Spalding

Marta and I decided a gentle look around the town counted as part of our Welland exploration, and there's more to see than I expected.

Out first port of call after the hour's drive over was - coffee. We found an ideal place in Bookmark, a bookshop, with toys and maps and a very pleasant atmosphere.  

Like many bookshops now, they host book-signings by authors from time to time.  I was tempted to buy a book about the Welland and Spalding's past, but resisted on this occasion. 

We walked beside the river - a prominent feature, with several footbridges. The water is clean, and there are a fair number of fish.

As we were there on a Tuesday, the Chain Bridge Forge Museum wasn't open, so I hoped the camera could make the interior out better than my own eyes!

 Outside there is a large cartwheel

 and a scarily enormous circular saw

Gamlyn's Almshouses , built in 1843, replacing late 16th century ones provided by John Gamlyn.

We were surprised by the size and splendour of the parish church of St Mary and St Nicholas.

The ceiling of the entrance porch

The elephant in the church

Carvings on the pulpit - see tiny cat creature in the middle

Just along the road is Ayscoughfee Hall . Pronounced locally as Askerfee. Unfortunately it was Tuesday, so the museum was not open.

Ayscoughfee Hall

A medieval roundel in the wall

The gardens are a public park

We finished the day with lunch in the cafe, and then walked along the Welland as far as the Coronation Channel, which was built in 1953 to protect Spalding from floods.

We'll be back.

Thorpe Langton to Foxton Locks and back

Thu, 2015 Jun 4 10:08 AM BST

With Maureen and Gordon. Leics Round to Foxton, variation on way back. Flat mostly, dry conditions, sunny and warm. Just over 10 miles.

Following Leicestershire Round on the way out, and returning along the canal to Pears chemical factory, and following footpath to join up with our way out.

Small alternative route through East Langton.

Our route began on Church Lane.
Walk along Church Lane, opposite side of road to pub. Turn R to pass church. Follow path over field to redbrick farm.

St Leonards Church, Thorpe Langton

Turn L. Follow track to open field. Turn R through a gate. Follow path over several fields, heading west. Park Hill Farm is uphill on R. Follow waymarked posts over fields - the last one is quite hummocky and leads into a hedged path and out to a road. Walk to road junction, then turn R uphill towards the Bell Inn. Take the first street L, going downhill past E.Langton Grange. Follow road to the end. A bench is near to Leics Round sign, climb stile to footpath. The path heads south, and all the field boundaries are crossed by gates and clearly marked.

Track leading into fields towards East Langton

Pass stone to Lottery -the first winner of the Grand National.  Cross a footbridge over Langton Brook and go underneath  mainline railway. Cross another two fields and strip of trees, then two more fields. Ahead is the factory by the canal, a useful directional landmark for a while. Down steps to A6 - a busy road to cross. Up steps at other side. Through one more field. At hedge turn R and head towards B6047. Just before road path gets a bit overgrown, but passable. Come out on road, walk short distance to Bowden Inn Farm and cross. Go down concrete slope and turn R into field. Follow waymarked paths over fields in direction of Gartree prison. Go through a hedge and keep hedge on left for two fields, then on right. Cross a bumpy field - can be muddy - to gate and stile by farmhouse and come out into Swingbridge Street, Foxton. Turn L and soon R to take footpath between houses to Middle Street. Turn L, then R on path between hedges to Main St, opposite Shoulder of Mutton pub. Turn L and walk up to Canal, turn R and follow Canal to Foxton Locks.

Lottery was the first winner of the Grand National - see link
and this one. There's a picture by John Frederick Herring Senior in the Woolavington Collection of Sporting Paintings at Cottesbrooke Hall as well.

Foxton Locks looking lively in the sun

We had a sandwich and drink at the Bridge 61 pub/cafe. Most welcome.

Bridge 61

Yellow flag

Walking back along the towpath

We walked back along the canal as far as the B 6047, just before the chemical factory.

Remains of a willow tree that landed on a boat some time ago - no one was hurt

We took the footpath (to East Langton) marked by the factory and followed the way markers through a rather jungly section. It has been walked a bit, but could do with more.

More red campion

The path near the chemical factory - quite overgrown as usual

This path soon joins our outward route, at the point where the Leicestershire Round path turned right. We retrace our steps to the seat near East Langton, and had a mid afternoon scone break.

Grand footbridge between East Langton and the A6

We turned right and took the first road left, uphill to rejoin  the path towards Thorpe Langton through the fields overlooking the valley. Just a mile or so and we were back at the start of the walk. What a joy to have a summer day for walking.

Map and details

Lyddington - Uppingham circular via Stoke Dry hill

Mon, 2015 Jun 1 9:40 AM BST

With Marta. Dry but with chilly wind. (Rain in afternoon!) Coffee in Uppingham, lunch in Lyddington. Between 6 and 7 miles.

Same route as on Mon 27 April

Lyddington

We walked through Lyddington past the bend in the road and the old Waggon Wash where the brook crosses the road. Shortly after this there is a clear footpath sign on the right hand side. Opposite this is our footpath, beginning at a stile in the gap in the hedge on the left hand side of the road.

The path from Lyddington took us through this magnificent buttercup meadow

The path climbs through four fields, clearly marked on the ground at this time of year, and comes out on the road between Lyddington and Uppingham Community College. It continues on the other side of the road, though one field, than a hedge and across the school's playing fields.  There is a marker on the other side, and the path then goes through another hedge and downhill along a shaded path, then up past the animal sheds - unoccupied today. 

Just after these sheds is a track to the left. Walk along this for a short way, looking out for a footpath going off to the right, just before the track is hard surfaced. The path goes through trees, then downhill alongside a field.

Approaching Uppingham

 You can see Uppingham's houses and the church clearly now. The path crosses another field and comes out on South View, opposite a grass area with a bench. Go up the steps and follow the path to the left and through some houses to emerge on the market place. Several handy cafes here if you need a coffee.

We dropped into Beans. 

After a break we walked along High Street West, past school buildings and Uppingham theatre, along Stockerston Road. Soon after the houses end the path goes to the right at the point where the road bends slightly left.  The path from here is part of the Rutland Round, and there are some signs to guide you. The path heads almost south west for some distance, crossing two or three fields, and then between fences - plenty of stiles too.

More masses of campion

After another field of crops, at a stile there are signs to the left. Follow the field boundary here, keeping the farm buildings on the right and come out on to the B664 (Stockerston Road.  Turn left and walk along the road for a couple of hundred metres, then take the bridleway to the right.  This again is clearly visible and the path skirts Stoke Dry Wood.

A corner of a field growing masses of flowers - possibly as a shelter for guinea fowl?

Eyebrook and Stoke Dry

After this you come out into open countryside with a great view of Eyebrook reservoir down on the right, and the village and church of Stoke Dry.

Keep to the high ground and follow the path round to come out by Manor Farm. Turn left and walk to the A6003. Cross this and take the footpath from the corner on the left hand side of the road to Lyddington.

Lyddington nestled in the valley

The path is easily followed downhill towards the village, coming out at the bottom of the road. Just a short walk to the village Green, or in our case The White Hart for lunch.


Map and details

Brigstock - Deene - Kirby Hall - Gretton

Sat, 2015 May 30 9:52 AM BST

Part of Corby walking festival. An alternative part of Around Corby walk. Ten of us, led by Tommy Rodger. Several from Kettering Ramblers. Sunny and dry. Nine miles.

A motley crew

We gathered in Gretton and were transported to Brigstock to start the walk from the village hall. Back to the High Street, and then turning right up Old Dry Lane, which took us to the A6116. We crossed this and continued on old Dry Lane which becomes a bridleway through woodland, and eventually goes past Bocase Farm - the owner has provided the seat in the photo below, but it was too early in the walk for us today.

The Bocase boundary stone, and a seat provided for walkers

 From here we walked with Harry's Park Wood on our left, heading more or less north. We carried on at the corner of the wood, running right when we met a path junction, and very soon left to resume the northerly direction. The path took us to the A427 at Yoke Hill, and we crossed the road. 
Now we followed a path along the parish boundary, turning left and leaving the track on to the old airfield then following the path right and keeping the woodland of Weldon Park on our left. 

An unfortunate deer

This path led us past Lodge Farm and to the A43. We crossed this and walked along the drive to Priors Hall Golf Course for a shirt distance before taking a footpath off to the right through trees, over a field and through a small wood. Then it was across open fields towards Deene Hall magnificent in the distance.

Heading towards Deene Hall from the old airfield

Then it was time for a lunch break. It almost felt like summer.

We kept on the same path past the lakes as far as Home Farm, Deene, where we turned left and slightly uphill.

close to Deene Hall

At the point we turned left at Deene

We went past the woodland called the rookery, and through a slightly overgrown area, and a deer proof gate. Then across a large open field, and a smaller one, before turning to our right towards Kirby Lane, opposite the entrance to Kirby Hall. We walked down to the Hall, and took advantage of the open shop which sells tea and coffee.

It has to be Kirby Hall

From there we followed the public footpath through the gate by the shop, up the  hill to the gate and over the field diagonally downhill to the right to the cluster of four stiles. Then it was uphill to the gate leading on to the dusty track, and back to Gretton village hall.

Thanks to Tommy for a good leg-stretch!

Map and details

East Carlton to Great Oakley via Wilbarston and Pipewell

Thu, 2015 May 28 10:04 AM BST

Part of Corby Walking Festival. With Tommy, Gordon and a group of Kettering Ramblers (14 of us in all). Fine sunny weather, dry conditions underfoot. 7.5 miles approx.

The route is part of Mel Jarvis's Around Corby walk - pages 12, 13 and 14.  I enjoyed not having to think about the route this time, and just following the crowd.

The section between Pipewell and Great Oakley is the most awkward, with overgrown paths, one field of barley with no path on the ground, and two sets of curious bullocks. An enjoyable walk, and better weather than we could have hoped for.

Illston circular via Rolleston, Gaulby, Kings Norton and Gartree road

This walk follows the same route as on 14 May, but is extended by about a mile.  Our first detour was to look at the Rolleston Estate's lake. Then later, from Kings Norton we took the path across the fields just downhill from the church. This took us to the Gartree Road track at the ford. We turned left and followed this back to the crossroads with Burton Overy Lane, and picked up the previous route past Illston Grange.

Leaving Illston

More campion

Rolleston Hall Lake

Billesdon Coplow

lemon and gold

Seat near Gaulby church

Kings Norton church

A fine sunny morning, with a coolish breeze. Just over 8 miles in all.

A profusion of wild flowers again.


Map and details