and occasionally rides a bike.
A word of warning. The walk descriptions are not detailed enough to guide you - please take a map. The batteries never run out, and you always have a signal. Oh, And don't take left or right as gospel!

Monday, April 8, 2019

Gretton to Kirby Hall

Monday 08 April, with Marion, Eddie and Freddie (aged 8). Just over 5 miles. Weather didn't look promising, grey with a nip in the wind, but we soon warmed up, and then the sun emerged. Lots of flowers in the fields, daisies, dandelions and celandines. 

Our route took us from the village hall, along the dusty track to Kirby Hall. The rooks were noisily going about their lives.
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed...
When we reached the road, we took the path directly opposite the drive to the Hall, through the heavy spring-loaded deerproof gate, and downhill, where we turned right and made towards Fort Knox, or the high security data centre.  More bird song, a little more tuneful than the rooks.
The path skirts the fortified building, close to the road.  We had a very short break when we met the road, then turned right, along the verge for about a hundred yards before turning right again, through a gate warning of bulls in nearby fields.
We were a little distracted by this tipped rubbish
The track led onward and upward 

and look who reached the top first:
By now we know our way back across the fields quite well, and the route was easy.
Back to the village and a stop at Lydia's cafe completed the walk. I had a chance to practise my rudimentary (rude?) Welsh, and we made the acquaintance of two women from Holland. 


Monday, April 1, 2019

Gretton, Harringworth Lodge, Bulwick (almost)

Just me and Kate today, Monday 1st April 2019, another gloriously sunny day, chilly at the start, but we soon warmed up. Just over 8 miles.
We missed out Bulwick village this time, as we're not sure what's happened since the shop/cafe had a fire a couple of months ago.

We followed the same route as this walk, but didn't cross the bridge over the A43. Pace was a pretty steady 3 miles an hour.





Not the luxury coffee stop we have grown accustomed to recently, but we can still sit on the ground - and get up afterwards!
Blackthorn bushes decorating the field edges.
The lake near Harringworth Lodge, its surface ruffled by the gentle though chill breeze
We ended up in Lydia's Cafe in Gretton for a sandwich and a coffee.

All paths were clear and dry today - ideal conditions for walking. We hope lost lamb 77 found its mother...