Empingham, Normanton, Rutland Water circular

A very fine crisp morning.  Around 7.5 miles. With Harry, Eddie and Kate.

We parked in Empingham and walked down Crocket Lane beside the church, and through the village, past the green with the large willow trees, and over a stile at the end of Willoughby Drive. We crossed a field, and a footbridge over the stream.
We turned right on to Mill Lane. The path is marked as the Hereward Way. After the first house the path turns right diagonally across a field, over a footbridge and then uphill along the edge of two large fields before reaching the A606. 
 We crossed this and continued along the path, still following field edges until we reached Ketton Road, where we turned sharply right and walked along the quiet road to the next junction. 
Here we turned left along Empingham Road past Normanton Cottages, which look as though they could once have been almshouses. There are lovely views of Rutland Water from this road.

The road leads to Whare Koa (Happy Home in Maori) and Normanton Lodge farm, but our path continues south through fields with a wall on our right.
a fine specimen of fungus was growing on a log behind the gate.

At the next road we join the Rutland Round route and follow it to the Normanton car park on Rutland Water. The cafe was open, so it was time for coffee. 
From here we followed the reservoir track towards the dam,and over it.  

Lots of people out taking advantage of the weather today.

Once across the dam, we took the footpath to the right (still Rutland Round) down the fields and through the wood back to Empingham. 

Harry's photograph of the glorious sky.

Lunch at Wellies coffee shop rounded off the walk.