Manton, Egleton, Brooke, Martinsthorpe.

Thursday 15 August

A shorter walk today, about 7.5 miles. With Eddie, Harry and Maureen.  This walk from 2014, but in reverse.

We set off from the Horse and Jockey in Manton and walked round the lakeside cycle route.

part of Rutland Water

Men at work on the railway line

We had a short pause to look at the ospreys' nest - from a distance.

We carried on as far as the Nature reserve at Egleton.

The season moves on

 At Egleton we turned left and headed to the A6003. 

We crossed this and the railway line, and made our way up the hill, with views of Oakham on our left.

 At the top of the hill we followed the footpath heading towards Brooke. On the way a farmer was chopping up a fallen giant, a large oak tree destroyed by recent strong winds. 

Another fairy ring

  We passed Brooke Covert East, and turned slightly left to go downhill towards the village, joining the track which becomes the access road to the recently renovated Hillside Cottage. From certain places the Dovecote near Brooke Priory can be clearly seen.

The Dovecote

We enter the village close to Bridge Farm, and follow the road directly ahead to reach the church. 

Tomb if Charles Noel

The door was open today, and we bought a couple of jars of rather good gooseberry and elderflower jam, before having a coffee break in the church porch.

We left the village by the road to Ridlington (not the Braunston Road). It climbs up to a crossroads, where we turned right towards America Lodge. 

The road becomes a track and then a path, keeping to the top of the ridge with views of the reservoir, 

all the way to the site of the deserted village of Martinsthorpe. 

The house is being rebuilt  on the site of Old Hall Farm. 

We walked to the right of it, then on to the A6003, just opposite the road along to Normanton.

A short walk back to car, followed by lunch at the pub.

The route. First mile was round the reservoir path.