Duddington to Fineshade Top Lodge and back

Four of us did this pleasant walk, beginning at Duddington and following the path just after the small cemetery by the A43. We turned right and walked southwest through the woods to the Visitor Centre and Cafe at Top Lodge (extreme south west on the map).  Here we had a coffee before taking the track past the houses and bird hide. We eventually rejoined the route out and finished off with sandwiches at the Royal Oak. 

Back home . . .

Catch up time.  Very brief summaries!

Monday September 19th

Duddington to Fineshade and back with Gordon.  Somewhere between 4 and 6 miles. Dull weather but dry.

Thursday 22 September

Brigstock circular via Fermyn Hall and the woods. Parallel to the Bocase Stone, but not past it.  About 7 miles.

A

Barrowden to Fineshade and back

Led by Mel. With Norma, Joe, Karen, Eddie, Gordon, Barry, Maureen and me. Fine, rather humid and cloudy until lunchtime. A few muddy bits in woodland. Just under 11 miles.

The route is the same as this one , but the starting point was different and we did the walk in the opposite direction.

As the route is pretty familiar I thought it was time for some people-pics.

Eddie, Barry, Maureen, Gordon

Alison, Norma

Karen and Joe

Norma, Mel and Gordon

Cake, by Maureen.

Descrip of walk later.





map and details

Jurassic Way 10 - Fineshade - Stamford

We parked at Fineshade, and walked from the car past the café, and round the wood - south, then east, then north.  Some of the Jurassic Way signs are hidden away, so it's worth having a close look at the map.  We came out of the woods on a track leading downhill towards the A43.  On its way it passes an electricity substation, and as you reach the main road there's a small cemetery.

Cross the busy road into Duddington. Go past the pub, and in a short while take the first turning left down a steep hill.   

You pass some splendid houses before coming to St Marys Church.  The path goes through the churchyard.

At the other side of the churchyard we turned left, down to the bridge over the Welland, which marks the parish boundary between Duddington and Tixover, and the county boundary between Northants and Rutland.

Just after the bridge the path turns right into a field by the river.

There was a gate which someone had smeared with some kind of blue paint - we climbed it instead of opening it - at the hinge end, well away from the paint.

The path took us across a field and into a strip of woodland. We picked a shady spot to have coffee - watched by shading sheep in a nearby field.

We crossed another grassy field to the road to Tixover Grange, then turned right and walked along for a short distance. Just after the buildings of the Grange the footpath turned off through a hedge on the left,  cutting off the corner of the road. We crossed the road when we met it again on to a long straight path - over half a mile - beside fields whose edges were full of poppies and marguerites.  This took us almost to Geeston, which is almost Ketton.    The footpath has been diverted at this point, but is clearly marked and fenced off.  It continued along a narrow path behind some houses with huge gardens, until it met the road to Collyweston from Ketton.

We had to walk along the road for a few hundred yards, before the footpath turns off just after Collyweston Bridge.  It heads uphill, and was a bit of an effort in the heat!  After the third field we emerged on a track which becomes Ketton drift and leads into the village of Easton on the Hill.   We spotted the village shop and the Bluebell pub, and it was lunchtime.  Sandwich and a mug of soup for me and ciabatta salad and chips for Marta.
We ate heartily, and it was as well that we had only a couple of miles left to walk.

When we came out of the pub garden we turned along Church Street, past the footpath at Park Walk, as far as the church. The path now has three identities - Jurassic, Hereward and Macmillan Ways.   Shortly afterwards we turned right  and followed the path through fields and a small piece of woodland until we reached the railway - you're advised to stop, look and listen - though there's so much traffic noise from the A1 that the listening part is not easy.  Once over the railway lines you go underneath the A1.

We were close to the Welland again, and crossed it by Broadend Bridge. The path led us straight into Stamford Meadows, past the plaque at the spot where Boudicca/ Boadicea chased the Ninth Roman Legion back across the river in AD61.

Time to drive back to Fineshade for a reviving and celebratory coffee, and we can say that we've walked the Jurassic Way.

Map and details

Fineshade-Duddington-Tixover-Wakerley

With Maureen, Barry and Gordon. Very nearly 10 miles, hence the confusing label below this post.  Weather grey, a bit of drizzle-mizzle, some mud, but we didn't get anything like wet.


We set off from Top Lodge, followed the Jurassic Way round the wood, then down to Duddington - an interesting village which I never visit unless I'm walking or cycling. It's tucked away between the A47 and the A43.

Notice on the gate of the old school. The gate was open! 

The old water mill with the mill race still there

We crossed the bridge over the Welland, into Rutland, and walked through Tixover, leaving the Jurassic Way and meeting the Rutland round. Tixover church is a little out on a limb. Maybe we'll visit some sunny day.
We followed the route I took on this walk on October 18th, when the sun shone on me.  This time we stopped for a break just before Welland Spinney, where there was a convenient set of logs and tree stumps - the perfect café.

When we reached the road between Barrowden and Wakerley we turned left and crossed the Welland, then passed the old station house. Further along at the road junction, beside what used to be the Marquis of Exeter pub we took the footpath (Jurassic Way again) which leads behind some houses and the church to the road to Wakerley Woods.
We walked along the main pathway until we met the Jurassic Way sign, pointing to the left. It can be a little tricky to spot.
Then the path turns quickly right, and can be muddy. The signs are there, but are missable.  The path continues in a more or less south-easterly direction and comes out of the woods at a gate which leads across a field and a patch of trees, eventually coming to a large metal gate where Laxton Hall is visible some way to the right, and the arch of its gatehouse to the left.
Turn left here towards the A43 - cross it and follow the Jurassic Way across a field to a bridge, then uphill past Fineshade Abbey, over a stile to a path between two fences.  This path crosses a field then goes into the woods, still climbing. Once you emerge from the woods, all that's left is a cultivated field which unobligingly goes downhill and then quite steeply up to meet the road to Top Lodge.


This last section from Wakerley is one of my favourites.


Map and details

Duddington - Tixover - Wakerley

Just over 6 miles.  Straight through Duddington to Tixover and along the path (Rutland Round mainly). I turned back when it met the road from Wakerley.  Very windy, but mostly sunny.


I didn't visit Tixover church on this occasion.

Duddington church

This also marks the boundary between Northants and Rutland - in the middle of the bridge over the Welland

Looking down at the river Welland, just after walking through Welland Spinney

The view of Wakerley church and the house that was once Wakerley station

Tixover Church

Sheep's wool caught on barbed wire

A family of swans paddling in the Welland

Duddington bridge and water mill house from the Jurassic Way footpath.

Map and details