Sunday 7th November, with Harry.

Afternoon , cold and bright. We cycled to Harringworth, Wakerley and Barrowden and back via valley road and Mill Road - approx 10 miles, I guess. Quite hard work, and a bit windy. 

Photo by Harry.

Corby Kingswood to Wilbarston, return via East Carlton and Middleton.

 Thursday 12th August 2021 with Harry and Maureen - a whisker over ten miles and 230 feet of climbing on a fine sunny morning.

We crossed the A6003 close to the path near Brunswick gardens on Viking Way, and followed the path - over a stile and through fields, alongside Swinawe Wood. On occasions the path is a little indistinct and overgrown at this time of year. It emerges on the road between Pipewell and Wilbarston, where we turned right and followed the road going left at the junction to Wilbarston. The view begins to open out as the road descends to the A427.

It’s not bad crossing here, as there is a small island in the centre of the road. 

In Wilbarston we called at the Milking Parlour Café for coffee and scones, and a wee rest. Then we walked up to the village hall and took the path along the ridge towards East Carlton.  Along the way we saw lots of butterflies, including one painted lady, and noticed the haws are ripening too.

the haws are turning red

Flax/ linseed

Probably the best bit of the walk with good views over the Welland valley to the north west. 

We walked along the fenced footpath below East Carlton Park, turning right in Middleton, then left up School Hill, and soon right just before a gate. Through a field and across the old road to Harborough.  

The next section has grown luscious and vicious nettles and brambles since I was last here in June, and was quite tough walking. 

Over the A427 again, and along the bridleway. Just after it bends to the right there is a left turn. After this it was a little tricky to negotiate the next bit as the path on the ground doesn’t quite correspond to the path on the map.

The path comes out opposite Danesholme Road - another crossing of the A6003…through Kingswood Nature Reserve

and then back to the start.

a walk out and back from Bulwick

 

Tuesday 10th August 2021.  With Marta, 6.5 miles.

I met Marta at Bulwick church at 9.30.

We walked the beginning of a walk towards Apethorpe and Kings Cliffe- mostly ok, but we did go slightly wrong after the shooting hut. 

.

I was already getting bored with walking the long paths through fields of corn, and after going wrong we decided to turn back.

When the seagulls follow the tractor…

A bonus was the sight of a hare , possibly old and a little ragged looking which approached us, as we stood silent and motionless, and surely downwind.  It arrived level with us, then suddenly saw us and took off. No photographs, as we were too busy watching. 

We continued back to Bulwick, and had a lunch at the Pickled Village cafe, on its very mediterranean feeling terrace.

6.5 miles.

Gretton, Thorpe by Water, Lyddington, Caldecott.

 Monday 02 August. With Maureen and Eddie. We chose this walk because we thought the A6003 was closed between Caldecott  next junction, but the work had been done the previous day. That makes a section walking on the road verge not very pleasant, and potentially unsafe…the rest is a decent walk.  Almost 8 miles.  280 feet of ups and downs.

9.30 from the village hall…

Fields in late summer

Passing the Welland

Cows looking mildly curious

A new-looking stile

and does the church clock stand at twelve o’clock? In Caldecott

and back across the valley to Gretton.

Corby to Pipewell circular in reverse.

 Monday 26th July.  6 1/2 miles. With Eddie and Maureen. The route was easier to follow from the other end.

 

The graves of several Lloyds of Stewart and LLoyds and Lloyds Bank fame are buried here as the family used to own Pipewell Hall.

When I walked here in 2008 this pillar was in the field near the footpath to Wilbarston. We found no trace this year.

Hardly surprising we had problems finding the path last time.

Corby to Pipewell circular

 

Thursday 22nd July, with Maureen. 6.5 miles. 

A very hot day, so we had lots of pauses for shade and water.

It was a struggle to find the public footpath near The Spread Eagle at Great Oakley leading to the A6003.

On the other side we couldn’t find the way through. We accessed the path via the road to Pipewell.

The first field of the official route was not easy to walk through - an overgrown meadow, fine. No clear footpath, not so fine. Even after that there were still obstacles: a couple of excessively high stiles, and ones with overgrown nettles.

We decided against retracing this route for the return from Pipewell, choosing instead the bridleway about a quarter of a mile out of the village on the road towards East Carlton.

This was easier, though not always clearly marked. It emerges on to the A6003 by a farm gate. From there we crossed into Danesholme and life was straightforward again.

Southwick circular (again from water tower lay-by)

 Tuesday 20th July, with Marta. Another very hot day, so we tackled the walk in the same direction, counting on getting the least shady section done first.  Just under 8 miles.

The route was as yesterday until almost mile 4. This time we followed public footpaths more carefully, which makes the walk a little longer, but much easier.

We walked past Provost Lodge Farm, and followed the path past Westwood Lodge and the remains of Tottenham Lodge, then downhill to the road. Across and past Crossway Hands Farm

and Boars Head Farm, as yesterday.

Lurking by the pond…a plastic alligator…

There was still little shade on this route as we passed the building I guess is used for shooting parties, securely locked nowadays.

Then we took the footpath to our right into the welcome shade of the woods

and back to Southwick

After this we had a wild goose chase for drinks and sandwiches afterwards. A garden centre restaurant - closed, and the Chequered Skipper at Ashton - also closed. We ended up going home.