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. 

Blocked paths and what to do

 https://www.walksaroundbritain.co.uk/blockedpaths.html

Empingham to Normanton car park

 Wednesday 23rd February   with Harry, Esther, Hazel, Joseph. Just over 5 miles. Windy.

Central Leeds, including the Royal Armouries

 Friday 18th February , with Harry, around 5 miles in all.

We walked from Dan’s house along Gledhow Valley Road, then caught a bus for a short ride to City Centre.

Inside the museum :

Canal and river

City Centre stuff

Fineshade Woods in the wet.

 Tuesday 15th February 2022.  Four miles with Marta.

The weather was uninspiring, and we thought we’d avoid the mud.

After almost four miles we stopped for a coffee and tea cake at Top Lodge Cafe. The rain grew heavier, so we called it a day  - wet Tuesday .

Prologis Park, Kettering to Rushton via Barford Meadow (variation)

 Friday 11th February 2022, with Marta. Almost 7 miles. Brilliant sunshine, but quite cold later.

A late start today, after early morning dental check-up and then coffee and teacake at the Fox and Peony.

Catkins a-plenty

We took the path round the edge of the park, parallel with the new A43,

The underpass to/from the houses over the A43

The view over to Kettering town centre

Slade Brook

then had a wander through the grassed area with picnic tables, before continuing uphill to the car park. Changed out of ‘town shoes’ into walking boots before taking the path towards Barford Meadows Nature Reserve. 

We walked the perimeter of the reserve more or less, with a brief glance at the A6003. 

Then into Rushton village,

and a pause for lunch - a very decent sandwich - at the Thornhill Arms. 

The view from the pub garden.

A quick look at the churchyard, then a coffee on a bench nearby, close to banks of snowdrops.

We returned to Kettering along the bridleway close to the railway line.

Prologis Park, to Rushton via Barford Meadow

 Monday 7th February 2022, with Norma, Maureen and Kate. 5.75 miles. Fine early on, then clouded over.  Cold.

We set off from the car park near Entrance 6 on the plan below.

The linear paths we walked last Thursday join up with the housing estates on the southeast of the A43 via an underpass, close to Entrance 4 on the map.

For some reason the map here is oriented with south upwards…

Returning to our start point at Entrance 6 we crossed the road and headed toward Rushton and Barford Meadow Nature reserve.

Not a lot of wildlife in evidence, though we saw a couple of red kites later.

We took the main path then turned left at the gate to walk back along the edge of the woodland.

Over the railway bridge, and along the path crossing the River Ise, which was looking muddier today

past Holmefield Health Spa, the llamas…

and the horse 

and through Rushton village 

to the church

 a short pause for a snack (thank you, Maureen!).

We returned taking the direct route.

Another llama, just because.