May 6th 2024 Gretton to Spanhoe Lodge

Walked Monday 6th May

With Norma, Kate, Maureen and Harry - we walked to Spanhoe Lodge, after arranging to have coffee and teacakes there.

We heard a cuckoo on the way over. There were also bluebells, cowslips, dandelion clocks. 

 Returned via path through Spanhoe Wood, and Harringworth Lodge and lake,  Saw a herd of deer, and heard the cuckoo again. 7.25 miles.

Warm and dry, though slightly muggy. 

Gretton to Spanhoe Lodge

 Monday 17th October

After the overnight rain, the weather grew brighter throughout the morning.  Norma and I walked from Gretton to Spanhoe Lodge. following local tracks and the minor road. 

Coffee and a tea cake at the café set us up for the return leg, via a slightly different route.  It was warm enough to sit outside.

The trees are changing, but not in full colour.

Past Harringworth Lodge and the lake…

and back into Gretton, with a short detour into the Pocket Park to see the roman tree planted in memory of Mel.

Just over 7 miles. 

Gretton to Harringworth Lodge

Monday 30th May

Weather grey but not quite as breezy as recently. Met Norma and Kate at village hall at 9, and we did a walk out to Harringworth Lodge, via the ridge edge route. Around 6 miles in all.

A field full of different breeds of cow - highland, ?longhorn, frisian, and one like a belted Galloway, but brown, plus a large bison looking bull. 

We had a break at Harringworth Lodge pond, where we heard a very loud cuckoo, twice. 

On return we had lunch at Lydia’s. 

Gretton to Bulwick via Harringworth Lodge, returning via Deene.

 Thursday 21st October 2021, with Harry, approx 11 miles.

The view over to Seaton

Field mushrooms?

colours changing - a little later than usual th8s year.

What are you looking at?

Bulwick

Lunch and a large coffee in the sun trap of the Pickled Village

Onward and over the A43 - not a pleasant part of the walk. Then there’s the reedy marsh to cross before reaching the teapot in memory of the Brudenells.

Kirby Hall from the road

A wee stretch

Gretton to Bulwick

 Thursday 07 October 2021.  With Maureen, Eddie and Harry. 11 miles, and we didn’t dawdle.

Out via the track and to Kirby Hall,

then the footpath to Deene. 

Close to Deene village Hall we took the path past the teapot, erected in memory of the Brudenell parents, then through the overgrown swamp and across the A43.

A welcome stop for an excellent coffee at The Pickled Village in Bulwick, 

and back via Harringworth Lodge. 

Fine views over the valley

Gretton to Harringworth circuit.

 7th June 2021.

Eddie and I decided to walk from Gretton at 9.15. Sunny warm, and even hot, with a gentle breeze.  Across past Harringworth Lodge and the road to Deene. Along footpath, not Shotley way, but towards Spanhoe airfield. We turned left and emerged on road towards Wakerley at Harry’s old “observatory”.  We walked along the bridleway opposite down to Turtle Bridge, then left along the Welland to Harringworth. Brief pause for coffee (for me, an essential!), before walking past the stables and through the churchyard, under the viaduct and back on to the road to Gretton. We tried to use the farm track but there was sheep business going on, so we turned back and continued to Gretton along the road. Almost 10 miles in all.

Walk from Gretton to Bulwick via Harringworth Lodge

!5th October 2020. Just over ten miles. 

View of the Welland valley and Seaton

Harringworth Lodge Lake

A profusion of cyclamen in Bulwick

The Pickled Village is open again

Looking back to Bulwick church

Gretton, Harringworth Lodge, Bulwick and back

Thursday 12 September. Just over 9 miles. With Harry, Maureen and Eddie, on a very fine morning.

We set off from the village hall  and walked along the Jurassic Way to Harringworth Lodge with its lake. 

At the end of the lake we turned right and crossed the fields. We know the route pretty well by now. It's the same as this walk last November.

From the bridge on the road over the A43

The Pickled Village has not been restored after the fire several months ago. We had our snack break in the churchyard, where the trees are just beginning to chnge into autumn colours.

The brook as we left Bulwick

More of these luscious fruits.

Bulwick church.

On the way back.


Lunch at Lydia's cafe in Gretton.