May 26th 2025 - Wakerley Woods to Fineshade

 Monday 26th May 

With Harry, Maureen and Kate. We parked at Wakerley Woods, pausing to admire a VW van’s set up for cooking breakfast.

We followed the familiar Jurassic Way route through the woods, past Laxton Hall and over the A43.  On the other side of the busy road we crossed a field of sheep, and over the bridge to the short steep climb past Fineshade Abbey.

Over a stile and into another field, where the Highland Cattle were all lying down, some hidden in the patch of trees - we didn’t even see them at first.

The path through the woods was lovely in the dappled sunlight.

One more field to go and we reached the road to Fineshade Top Lodge.  

We did a fairly leisurely 3 mile circuit of Fineshade Woods, using the gravel tracks.

A pause for  coffee and teacakes at the cafe set us up for the final mile and a half back to Wakerley Woods car park.

Just over 6 and a 1/2 miles in all, and about 350 feet of up and down.

Thanks to Kate for the lift, and Maureen for the scones

15th Jan 2024 - Wakerley and Fineshade

Met Maureen and Kate in Wakerley woods, with Harry and Norma.

We walked up to Fineshade Top Lodge, hoping for a coffee, but alas the machine was out of commission for a service, so we had tea and tea cake instead.

Weather - brilliantly sunny, but with a ferocious north east wind.

Conditions underfoot generally ok, though there were a couple of soggy boggy bits.

Just under 4 miles in all .

The woodland paths are crisp

sharp shadows stark 

bright winter sun paints 

tree trunks on the ground

our long shadows march ahead

under January’s low midday sun.

Wakerley Woods to Laxton and back.

 Monday 31st July with Norma, Maureen and Kate.

From Wakerley Wood we took the main path, then followed the Jurassic Way until it crossed the path heading north east to Fineshade and south west to Laxton. We took the right-hand (south west) turn towards Laxton Hall which we could see clearly ahead of us.

Chicory

Laxton Hall

This path is pretty clear, though a little more signage near the hall would help. It was easy enough with the OS app on my phone.

From there our path continued in more or less the same direction into the woods (Town Wood on the map).

As we emerged from the wood out route turned slightly south east, and we went on by a series of dog leg bends.

Great sign when you find it…not much use from across the field.

 The signage was either not clear, or overgrown, so we had to correct our route slightly, before going through a short wooded section. After this we kept a hedge to our right and arrived at the eastern end of Laxton, through an overgrown section between houses.

overgrown?

We turned right along the road and walked another three quarters of a mile to Spanhoe Lodge, where we indulged in welcome coffee and teacakes. 

Our route back was slightly different and shorter. We walked back to Laxton village to the western end, where we took the footpath just inside the gate to Laxton Park.

This heads north into Town Wood and joins the main path. We turned right, and followed the clear track, east then roughly north east and back to the car park.

unknown fungi

hemp agrimony

A lot of meadow brown butterflies around, but nothing much else. Lots of flowers including chicory, hemp agrimony and evening primrose. 

A very satisfying walk - around 7 miles in all, and no rain until we got back to the car.

Wakerley Woods to Fineshade

 Monday 12th September

Got up and breakfasted just in time to collect Norma for the walk from Wakerley Woods to Fineshade. We met Maureen and Kate there.

 Warmish for walking, and the sun emerged for a while as we had coffee at Top Lodge cafe.

Harry and I walked round the outside, ( 7 miles +) while the others did a shorter walk and we met again at the cafe.

Just as we were driving back the rain began.

Wakerley Woods to Spanhoe Lodge

 Monday 25th July

Collected Norma and Maureen and went to Wakerley Woods. Lots of fritillaries, and a few other butterflies - no reptiles, and hardly any people today. We walked over to Laxton and then along the road to Spanhoe Lodge for coffee and teacakes and a look at their outdoor pool - a bit wee. Chat re wasps and stuff. Saw and heard green woodpecker on the way back.

Back via slightly different route. A few drops of meagre rain.

Wakerley Woods and butterflies (Two trips)

On Tuesday 19th July, the day of the great heat, we went out early to look for butterflies.

We saw lots - silver-washed fritillaries, gatekeepers, ringlets, a purple emperor on the path, a marbled white. 

And a purple hairstreak - something I hadn’t heard of two years ago, and would probably have dismissed without a second glance as one of those little brownish flutterers. 

The heat was becoming excessive when we returned home by midday. 

Wednesday 20th July

Met Marta at Wakerley Woods. Saw a speckled wood while waiting. Then Marta spotted a lizard . Lots of silver-washed fritillaries again, gatekeepers, ringlets.

Later a marbled white. We chatted to a dog-walker who had never seen fritillaries before, and the two men (also with dogs) who had seen a purple emperor, some white admirals, and a slow worm. Also saw a painted lady and a marbled white. Manage to get slightly lost in the Town wood area.