Foxton Locks to Bowden Inn Farm business Village on the Leicestershire Round path

Thursday 14th July

 With Maureen. Checking the Leicestershire Round path, and returning via the Harborough Arm of the Old Union Canal. About 6 miles.

Another warm dry day. We set off just after ten from Foxton Locks Top car park, walking with the canal on our left past the inclined plane and museum, then the well patronised cafe/pub at Bridge 69.

Over the Rainbow Bridge to the other side of the canal, where we walked east towards Foxton village. 

We turned off at the sign for the Leicestershire Round and followed the signs through the village, and over fields as far as Bowden Inn Farm. 

We made a short detour to check the LR as it goes through an area of trees and scrub - this bit often gets overgrown but so far so good.

We returned along the canal, after a short section walking along the road to Market Harborough as far as the canal bridge, where we turned right and continued back to Foxton Locks.

A tuna sandwich and a coffee at Bridge 61 pub almost completed our walk. We just had the last half mile or so up the locks and back to the car park.

Wakerley Woods to Fineshade

Monday 11th July 2022.

With Harry, Norma and Maureen about 7 miles. Weather very hot, so we chose a route which offered some shade. We set off from Wakerley Woods car park at 9.45 and made our way along the Jurassic Way footpath - though signage is not brilliant. Along the first wide path Harry saw a White Admiral butterfly or possibly a Purple Emperor. 

A hare crossed the path and went into the woods, and we saw several silver-washed fritillaries, spectacular large butterflies.

We emerged from the woods near Laxton Hall, and followed the unshaded path southeast, then east towards the A43 - a pain to cross, but easy enough with patience.  

Shade-seeking sheep

Once across the road we continued to the concrete bridge over the dry stream,

and followed the path uphill past Fineshade Abbey, then through woodland, and another open field to the access road to Fineshade Top Lodge.

We chatted to a couple with binoculars who said they had seen a Purple Emperor, and a Purple Hairstreak.

We all ordered coffee in the cafe, and a snack. Once refreshed we decided to walk round the woods and try our luck with butterflies.

We saw fritillaries and another White Admiral(or was it a Purple Emperor?), lots of meadow brown, at least one ringlet.

We passed the playground

and the Danish Shelters

A pause in the shade of the bird hide, where there were some butterflies and a few birds including a jay and a buzzard. Not like the old days when the RSPB kept the feeders supplied, but agreeable. The water scrape/ pond is very low just now.

We decided to have lunch in the cafe before retracing our steps down to the A43, and back through Wakerley Woods. One spot in the sunshine was full of different butterflies, including commas, tortoiseshells and brimstones.

Gatekeeper butterfly

Silver-washed fritillary

Brimstone

7 miles in all.

(most photos here by Harry).

Homeward bound

 Saturday 9th July

Coffee break at Llyn Celyn.

A place with a troubled history. 

and lunch near Knockin, Shropshire

Not so much walking, more a sketch, a swim and a sunset

 Friday 8th July

Aberdaron, Porthor and return via Wales Coast Path

 Thursday 7th July 2022

The morning started grey, but dry and a bit windy.

We decided to do the headland walk from Porth Oer (Whistling Sands)

We parked in Aberdaron and began the walk by a couple of miles along the quiet roads, uphill out of the village, and north to Porth Oer..

The beach there is lovely, the sand certainly squeaks as you walk, and the cafe/shop serves an excellent coffee cake.

From there we picked up the Wales Coast Path, which we followed (more or less) round the headland, leaving Carreg to our right, skirting Mynydd Anelog, following the coast with many downs and ups along the way, eventually climbing to Mynydd Mawr, where we stopped for lunch, perched uncomfortably on rocks, and looking across to Bardsey Island. It was still quite windy.

Shortly afterwards we walked on and found a bench to sit on for a while in greater comfort.

The walk was quite strenuous, so when we reached the high point of Pen-y-Cil we stopped to eat our apples.

From here on we saw more people walking.

The final stretch into Aberdaron was hard work - down to sea level using some very steep steps, at Porth Meudwy, where the boats go to Bardsey Island,

then climb back up an equally steep set of steps. A repeat performance at Porth Simdde, before emerging on to the road above the car park.

We felt we had earned an ice cream, and luckily Y Gegin Fach (The Little Kitchen) was still open.

11.2 miles and around 1900 feet of climbing and descent.