Thorpe Langton circular via Langton Caudle

 Thursday 28th October 2021, with Eddie. 7.25 miles, and about 560 feet of ascent and descent. 

A mild dry morning, mostly cloudy, as we set off from close to the Bakers Arms. We turned right - there’s a sign for the Leicestershire Round - and followed the track downhill past the pub car park and some new houses.

We reached the ford, and crossed the bridge on our right and a stile into the field where we started the climb up to the trig point.

Not muddy today, and easy to follow - basically head uphill… we were slightly to the left of the official footpath, but this did avoid a muddy patch.

Onwards and upwards, with the view opening out as we climbed. We followed the route of the Leicestershire Round through Stonton Wyville,

then across fields to Glooston.

The pub is for sale, and looks a likely candidate for another expansive house.

Still following the LR we walked along minor road to Cranoe. 

At this point we left the Round and took the road towards Stonton Wyville.

After about a mile at the point where a small road joins from the right, we took a footpath to the left. which led us over a very rickety stile, but straight up to the to- again.

From the trig point we retraced our route back to Thorpe Langton.

A brief wander round the tiny village completed the walk.

Foxton to Thorpe Langton, along Leicestershire Round

 Tuesday 26th October, with Marta. 11.5 miles, there and back.

The flight of ten locks was busy

View over the inclined plane.

From the top car park we walked down past the museum and the locks. Past the pub and shop we turned right along the canal until we reached the sign for the Leicestershire Round, taking us through the village, and joining the footpath through a gate close to some houses.

The route was pretty clear today, with Leicestershire’s yellow posts proving helpful as ever.  The path heads east then slightly north to join the B6047.

We crossed and found the path easily just after Bowden Business Park. Usually we have to fight our way through vegetation - nettles and brambles, but luckily this has been well cleared recently and it was a delight to walk through the short wooded section.

The path continues east. After a fairly big field we turned left (north) and headed towards the A6. A flight of steps (after a gate) takes us down to the road - the trickiest one to cross on this walk with no central island.

Once more several fields to cross. The conditions today were reasonable - dry and firm. Most of the field boundaries now have gates rather than stiles, which makes life easier.

We strayed slightly from the path as we approached East Langton, walking with the hedge on our right, rather than our left. I was disappointed to find that the seat I’d been planning to use for a break has gone. No problem, we found a spot in the village.

As we continued we spotted another dog fouling sign - I suspect this works better.

The path leaves East Langton at the point where Back Lane turns at a right angle. The path is clearly marked all the way to Thorpe Langton from here, and there are wide views south over the valley. Most fields have kissing gates, but there was one awkward farm gate which we had to go back and close properly. Luckily the sheep were not feeling adventurous today.

At Thorpe Langton, St Leonard’s church was closed, as usual. We had a brief wander round the village then set off back to Foxton.

Some seasonal colour in East Langton

and a rather beautiful horse

 On the return leg we took the path towards the chemical factory near the canal. This path was also much clearer and easier than in previous years.  We crossed the road and joined the towpath back to the Locks and lunch.

Unfortunately we were unable to renew out acquaintance with Jack Cryer, as he is now reclining on the floor of the room that no longer belongs to the Top Lock cafe - for now.

His cup of tea on the window ledge

he watches through the glass

a narrowboat goes through the lock

a gleam of polished brass

Jack kept the lock when working boats

hauled goods along the water

Couples toiled and lived on board

along with sons and daughters.

The hour or so it took to rise

the seventy feet or more

was put to use in passing news

and building living lore.

Now Jack stands there, cast in bronze

beside the window still

to watch another motley crew

rise and descend this hill.

We walk the tow path one fine morn

and pause for tea and cake.

You stand near Jack in mirror pose

and bring the past awake.

Oct 2012

Stonton Wyville to Thorpe Langton and back: Thursday 05 July

Thursday 05 July. With Maureen. Just over 4 miles. Very hot.

We walked from Stonton Wyville church, up over the Caudle and into Thorpe Langton, continuing along the Leicestershire Round path as far as St Leonard's church, where we paused for a scone and water break.

The view from the Caudle

surprisingly we still managed to find some mud in spite of the long dry spell

The field of horses and cows

In Thorpe Langton

Looking at the Caudle from St Leonards Church

The route back was along the farm track from Thorpe Langton to Stonton Wyville - very dry, little shade and hard underfoot. Quite an effort in the heat for such a short walk!

Thorpe Langton to Foxton

Thursday 26 October. With Maureen.

We followed the Leicestershire Round pat St Leonards church, over the fields to the farm, turned left along the track, then right to cross the fields to East Langton.

Still a hint of early morning in the sky

Looking towards the railway line in the valley

We walked through East Langton and downhill to join the footpath again at a stile by a bench. The path heads across the flat wide valley, under a row of pylons, under the railway and across the A6.  Soon after this the LR path turns right and emerges to cross the B6047.

A slight navigational error (and a dislike of recently ploughed fields) brought us to Langton Road, heading into Foxton. Not too busy, so we used it. Then we walked up to the swing bridge, which was being opened to allow the passage of a narrowboat.

We utrned right to walk along the towpath to Foxton Locks.

We had an early sandwich and coffee at the Bridge 61 pub before heading back in the same direction.

The sun making a valiant effort

We varied the route slightly by taking the footpath by the chemical works, and turning right when the path became the Leics Round. Our path was close to the A6, but not too noisy, since there was a decent bank of trees in between.
However there was another crossing of the A6, requiring patience and care, and then we crossed the railway line by a footbridge where the original path has been diverted.

I wish they'd posted this a little earlier...

View from the footbridge.

The route from where we left the Leics round path was not one I'd really want to walk again, though it has completed a bit more of the local jigsaw for me.