donington, Kegworth, Loughborough, Narborough, Bottesford, Woodhouse Eaves

For the wider travel overview: Leicestershire.