May 19th - Gretton - Thorpe by Water, Lyddington

 Monday 19th May 2025, with Norma and Harry.

Contacted Norma and arranged to meet at her house. With Harry, we walked over to Thorpe by Water where we saw a few swifts.

Our next stretch was along the small road as far as the bench near Lyddington, where we had a longish break (and coffee) before returning along the same route, apart from the Thorpe by Water village section. No cuckoos. A few swifts on Gretton High Street. 5 and a half miles.

May 18th Uppingham, Stoke Dry, Lyddington

 Sunday 18th May 2025m

Slightly grey morning. Brightened later.

Coffee and lunch, then out - we went to Uppingham

and did the walk above Eyebrook Reservoir

, and back via Lyddington,

a break for coffee at the White Hart,

and we followed the pavement next to the road from there.- around 7 miles in all.

Some of the cows were lying down, but so far no rain.

May 2025 - Short local strolls, Northamptonshire

 

Friday 16th May

In the afternoon we  walked down West Hill and along the track

to the Community Orchard with its new table.

an interesting beastie

A walk round the village after dinner  - we saw a few swifts today, and Harry heard a distant cuckoo.

Saturday 17th May

After lunch we decided to walk down behind Church Gap, in search of the cuckoo that Harry heard last night.

The sun came out and the temperature rose. We met our neighbour and her daughter returning from a walk with their two dogs, Henry and Hugo.   

No joy on the cuckoo front, but a lovely walk of around 3 miles as far as the bridge over the Welland just before Thorpe by Water. We returned to have tea in the garden.

Later walk to see swifts - no cuckoo heard.

Northants - East Carlton to Wilbarston and back

 Tuesday 13th May, with Marta, around 3.6 miles.

We met at East Carlton Park at about 10. 

We walked the usual Jurassic Way route to Wilbarston.

Protection from flies..

In the field just before the wood we saw a hare on the path coming towards us.  No time to take a photo before it ran off.

As the cafe isn’t open on Tuesdays, we chanced our luck and were able to get aa coffee at the pub before it opened.

We retraced our steps to East Carlton and indulged in another coffee. 

Arainn Mhor - again

 Thursday 8th May 2025

 A second visit to Arainn Mhor island. We enjoyed it a lot last time, and wanted to complete the ‘round-the-island’ walk.  About  7 miles, and still hot.

A special treat was seeing dolphins as we approached Leabgarrow harbour. 

We had a brief chat to a woman on boat. She’s from Dumfries but lives in the ‘last house on the island’, as it happened, on the road we walked on today. 

We started the day out with coffee in a lovely sheltered cafe (The Dock) near the harbour. Delicious scones, made by the owner’s sister.  She also told us about steps down to the sea at the lighthouse - we didn’t visit them today. https://thedockarranmore.com/arranmore-steps (Always save something for the next time!)

A lifeboat training exercise was in progress on the shore.

We did the rest of the round island walk, in a clockwise direction this time.

All great apart from the unfortunate incident of the little white dog on a lead…

Lovely walk though, great views, mediterranean colours. 

Back to Leabgarrow harbour in very good time for our 6pm boat -

we were the only passengers, though there were a few waiting in Burtonport for their return trip!

Back at the house there were very striking, beautiful sunset colours again.  

May 7th Errigal / An Earagail

 Wednesday7th May 2025.  3.4 miles and 1650 feet of ascent (and descent).

We had seen the distinctive pyramid shape of Donegal’s highest peak from a distance. From closer as we drove past on a bank holiday Sunday it looked less tempting. Ver stony, almost like my memories of coal slag heaps of the 1950s and 60s.

However, we decided, since it was there, it should be climbed.

It was 3pm when we set off from the nearby car park and began the relentless upward trek.

Fewer people around on a Wednesday, but it’s a popular route with a very clear well marked path, complete with rocky steps -

hard work both up and down, but the views repaid the effort.

A very worthwhile afternoon out!  We were down by about 6.15 - we hadn’t rushed this one!

Sliabh Liag

Saturday 3rd May 2025

A longish drive through magnificent scenery in Glengesh area.

We had lunch in the pub in Carrick. good food, but very weak tea! Chatted briefly to a group of young Spaniards, who live in Ireland

We continued to Sliabh Liag - spectacular cliff views and a strenuous short walk, though we didn’t have time to reach the summit. A fine, but very windy day. Probably about 2 miles and around 600 feet of climbing on rugged terrain.

. 

We drove up to the Sliabh Liag Tourist Centre

where we caught the shuttle bus to the viewing point.

That boat is a long way down

We walked for a couple of pretty tough miles part way along towards the summit,

but as we were pushed for time we decided to return.  This was partly because the wind added to the effort, and it was almost harder walking downhill than uphill. 

We caught the bus back down, and indulged in a coffee and muffin before returning to the car.

Tea is good for you, you’ll die with it and you’ll die without it.