Tilton on the Hill, Marefield, Owston, Halstead

With Norma. A dry day which grew sunnier and warmer as we walked. Just under 9 miles, and about 500 feet of ascent. Undulating, I guess.

From Tilton we walked along Marefield Lane, which drops down to the valley. When the road bent to the right, we took the bridleway to Marefield. There is also a footpath that i may investigate in future.

The bridleway reaches the road and here we turned left into Marefield, and continued under the railway bridge. Shortly afterwards we took a small road to the right, towards Twyford.
After almost a mile we followed a footpath on the right. This took us along the bottom of a field. The cows showed no interest in us. We continued past a few sheds and under a viaduct. All around were plenty of meadow browns, an occasional red admiral, possibly a skipper of some kind, a small coppery butterfly - all moving too fast for my limited stock of patience!

The footpath continues in more or less the same direction for  a mile or so, though we did skirt round the first big field, and then found the original line to follow. Leicestershire's yellow marker posts are always a great help.

Norma thinks this would be a grand garden ornament

Looking back to the viaduct

 We crossed a small road at White House Farm, and followed the bridleway for a short distance, before the footpath turns left towards Newbold Grange Farm. Again, we had no problems with route finding.

At the road past the farm we turned right and continued past Newbold Farm. The main road swings to the left, but our route is through the gate and straight ahead down the hill.
We found a pleasantly shaded spot to have a break, just round the corner before we went on to the gated road.

Down the hill and through another gate, and we were looking for our path to the left. The finger post was there, but we wandered very slightly off track before finding the route - which was clearly marked, but we hadn't spotted it on the other side of a large bush. It was very easy to follow into Owston. We gave the church a miss, and took the footpath to the right from Main Street, going south west for a good couple of miles. 

Some of the paths were struggling against nature's claims, but at least they were clear.
We passed a couple of ponds, with water birds and their young, and dragon and damselflies.

We might have been tempted - but there were no oars.

Paths were all clear, though we had visions of a mad unicyclist with Boudica-style knives carving this one out - narrow and not quite straight.

 We had noticed a stream and contours on the map - it hadn't marked the lush growth of nettles, brambles and briars.  I have met far worse - this was not impassable, but it was a good excuse for another brief pause.

Looking towards Whatborough Hill

 The final couple of miles took us past Halstead House Farm, and on to the road to Tilton. A path to the right to Marefield Lane brought us back to the start of the walk.

Lunch at the Orchard Cafe at Welland Vale Garden Centre rounded off the walk.

See also this walk from Feb 2013.

Leics Round 10 - Burrough Hill to Launde Abbey via Owston and Withcote

Wed, 2013 Jul 3 9:36 AM British Summer Time

With Marta. Fine day, cloudy and warm - muggy even. Muddy in little Dalby Wood, muddier in Owston Wood. Quite up and down - 528 ft of climbing. 8 miles and a bit. 

Marta picks me up at Launde Abbey, and drives to the Burrough Hill Car Park - the pay machine is working again now!  After a couple of hundred yards along the farm road we take the first path signed to the right, heading north  across a couple of fields where a farmer on a quad bike was herding sheep - with the help of a dog as well.  
I'm familiar with the route from a previous walk, so we walk along the edge of the second field, then downhill to the Dalby Woods Path, which goes east - fairly muddy as usual, and I realise I've left my trekking pole in the car.  

We avoid turning right or south at the gap ion the trees, and continue successfully along the Leicestershire Round path, uphill and climbing the two sets of steps to the ridge.

Looking back from the top of the steps

The route ahead has been made good, and it's probably the first time I've followed its line according to the map - a couple of times it's been much easier to use the edge of the field.

A clear path ahead

The route is clearly marked and clear on the ground all the way into Somerby. 

Guard dog in Somerby

 We walk through a narrow ginnel into the village, and just opposite is Manor Lane - no LR sign, but this is the way.  The first sign is when we arrive at the end of the road. 

The view towards Owston

We walk up a narrow track between two fields, all clear and easy walking - but it's time for our break as we top the next small ridge. 

