Garthorpe

 directions
Point-to-Point:


Directions to stable yard

 Stables: Location: 6m E of Melton Mowbray on B676, 7m W of A1. LE14 2RT

 Garthorpe sits in rural Leicestershire, just east of Melton Mowbray near Waltham on the Wolds, and it remains one of the Midlands’ most traditional and spacious point‑to‑point venues. The course lies in wide, open farmland with that big‑sky feel you get on the northern edge of the county, and the moment you arrive you sense how much room the place has. It’s a left‑handed, flat, very galloping track, built for horses that like to stretch out and travel without interruption.

The straights are long and the rhythm is smooth, so when the ground is good the racing can be quick. Horses that jump fluently and meet their fences on a stride tend to thrive because there are no undulations to break momentum. The timber fences are solid and fair, spaced to encourage a flowing pattern rather than constant adjustment. Front‑runners often do well because they can establish a rhythm early and use the uninterrupted back straight to stretch the field, but the home straight is long enough for a strong traveller to come from behind if the pace softens.

The atmosphere is part of what keeps Garthorpe popular. Meetings feel relaxed and open, with farming families, hunt supporters, and regular point‑to‑point followers spread along the rails. On bright spring days the place feels expansive and calm; on windy days the breeze rolls across the fields and makes the ground ride more testing than it looks. The river valley and surrounding farmland give the venue a timeless quality, and it continues to suit horses that enjoy a proper, flat, galloping track without tricks or gradients.