Gretton, Rockingham,Earlstrees

 Tuesday 24th January

Eight and a half miles with Marta.  A very fine, but icy morning.

From Gretton across to Rockingham via Arnhill Road and tracks, joining the Jurassic Way path. 

Rockingham tea shop is closed on Tuesdays at present, so we continued up the hill on the footpath next to the road, and followed the road past the cemetery and had a coffee at Greggs.

We returned to Gretton,via Princewood Road, Gretton brook Road and the footpath through the plantation.

Gretton to Rockingham, return via Earlstrees

 Tuesday 11th October

I walked with Marta to Rockingham via footpath over railway and Jurassic Way.

Pause for coffee and tea cakes. The cafe had only us and one more woman as customers. 

We returned by walking up Rockingham Hill,

past the Old Forge

and past the cemetery , the. along Earlstrees Road

and Gretton Brook Road, taking the footpath through the plantation to return to Gretton.

9.5 miles in all. Beautiful weather again, though it began chilly, it warmed up. 

Gretton to Rockingham via Plantation and Earlstrees

 Tuesday 21st June

About 8 miles.

Beautiful early morning weather. Marta round at 9.30. She parked her car at the rec and we walked along the track

and across to the plantation. Ended up following the public footpath after 

remembering that the other end was closed because of police dog training.

We walked the short section on Gretton Brook Road - very busy with traffic 

- not recommended. This footpath needs extending.

We found this purple orchid growing in the grass verge on Princewood Road on the industrial estate. 

As it was already very hot, we decided to get a coffee and a sandwich in Greggs.

Then walked past the cemetery and down Rockingham Hill to the Jurassic Way 

path, without visiting the Tea shop at the bottom of the hill.

We followed the Jurassic Way path back with another pause in the shade. 

At one point the path has not been made good through the crops, as you see from 

the photograph looking back.

The flowery field edges were lovely.

Unfortunately a bee managed to get into my sock and stung my foot.

Later Marta got stung on the face by something.

We walked up West Hill in the heat.

Got home and had orange juice!