We carry on down hill through three fields, keeping the hedge on our left.  We cross the stream using a footbridge. We turn right along the stream to the corner of the field, then walk uphill. We follow the waymarkers - there's a memorial bench in the corner of one field. Our path is clearly marked until we reach the road, at a bend.  We turn left here to walk into Owston.  
I'm rather taken with some curved brick walls and a kitchen garden.

 

We glimpse the church through the houses.

We ignore the road to Lowesby, and then the Knossington Road,  and carry on along Main Street as far as the Tilton Road. We pass an old pump and then a well in a field.

We turn right along the road to Tilton, then left along a path to Withcote after about 100 yards.  This is well marked, though you could be confused by other marked paths.  We follow flattened grass paths which take us through fields and eventually to the way into Owston Woods.  The path through the woods is straight and clear, but, as usual, very muddy.

Walking in the footsteps of giants?

We try leaving the path, but it is not much of an idea!  Still, my feet stay dry, though the boots are muddier than for some time.  Last time I walked this was after snow.

When we come out of the wood we think of having another break, but in this muggy weather there are too many flies around - we give that idea up and head downhill towards Withcote.  Last time I was here there were horses everywhere - no longer.  We decide to go and investigate the chapel, which is looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. 

Withcote Chapel

As we pass the Hall, we ask the owner, who's outside gardening,  if it's ok to go and have a look.  She assures us that it is "But be careful - you could get roped in to help".
Two volunteers are giving the place a bit of a spring-clean, as there will be a service there in the near future - something that happens no more than once a year or so. They're very helpful and informative, ply us with leaflets, and even offer us a cup of tea, though we need to get moving by then.


We go back to the LR footpath, through the farmyard, then divert briefly to have a peep at the lake, where there is a swan family and other water birds.

Then it's through the gate, aim for the top of the hill, down the other side, over the footbridge, up slightly and down towards Launde Abbey.  Once again, I recommend their baguettes with salad and coleslaw, and the coffee or tea - £1.50 for a pot - three cups at least.




Map and details

Tilton-on-the-hill, Marefield,Owston, Halstead, Tilton

Led by Barry, followed by me and Gordon. Drizzle before we started, then just grey, with moderate visibility. Hilly, some mud in the fields. Break at Owston church. Just under 9 miles.

Looking back at this walk, one of the few things which added colour to the day was snowdrops - everywhere, in small clumps, in neat patches along the roadside, in drifts in the gardens of some of the grand houses. No blue in the sky, and all the greens, in fields and woods were muted through a grey filter.  

We set off along Marefield Lane, following it round to the left as it turned into a rough track, losing height all the while. It crosses a dismantled railway line, and eventually meets a minor road. Here we turn left into Marefield.

We carry on over another section of railway, then turn right along another unfenced road, which wiggles its way more or less north and uphill for almost a mile, joining the Twyford Road.  We turn right again and walk past some farm buildings and under a viaduct, before crossing several large fields towards White House Farm.

Then we cross the road (Dawsons Lane, or Marefield Lane, depending on your map). We go through a gate advertising Owston Equestrian Centre, following the path for a short distance before heading off uphill to the left towards Newbold Grange Farm.  The path goes through a field here, not along the drive, as we were told, when we'd taken the trouble to report a very sick-looking sheep in the field.

When we reach the road we turn right and follow it past a turn off to the right to Newbold Farm, then as the road swings to the left, we go through a gate along Newbold Lane towards Owston. 

We turn off along a footpath to our right, which leads through fields and over a small stream, then passes the remains of the old priory fishponds, before arriving at Owston Church.  The golden ironstone must look lovely in the sun.

After a coffee break, we take the permissive footpath from the church, through more bumps and hollows marking the site of the old priory of Owston, and looking back we can see the pond which probably topped up the fishpond area lower down.

We hit some muddy fields for a while, but the way is well marked and eventually we come out at Halstead House Farm, and follow the drive to the main road to Tilton. Another mile or so takes us back to the start. 



Map and details of the walk