May 2025 - Short local strolls, Northamptonshire

 

Friday 16th May

In the afternoon we  walked down West Hill and along the track

to the Community Orchard with its new table.

an interesting beastie

A walk round the village after dinner  - we saw a few swifts today, and Harry heard a distant cuckoo.

Saturday 17th May

After lunch we decided to walk down behind Church Gap, in search of the cuckoo that Harry heard last night.

The sun came out and the temperature rose. We met our neighbour and her daughter returning from a walk with their two dogs, Henry and Hugo.   

No joy on the cuckoo front, but a lovely walk of around 3 miles as far as the bridge over the Welland just before Thorpe by Water. We returned to have tea in the garden.

Later walk to see swifts - no cuckoo heard.

Gretton, River Welland

 Sunday 6th April

Today I took a walk on the path behind the church

and down by the river.  The walk is only just over 2 miles and really dry at the moment. 

To the Welland and back via path over the railway

 Tuesday 7th November

After  lunch we walked down to the river by the road and along to mill stream bridge, returning via field path over the railway and behind the church. The water level has gone down almost to normal.  Fields pretty wet, and the ones on the way back were muddy. I am a big fan of wellies now!   Beautiful afternoon

Bike ride - Welland valley

 Saturday 3rd September

Took bike round valley - down to Harringworth, back via Thorpe by Water and Mill Road, finishing with the ascent of Station Road. between 7 and 8 miles, including Kirby Rd, Corby Rd Hunts Field and Finch Hatton on way out.

The Welland is very low.

Back for coffee and a scone.

Bike ride Gretton to Barrowden and back

Sunday 27th February 2022. About ten miles. With Harry. Across the Welland at Middle Bridge, towards Lyddington and along Thorpe Lane’s double mini-hill. Then road towards Harringworth, turning off at Morcott turn and up the big hill, and across to Barrowden. 

selfie near Wakerley

Lambs

River Welland is quite full

From Barrowden to Wakerley, then Harringworth and just the final hill to go. Much better from the point of view of low sun this way round. 

By bike round the Welland Valley

 Gretton to Thorpe by Water to Harringworth, and back to Gretton. 7 miles - a pootle.

Easton on the Hill,Tinwell, Stamford, Wothorpe,

 Monday August 9 th 

I walked with Harry from Easton on the Hill,

past the church, and along the footpath/ track which leads straight on not through the company car park area.  The track turns into a footpath down Easton Hillside (OS label), alongside a wood and over the mainline railway.

It joins another track and continues to the Welland, just before Tinwell - you can access Tinwell, but we turned right and followed the river,under the noisy A1 and past the remains of Stamford Spa and its healing ironwater.

We crossed the river at Broadeng Bridge and followed the well used path to the Town Meadows, where we paused for a break, before heading up to the A43. We crossed and turned right, along the lower footpath, through the newly built mansions, and some more established des reses - the path is clearly separated and easy to follow, and climbs gently. It goes alongside the A1 for a while - quite pleasant as there are lots of trees to

mitigate the unavoidable roar of traffic. Under the road, through a still muddy tunnel,we emerge into what would be idyllic if only it was quiet.

The path takes us to the west of the old Wothorpe House (now Wothorpe Towers) , then along a path enclosed between two high hedges and back to the bridleway labelled as Warren Road, then into Easton on the Hill. Just under 5.5 miles, and done before any rain fell.

Gretton, Caldecott, Rockingham, circular

 Saturday 7 November , almost 10 miles.

Down to Middle Bridge on the road from Gretton to Lyddington, turn left and follow the footpath with the river on your left. 

Some of the walk involved a diversion to follow the river and also into Fairchild's wood. The direct walk is a little shorter.

Normally we walk along the road to Great Easton, to pick up the Jurassic Way footpath. This time I braved the A6003 - there is a fairly wide cycle lane and verge, and good visibility, but I wouldn't walk there with a group! Shoulda done it during serious early lockdown!

After less than half a mile, I took the bridleway to my right, which leads directly to the Jurassic Way.

 From there I followed the Jurassic Way to Rockingham, and then along the south side of the Welland valley, and up West Hill into Gretton.

Gretton - Rockingham - Caldecott - Gretton

Monday 11th December. With Eddie.
One of those days when each of us expected the other to call the walk off. I'm glad neither of us did.  The snow had fallen on Sunday, and settled well. I took my trekking pole - first time for ages.  Seven and a half miles.

From West Hill

Rockingham village - unfortunately the cafe isn't open on Mondays!

 Our original plan was to walk to Rockingham, then return along the same path - this is about six miles. Then we decided to carry on following the Jurassic Way path almost to Great Easton, turning right where it meets the road into the village. We walked along the road towards Caldecott,and  turned left and crossed the bridge on the A6003.
We went past the plough and turned right along the Lyddington Road. A quick coffee pause out of the wind in the bus shelter, before we found the path to our right which took us over the fields towards the Welland .

The fields on the Welland valley between Caldecott and Gretton

Well wrapped up.

We joined Mill Road at the bridge near the fish ladder, turned right and followed the road back into Gretton.

A brief walk near the Welland from Stamford

Sunday 4th October - on a sunny afternoon.

This began as a simple stroll from the Meadows, but in beautiful weather we kept on going.

From the footbridge - Broadeng Bridge

Autumn colours and reflections

Burrs and berries

Himalayan balsam

Teasels

The Stamford Spa, restored in 1994 . . . and almost forgotten since then?

The stone head - I had no idea this spa existed

Tree in the town

Albert Bridge

Evening approaching