Hallaton, Horninghold, Stockerston, Blaston

Led by Tommy, with Gordon and me. Not too bad underfoot, though some sticky mud in places. Beautiful sunny, clear, cold weather. 7 miles.

From the Fox Inn in Hallaton we turned left and left again on to North End (signposted to Horninghold.  The footpath goes between some newish houses to the left and crosses a few fields before reaching the track through a farm just  northwest of Horninghold. We could have turned right here and walked through the village, but went straight on, then headed for Horninghold Wood which we could see slightly to our right.

We crossed the road (Knob Hill Road) and took the bridleway with the wood on our left. We followed this more or less east for about a mile,  going between Park Wood and Bolt Wood, until we reached the land behind Stockerston Hall and church.

Stockerston Hall and church

 Here we turned south west, heading towards Blaston.

Climbing up the slope.

At the top of a hill, next to the corner of Bolt Wood, we took a break in a sheltered spot at the stile.  We followed the edge of the wood, alongside a ploughed field, then turned left to meet the road, just after Stockerston cross roads, on Belchers Hill.
There was a brief section of road walking before we took a bridleway south west, and mainly  downhill into Blaston.

Billesdon Coplow I believe?

Blaston has a fine selection of buildings to admire.

Greetings, pheasants.

Blaston church

 At the church we turned right and when we reached the gated road to Horninghold, we took it for a short distance before the footpath veered off to the left (northwest now).  A gentler section, again flattish or downhill took us to the Medbourne road and into Hallaton.

The final stretch into Hallaton

 The Fox Inn does a decent meal, and good sandwiches. Very welcome they were too.

The garden of the Fox - we went inside!

Thanks for an interesting walk, Tommy.

Map and details