Gretton, Rockingham, Great Easton, Caldecott, Gretton

Thursday 31 January 2019.  9.5 miles with Harry and Eddie on a very cold frosty morning, with mist in the valley, then glorious sun. We  followed the path to the end of Huntsfield Drive, then continued through the ginnel, jitty, alley way and picked up the path alongside the hedge. When we reached the track at the end we turned right. This took us to Corby Road. We turned right to walk a short distance along the road verge, before taking the track on the left hand side. 
When we reached a gate and some woodland we turned right, with a hedge on our left and followed the path.  Today the fields were white and frozen, with a smattering of overnight snow.

 As we reached the highest point, the valley was hidden in mist - magical.

A floating pylon

We walked along the mini escarpment and then downhill to cross the railway line. The path continues in this direction. Look out for a gate over on the right as you come through a hedge. At this crossing of paths, we turned left, in the direction of Rockingham, along the route of the Jurassic Way. There are one or two places where the path is not clear.  And we still haven't worked every step out...

Onward to Rockingham

We turnright down Rockingham hill, and cross the road. We make our way to the tea-shop just after the Sondes Arms for a welcome coffee and snack, at about 4 miles into the walk. We've warmed up and don't need to sit too close to the fire!

We continue along the Jurassic Way, which goes over a field and crosses the Rockingham_ Cottingham Road, heading on northwest towards the Welland.  The mist has lifted by now.

 There is ice by the river

...and some fine reflections.

The Jurassic Way path continues as far as the road from Great Easton to Caldecott. At the road, it turns left, but we went right away from the village nad towards Caldecott. There's a bit of road walking here, where we had to keep hopping up on to the grass verge.At the A6003 we turn left and walk into Caldecott, turning right when the road bends round to the left. A couple of hundred yards past the houses our footpath is signed, and we head northeast, eventually arriving at the river, after a few fields.  

We take the path just after the river, and head uphill toward the railway line. Once that is crossed it's another uphill drag to Church Gap.

But waht a beautiful day for a walk.