29/11/23 Gretton, Thorpe by Water, Seaton, Bisbrooke, Lyddington

29th November 2023

We went for a walk - Thorpe by Water, Seaton, coffee stop on the warm and sheltered seat in the churchyard, after I had gone back to retrieve my hat and buff.

Over the fields to Bisbrooke. On the way there was a new obstacle - a temporary lake  formed from the usual trickling stream. 

This required  some ingenuity to cross, and Harry’s athletic leap ended in him slipping in the mud. Change of plan at this point and instead of the long route via Uppingham and Stoke Dry, we walked back along the road. This was done at a fair pace, since it was not warm, direct route to Lyddington and then Gretton. Another brief stop for coffee and a few squares of chocolate. 

10 miles.

Gretton, Thorpe by Water, Seaton, Bisbrooke, Uppingham, Stoke Dry, Lyddington,

 Monday 28th August, with Harry, 14 miles approx.

From Gretton we took the public footpath from Church Gap, crossing the field 

and making for the gate to the enclosed path to the railway line.

We crossed the railway and walked down over the next field where the path is clear - the crop has been harvested. At the bottom we turned right and followed the hedge to the footbridge through the hedge.

The bushes were resplendent with blackberries - and nightshade flowers.

We turned right after this and followed the way marked route with the river on our left.

Looking back towards Gretton

Another footbridge

 We crossed a couple of large fields, some with rolls of hay. 

Across the river a cow observed our progress.

We crossed the river at the large footbridge, just before the track goes under the disused railway .

Over a stile into the next field, and very soon turning right through a gateway to a path between hedges and fences which leads into Thorpe by Water itself.

We walked through to the B672, and turned right, walking for half a mile or so along the road, which wasn’t too busy, as far as the turn to Seaton.

The sunlit village was straight ahead.

We made for our favourite seat in the sun in the churchyard, perfectly timed for eleven o’clock coffee and a biscuit.

From the church we turned left, then left again at the main road, continuing until we reached the path up four steep steps and heading north before crossing a disused railway and heading north west towards Bisbrooke.

We resisted the temptation to help ourselves to a marrow, 

or to have another contemplative pause at the church.

We took the high level footpath into Uppingham, where we sat down for a few minutes among the flowers in tubs opposite the market place.

We left Uppingham along the Stockerston Road (B664). and shortly after the town sign took the Rutland Round footpath, over a stile through a hedge and across a field where the hay was being collected on to trucks. 

The path soon goes along an enclosed section between fences. Another field leads to views over Wardley Wood. We turn left after a stile and head towards Beaumont Chase Farm and back to the B664 road.

Another left turn and a short distance further on we took the bridle way on our right (Rutland Round again) past Stoke Dry Wood. We had to outpace a couple we’d passed earlier, so that we could bag our favourite lunch spot on this walk.

Rested and fed, we continued along the Rutland Round as far as Manor Farm above Stoke Dry.

We crossed the A6003 and took the path slightly to the right through the fields down hill towards Lyddington.

Lyddington church

On the other side of Lyddington we walked along Thorpe Road, and crossed the B627 to join the path back to Gretton completing the circle, and then returning home.

Cat on a cool thatched roof

The Welland

Gretton church peeping through

Slightly further than our recent walk near Lyndhurst , rougher terrain, but nowhere near as hot.

Gretton - Lyddington - Stoke Dry - Uppingham - Bisbrooke - Seaton - Thorpe by Water - Gretton

Sunday 21st March, 13.5 miles approx.

Beautiful sunny morning, but greyed by midday.

The trees no longer have their feet in the river

We walked from Gretton by road down to the Welland and on to Lyddington.  

Blackthorn

Lyddington

We turned left up the Stoke Dry road, taking the footpath to our right through 5 fields, up hill to the A47.  We crossed the road and at the bend took the footpath to our right , part of the Rutland Round.

First view of Eyebrook reservoir

Just before reaching  Stoke Dry Wood, we paused at our usual spot for coffee with a fine view over the reservoir. Along muddy bridleway to the Stockerston Road.  We turned left  and walked downhill a short distance before picking up the Rutland Round footpath to the right at Beaumont Chase Farm.

Who are you looking at?

Wardley Wood

It was easy to follow yellow posts and RR signs back round to Stockerston Road just outside Uppingham. It was much pleasanter than walking along the road, which had a fair number of Sunday drivers and motorcyclists. We continued through Uppingham, and out via the high level footpath to Bisbrooke, where we took a breather behind the church.

Du Cote de chez Swann ...

Then it was downhill and up again through the fields and across the disused railway line towards Seaton. 

We had a late lunch stop at the church, but the bench was not such a sheltered sun trap as last time we were here! No crocuses left, but mini-daffs still glorious.  With bellies full and caffeine levels topped up, we headed down Baines Lane, and the road down towards Thorpe by Water.

We had a very good view of viaduct with a freight train. 

We made our way through Thorpe village and across the valley and the river

and back to Gretton up the muddy field , over the railway line and across the field behind the church.

Marsh marigolds/ kingcups at the pond behind Gretton church

Approximately 13.5 miles.

Gretton, Thorpe by Water, Seaton, Bisbrooke, Uppingham, Stoke Dry wood, Lyddington

 Friday 26 February 2021, with Harry. around 14 miles. Glorious sunshine and spring flowers.

No excuses for not writing recently, although most walks have been shorter than this one.

Down the path by Gretton church, across the fields through the gate and the path leads to the railway crossing.

The field beyond is not quite so muddy as it has been recently, but we’re glad we chose to wear wellies. 

Along by the hedge and downhill to the gap in the hedge and the little bridge joining the farm track. A right turn takes us to the river Welland, close to the trees where we heard cuckoos male and female last year. Now we splash through a puddle - wellies bring out the inner child. We follow the river downstream,  round a field, through a stile-cum-bridge over a ditch, and round another field to the elegant wooden bridge near Thorpe by Water.

Under the disused railway line, through a field gate. We follow the hedge on our right and take the path between fences into the village - or technically, the hamlet...

We turn right along the road and follow it to the left turn towards Seaton. A much quieter road, with a view of the viaduct, and ahead looking up to Seaton church.

 The spring flowers are in bloom - mini daffodils, crocuses and a few celandines. I recently discovered that February 21st is officially Celandine Day, when the flower is supposed to start blooming. 

The golden brown stone of the church is warm and welcoming, sheltering a seat in full sun - coffee and ginger cake calls.

A short detour past the George and Dragon to admire the viaduct from a different angle,

before we turn back to the footpath to Bisbrooke ,

An elusive bird - heard but not seen

and Uppingham, and then along the road towards Stockerston -

Speedwell

we walk a mile or so, and see our first lambs this year.

We turn left along a bridleway, part of the Rutland Round.  Another mile or so along the side of Stoke Dry Wood and we emerge above Eyebrook Reservoir

 and a lunch spot we’ve used before. A broken down wall makes a decent seat, and a slightly bumpy table. The view is magnificent. 

We continue towards Stoke Dry, but when we reach the road we turn left towards the A6003. We cross this and walk downhill towards Lyddington along the quiet road. 

Just before the end of the village we take Thorpe Road, with its double dip hill, cross the road between Harringworth and Caldecott once more 

and rejoin the footpath back to Gretton. We finish the day with takeaway fish and chips from the Hatton Arms.

I couldn’t resist the elevation profile below:

Gretton -Welland Valley-Seaton - drop down up to Bisbrooke - Highest point Uppingham - down towards Stockerston and Eyebrook, small climb to A6003- drop down to Lyddington and climb back up to Gretton.