Empingham, Rutland Water, Normanton

Monday 5 August. A full complement today - Maureen, Norma, Kate, Eddie, Marion, Harry and me. 7.5 miles. Fine weather apart from one short downpour during our coffee stop.

We headed toward Rutland Water first,  along Nook Lane to pick up the footpath between the houses, over a couple of fields and through the wood.

Raring to go

We headed toward Rutland Water first,  along Nook Lane to pick up the footpath between the houses, over a couple of fields and through the wood.

Across another field and over a stile, then turn right and head for the right hand edge of the dam.
At the dam we turned left and followed the path round as far as Normanton Church and the car park.

 At this point, almost halfway through the walk we had a break at the cafe.

The heavens opened briefly for a short heavy shower - we sheltered under an awning - it was hardly worth putting waterproofs on.
We turned left at the main road, and followed it to the junction, where we turned right. 

Looked like a border post - passports, please?

We turned left along a footpath after about half a mile, with the remains of a wall on our left.

Soon be blackberry time!

The path joins the road, where we continued straight ahead, past Normanton Cottages, with views of the reservoir.

 At the first junction, we turned right, away from Empingham according to the signpost.
At the top of a gentle hill we took a footpath to our left. There are two paths here - we walked along the nearer one. The roadside verge is a wildlife reserve.

From here our way lay downhill, with the hedge on our right. We crossed the A606, and continued downhill for a couple of fields, crossing a footbridge over the stream, heading to the right of the cottage.  

Cool cow

There was a short distance along the road before we turned left to follow the Hereward Way through fields of cows into the village of Empingham.

Lunch at Wellies rounded off a good walk.