Empingham, Normanton via Rutland Water

Tuesday 24 October 2017.  With Marta. 7.4 miles. Starting from Empingham near the church. Fine weather, though windy in places, and a fair pace.

Yellow crab apples?

We started by going along Nook Lane and taking the footpath leading between two houses, through fields and a wood, then to the far end of the dam.  Then we walked along the dam, following the waterside path as far as Normanton car park, where we stopped for a short break.

A decorative telegraph pole

From the car park we turned left and followed the road for a couple of hundred metres, before turning right. The road goes past Oak Farm, and just before Top Cottages we take a footpath left, following a tumbledown wall, with ivy on it.  The path passes Normanton Lodge Farm and Whare Koa (Maori for Happy House). It joins a minor road and continues past Normanton Cottages with fine views down to the reservoir and the dam.

Just after the cottages the road bends right, and soon reaches a junction.  We turned right at the junction and climbed gradually uphill to a footpath sign. We take the left hand of the two paths here and follow the Hereward Way north and downhill. We cross the A606, and continue north and down towards Empingham,  crossing a footbridge and passing a house on our left, and Mill farm on our right.

Another short section of surfaced track, and we find a footpath sign which takes us into the village.

Over the stream

We walk along Willoughby  Drive, find the footpath on to Crocket Lane, and emerge back at the church.

Lunch at Wellies.