Monday 30th January 2023
Seven and a half miles with Norma.
Another bright and sunny morning. Quite windy, chill in places. First I walked to Norma’s for 9am. Out to Empingham and did walk through the village, along Crocket Lane to the footpath.
Over the field and across the brook (River Gwash), then turn right, with Mill Farm on the hill to the left. We follow the footpath across the field to another bridge, and continue uphill to cross the A606.
Straight on across a couple of fields. At the next, smaller road we turn lroght and follow the road downhill to the first junction. A left turn takes us past Normanton cottages, with views to the dam and Rutland Water to our right. The road turns slightly and we follow it as far a right angled bend to the left. Here we take the footpath straight ahead along the field edges .
At the road we turn right , heading for Rutland Water and Normanton car park.
There’s a display of snowdrops and aconites in the grass by the road.
There’s a short section alongside the main road, but the verge is fairly wide.
The Waterside café is open (10-3) and we indulge in coffee and toasted teacake.
We continue along the reservoir path to the end of the dam
then turn sharp right alongside the trees, down hill towards a stil and path leading into a small wood.
Then across two fields and back into Empingham.
We called in at Wellies for a sandwich before returning home. 7.3 miles
