Geddington and Weekley Hall Wood

 Tuesday 18th October

With Marta.  6.25 miles in brilliant and warm sunshine, under a cloudless sky.

We set off along Grange Road to Weekley hall Wood, then along the footpath in the wood.

There were a few walkers, joggers, cyclists. Felled tree trunks are stacked along both sides of the path - for quite a distance. 

We carried on to Glendon Farm, and the Fox and Peony, where we stopped for coffee and tea cakes, sitting outside in the warm sun.

The return trip was a slightly different route, with a detour along a smaller path,  in search of magical fungi. We asked a young woman with a toddler if she had seen any fly agaric - she was Lithuanian , and said that in her country people use them as a hair conditioner! However we didn’t find anything as spectacular.

We spotted a red admiral, and a brimstone butterfly, enjoying the warmth. 

The route:

Gretton to Spanhoe Lodge

 Monday 17th October

After the overnight rain, the weather grew brighter throughout the morning.  Norma and I walked from Gretton to Spanhoe Lodge. following local tracks and the minor road. 

Coffee and a tea cake at the café set us up for the return leg, via a slightly different route.  It was warm enough to sit outside.

The trees are changing, but not in full colour.

Past Harringworth Lodge and the lake…

and back into Gretton, with a short detour into the Pocket Park to see the roman tree planted in memory of Mel.

Just over 7 miles. 

Gretton to Eyebrook by bike

Just over 12 miles on a fine  and sunny afternoon.  Via Lyddington, Stoke Dry, round the reservoir to Great Easton and back via Caldecott. 

Around 500 feet of ascent. 

Stoke Dry Pumpkins

Cows by Eyebrook Reservoir

Gretton to Rockingham, return via Earlstrees

 Tuesday 11th October

I walked with Marta to Rockingham via footpath over railway and Jurassic Way.

Pause for coffee and tea cakes. The cafe had only us and one more woman as customers. 

We returned by walking up Rockingham Hill,

past the Old Forge

and past the cemetery , the. along Earlstrees Road

and Gretton Brook Road, taking the footpath through the plantation to return to Gretton.

9.5 miles in all. Beautiful weather again, though it began chilly, it warmed up. 

Gretton to Kirby Hall circular

 Monday 10th October

Walked with Maureen and Kate to Kirby Hall and back via the fields. 5 miles.  The path past the CIA centre is officially closed possibly until June 2023. No wonder it was so overgrown.  

Another short trip up High Wheeldon

 Sunday 25th September

This time with Harry, and his friend Jack.

The same route as we did last Tuesday

Cycling - Earl Sterndale, Glutton Bridge, Hollinsclough, Longnor, Crowdicote

 Sunday 25th September

A short morning ride, before meeting Jack, a friend of Harry’s from Leeds days. Only about 6 miles, but with around 470 feet of climbing.

the ford

Harry suggested riding along the minor road down towards Glutton Bridge, then following a track towards Hollinsclough - mentioned as a possible walk by our neighbour, Margaret. The track was quite rough, but rideable. When we arrived at the ford Harry rode through, hit a stone and ended up with wet feet. I took my shoes and socks off and pushed the bike through. As i sat there drying my feet, a group of walkers we had passed earlier came by. They walked over the footbridge which we hadn’t spotted! 

The stone covered track, joined a small road into Hollinsclough, onward and upward to Longnor, down to Crowdecote, and up again to Earl Sterndale. About 6 miles in all, and only one short pause on the hill back to base.

The map trace begins at the ford! My bad.

Note for future ref:

To explore on foot - Washgate Lane/ Tenterhills - pack horse bridge on track from Booth Farm to Hollinsclough.

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/369809

A short walk to Jericho

Saturday 24th September

After a brief excursion by car to Longnor cafe and Hartington to replenish supplies we returned back to base, and finished the day with a couple of one-mile walks to ‘Jericho’ a couple of houses and a farm just outside the village boundary, with great views of the dragon’s back.

Longnor

Hartington

Jericho and views of the hills