Fordingbridge, Castle Hill, Woodgreen, Breamore,

Monday 26 December 2022

A short stroll round Fordingbridge in the morning and a look at the church.

They have buses, even on Boxing Day!

In the afternoon we set off at 2pm  and did a repeat of last year’s Boxing Day walk with variations, including looking at the Saxon church at Breamore.  About 8.5 miles without a coffee break.

Pitsford Water

 Monday December 5th

A seven-mile walk round Pitsford Water. With Norma and Maureen.

Chosen in order to avoid muddy fields and ten-ton boots.  As it happened it was quite chilly, but fine once we were moving. Some brightness, a little drizzle, but not enough to wet us.

Lots of lapwings on the causeway bank. We parked at the causeway car park, and walked clockwise round the reservoir.

Still plenty of autumn colours hanging on, and lots of geese and water birds.  We saw one splendid flight of geese. 

And quite a few fungi.

Stopped at the Willow Tree cafe for coffee and teacakes on the way round. 

Prologis Park and Kettering

 Monday 7th November

Norma collected me at 915, then Maureen. She drove out to Prologis Park, but our usual car park was full today, so we parked across the road. As the weather was damp and the ground slightly muddy we decided against the walk to Rushton and walked through the park, having to detour round where some construction work is underway, close to the railway line.

M le Président going into business?

At the bottom we followed our noses round the streets, eventually emerging near Garrard Way, and walking downhill past the hospital, and the shopping car parks. It was about coffee time so we called in at McDonalds - and used our reusable cups - coffee for 90p.

We walked on and sat down for cheese and crackers by the ‘lake’, then returned to the car along the circular path. By now the weather had improved a fair amount. The park is well frequented by dog walkers . 

Just over 5 miles in all - neither strenuous, nor fast today.

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: