Gretton to Spanhoe Lodge - 21st Oct 2024

 Monday 21st October, with Norma and Kate.

A flat walk along the ridge above the Welland valley. Around 7 miles.

We walked from Gretton to Spanhoe Lodge in spite of mud on the farm track at the start.

If we dodged the puddles the brambles got us!

Decent views over the valley from further along.  There are some fence structures on the fields, which look like enclosures for trees, though we saw no trees.  

Spanhoe Lodge was open and welcoming, and preparing for Christmas!

We had coffee and bara brith. One of the owners is Welsh and bakes it.  

After a longish break, we walked the 3 miles or so back to Gretton. On the way back, through the small wooded area, Norma spotted an unknown tree, which looks quite exotic.

A short stroll along Rutland´s quiet roads near Wing.

 Friday 11th October 2011

A beautiful day with blue skies and small clouds, in Rutland’s rolling countryside.

From a spot near Glaston, down the hill,

over the railway bridge with view to the tunnel entrance, down hill, over the tributary stream to the Chater, then a long steady walk uphill to Wing.

We pass the maze on our left, and turn left at the junction,

to go past the village hall and the church,

and a field where a few sunflowers are still flowering.

The road bends left and we pass the stall selling “Butt Nuggets”

and cross the railway again.

At the junction we turn left and follow this small road downhill then up again

to where it joins the road we took to Wing earlier. 

Here we turn right and return to our starting point.

Distance, probably around 2 miles.

Preston church spire on the skyline

A lone pheasant

The Welland viaduct on the drive home.

Road walk by Eyebrook Reservoir

 Wednesday 9th October, with Harry. Almost 6 miles.

Since we can unfortunately no longer walk round the reservoir track, we did a there-and-back walk along the road, which is not too busy.

Geddington to Kettering (Starbucks!).

 Monday 7th October 

6.5 miles.

With Norma, Kate and Maureen. From Geddington village hall, through Weekley Hall wood, to Starbucks this time, avoiding the busy road, and being able to use proper cups outside.

Some autumn yellows beginning to show up in the woodland.

A (re) visit to Little Dalby

 Tuesday 3rd October

Not really a walk, but we saw the church spire over the trees as we drove, and decided to find it.

Little Dalby is a tiny settlement, and the church is at the end of a very rough track. After driving part way up, we backtracked and parked at the point where the road deteriorates.

There is a grassy footpath up to the church, and lovely wide views over the vale of the River Eye.

When I checked this blog later I was surprised to find that I had been there, on a walk from Burton Lazars in 2013! 

Great Cransley and Thorpe Malsor (Sept 16th)

 Monday 16th September with Norma and Maureen.

we were supposed to be following this walk, but added an unnecessary extra 2 miles, by setting off in the wrong direction.

Ho hum..- turned into a seven miler.

Anyway, here are some photos

and our route

Gradbach to Three Shires Head

 Friday 13th September

The sunrise through the window was spectacular, just before 7 am.

We had breakfast and set off from Snipe Cottage soon after 9 am. The car park at Gradbach had plenty of room at this time, and we started walking just after 9.30. 

We did the route from February in reverse - this way is better, as the climbing is done more quickly and of course more steeply.

We walked back along the road for about 100 yards, before turning left, over a footbridge.

We followed the footpath by the river Dane to a minor road.

Shortly after the cottage there is a footpath to the right. It climbs steeply, through woodland

with ferns and gorse.

We reached an even more minor road shortly before Bennetsitch Farm and followed the road uphill until we reached a footpath on the left which leaves the road quite steeply, just past a farm building, and opposite Hole Edge Farm

The footpath joins a track past a small cottage. 

The sign, barely legible says “Beware of the Dog.” We saw and heard nothing.

As we climbed  higher there were great views over towards the Roaches,

and also to Shutlingsloe.

We met no one until we reached the high point on the moors. The footpath joined Knarr Lane just behind a cottage, and then our route took us over the road to the track to Three Shires Head. We paused for a coffee by this track.

We met a group of walkers and a lone mountain biker on this track. At Three Shires Head itself, there were at least a dozen people, many of them in the water.

It was quieter on the other side of the bridge.

The descent was along the stony track, then downhill over fields far less muddy that in February.

The gentle slope is far better as descent than ascent.

We arrived back at the cottage by 1pm for lunch. 

Almost 5 miles, but quite strenuous, with uneven paths, some bog, and almost 600 feet of climbing.

The cloud cover increased as the morning progressed.