This walk is almost the same as one from last year - but we stayed on the Midshires Way road to Welham this time instead of taking the footpath near Churchfield House farm. I reckon this is shorter by about half a mile.
We turn right from the main road, just past the pub, downhill past the car park, Caudles Cottage and a farmyard, and the road becomes a track 'unsuitable for motors'.
Just before the ford we take the path on the right hand side, which takes us to a stile, and Leics round signpost. Over the stile and into a long narrow field of brown cows. The path starts to climb gently towards some trees. All is easy to follow, with Leicestershire's fine yellow posts and Leics Round way markers. We keep the hedge on our left as we climb to the trig point - a short,steepish (for us) start to today's walk.
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| View from the Caudle |
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| Almost there - a steepish start to the walk |
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| The trig point - 147 m |
From the trig point we head to the next hedge and turn left, with hedge on our right and follow bridleway signs (blue arrows). We cross through the hedge and then keep it on our left until we come to a gate. From here the path cuts across a field of crops, and leads easily downhill to the unsurfaced road towards Stonton Wyville .
At the crossroads we go straight ahead to the small village, then turn right almost opposite the church. We ignore a footpath off to our left.
After a short distance the road bends left, and we soon turn off this to our right, following a well-marked footpath alongside a field or two, through a hedge and across another field for a mile or so to reach Glooston.
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| Open bell tower at Glooston |
We take an early break at Glooston, less than halfway round, but I need my coffee. Very tempting to sit and linger in the warmth of the sun today.
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| Window decorations at Glooston |
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| Ancient yew tree |
Onwards and downhill slightly to find the minor road to Cranoe - past the Old Barn Inn, turn right at the junction and go straight ahead at the crossroads.The road climbs up before descending into Cranoe, past its perched church. We left the Leicestershire Round at Cranoe.
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| Cranoe church |
I put a bit too much road-walking in today. We follow the road - a minor one and part of the Midshires Way - all the way to Welham, a good two miles.
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| View from Midshires Way between Cranoe and Welham |
At Welham we turn right past the Old Red Lion, ignore a road junction to our left, pass the church and walk along Bowden Lane. This is another quiet road, and goes past a farm, and the Welham stud. Soon after crossing a bridge over a brook, and then reaching the fishing lake, we take a bridleway through trees to the right.
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| New Forest ponies at Welham stud, Bowden Lane |
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| Bridleway towards Thorpe Langton |
The trees continue for some time, then the bridleway goes along the edge of a cultivated field and two meadows with cattle before it reaches the road between Great Bowden and Thorpe Langton. We turn right and follow the road into the village to collect the car.
Not a lot in the way of wildlife today - a pheasant, some swallows, a red kite, the odd crow. A couple of butterflies - a brimstone and one I'm not sure of, and didn't photograph.
Map and details
4 comments:
That looks and sounds lovely, Alison. I enjoyed your walk! Great photo of the old yew trees.
Lovely green countryside, and I like those church heads as well. My last long walk I got drenched so I hope the rain stays off.
It was especially good to feel warm - jackets and sweaters came off later! A very pleasant walk. I couldn't resist a snap of those trees.
Simon, I am quite intrigued by those stone heads, too. Everywhere is really green now, though they've started bringing in the hay.
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