Around Corby:Weldon to Gretton

With Marta, About 6 miles.  Dull but dry, some sun later.

I haven't been looking forward to this section, since I know a good couple of miles go through the area where new houses are being built at Priors Haw.  not the most scenic walk just now, though landscaping is promised, and there is a conservation area well marked out. 

Our first task was to find the spot where the walk could be picked up from the book, so we made our way to the churchyard to take the metal gate leading to a path over the brook.

An unusual gravestone, to The lady Louisa, wife of the honourable and Rev Daniel Heneage Finch Hatton, one time vicar of Weldon.

The path takes us over the brook and up towards the houses of Church View.

When we reach the main road we cross over, and take the path just to the right of a white thatched cottage, sporting a  threadbare thatched pheasant on its roof.

 The path looks as though it goes to the front door of another house, but in fact it turns right then left and takes us through the houses, coming out near the Shoulder of Mutton pub.

We turn right and go past the pub, then walk to the corner. We ignore the footpath sign at the corner and turn right. In around fifty yards there is another footpath sign on the left, which leads to a road then through a gate and along a path towards the A43. 

We cross and find our way on the path through the embryonic new housing development. I'm sure this will be more agreeable in five years or so.

Still, the mile and a bit or so is easy enough to follow, past the conservation area, then over a couple of sections of fresh-ploughed field and into the woods.

Map and garmin confirm we are pretty well on track.

Now it's back on the paths as they have been for years -  a footbridge, two deerproof gates, a road, then down to Kirby Hall. http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/stately%20homes/kirby%20hall.htm 

Its Elizabethan splendour catches brief sunlight in the hollow.

It's the birthplace of the above mentioned Lady Louisa's  Finch Hatton husband.

Windfall apples cluster round a tree but they're too bruised to harvest, and the road curves into the avenue of horse chestnuts leading to the hall gates.

The entrance gift shop shack proudly wears a peacock on its roof.

We climb the hill, look back and then walk down across the grass, startling a hare almost underfoot.

After the clustered stiles in the dip, we go up the last hill of the day - it's dry now, not ankle deep in mud as it can be. At the gate we take in the view once more, before heading down the dusty track and into the village.