Road walk by Eyebrook Reservoir

 Wednesday 9th October, with Harry. Almost 6 miles.

Since we can unfortunately no longer walk round the reservoir track, we did a there-and-back walk along the road, which is not too busy.

Geddington to Kettering (Starbucks!).

 Monday 7th October 

6.5 miles.

With Norma, Kate and Maureen. From Geddington village hall, through Weekley Hall wood, to Starbucks this time, avoiding the busy road, and being able to use proper cups outside.

Some autumn yellows beginning to show up in the woodland.

A (re) visit to Little Dalby

 Tuesday 3rd October

Not really a walk, but we saw the church spire over the trees as we drove, and decided to find it.

Little Dalby is a tiny settlement, and the church is at the end of a very rough track. After driving part way up, we backtracked and parked at the point where the road deteriorates.

There is a grassy footpath up to the church, and lovely wide views over the vale of the River Eye.

When I checked this blog later I was surprised to find that I had been there, on a walk from Burton Lazars in 2013! 

Great Cransley and Thorpe Malsor (Sept 16th)

 Monday 16th September with Norma and Maureen.

we were supposed to be following this walk, but added an unnecessary extra 2 miles, by setting off in the wrong direction.

Ho hum..- turned into a seven miler.

Anyway, here are some photos

and our route

Gradbach to Three Shires Head

 Friday 13th September

The sunrise through the window was spectacular, just before 7 am.

We had breakfast and set off from Snipe Cottage soon after 9 am. The car park at Gradbach had plenty of room at this time, and we started walking just after 9.30. 

We did the route from February in reverse - this way is better, as the climbing is done more quickly and of course more steeply.

We walked back along the road for about 100 yards, before turning left, over a footbridge.

We followed the footpath by the river Dane to a minor road.

Shortly after the cottage there is a footpath to the right. It climbs steeply, through woodland

with ferns and gorse.

We reached an even more minor road shortly before Bennetsitch Farm and followed the road uphill until we reached a footpath on the left which leaves the road quite steeply, just past a farm building, and opposite Hole Edge Farm

The footpath joins a track past a small cottage. 

The sign, barely legible says “Beware of the Dog.” We saw and heard nothing.

As we climbed  higher there were great views over towards the Roaches,

and also to Shutlingsloe.

We met no one until we reached the high point on the moors. The footpath joined Knarr Lane just behind a cottage, and then our route took us over the road to the track to Three Shires Head. We paused for a coffee by this track.

We met a group of walkers and a lone mountain biker on this track. At Three Shires Head itself, there were at least a dozen people, many of them in the water.

It was quieter on the other side of the bridge.

The descent was along the stony track, then downhill over fields far less muddy that in February.

The gentle slope is far better as descent than ascent.

We arrived back at the cottage by 1pm for lunch. 

Almost 5 miles, but quite strenuous, with uneven paths, some bog, and almost 600 feet of climbing.

The cloud cover increased as the morning progressed.

Rudyard Lake - clockwise

 Wednesday 11th September 2024

We went out after coffee and started walking at 1pm . Much quieter than last time we were here, and few dogs this time.

Rudyard Lake circular in the opposite direction from 20th October 2023. So we walked the western, hillier, more scenic side first.

This worked well today as the weather was bright and sunny,

before the rain clouds came over,

as we were walking beneath the trees on the eastern side,

next to the miniature railway track. 4.5 miles.

We had a couple of pauses, one for a Twix at the northern end on the bridge near the bird feeders,

and one on a bench near the dam.

We bought a hot drink at the cafe before returning to Ridgehead farm.

We saw a buzzard, swallows dipping over a grassy field, a couple of blue tits on a feeder, and later some sand martins near the cafe.

Buxton Country Park, Solomon’s Temple and Pavilion Park.

 Thursday 12th September 2024

We went into Buxton, and after the farcical impossibility of paying in the Pavilion car park - machine out of order and phone app not playing - we parked at the country park, and even there had to pay inside the visitor centre! 

A cup of coffee and a scone later we walked up to Solomon’s Temple, and back round to the Visitor Centre.

We followed the short route up the steps and steepish paths through the woods.

We couldn’t resist these two characters from the past.

We made our way up to Grin Low and Solomon’s Temple.

Back across the fields above the camp site, and down through the woods.

Afterwards we walked into Buxton Pavilion Park, where one or two of the trees are beginning to show an autumn glow.

We had a coffee in the cafe there - its ’freshly made sandwiches’ turned out to be pre-packed, so we left lunch until we got back to the ranch.

As we walked back up to the car there was a very loud peal of thunder, but the promised storm didn’t materialise. remarkable views of landscape and clouds along the A53.

Somewhere around 4.3 miles in all. We covered the same ground as our walk last October, with variations.