2024/07/08 Illston, Carlton Curlieu, Burton Overy

 Monday 08 July

With Norma, Kate and Maureen. The w eather this morning was excellent for walking - but it got a bit hot later.  

We started from Illston on the Hill - and walked to Carlton Curlieu

where we found a welcome bench.

From there we continued to Burton Overy

and back to Illston.

The total route was 5.5 miles.

Norma saw a green woodpecker (I heard its yaffle but didn’t see it)

Illston circular - Kings Norton, Little Stretton, Burton Overy, Carlton Curlieu

Mon, 2013 Jul 22 9:36 AM British Summer Time

Led by me, with Gordon, Barry and Maureen, Cloudy at start, then v hot. Dry underfoot. Eight and three quarter miles.

Mostly the same as two recent walks done on Thursday 18 July, and Thursday 11 July, but this time anticlockwise, and with a short extra loop.

We take the right hand path after the small field in Illston, hugging the hedge, then through the wheat and behind Illston Grange, over the pasture, with a small stand of trees on our right and the house on our left.  When we leave the field at the crossroads,  we turn right and walk a short distance along the road before taking the byway to Kings Norton. 

The views of the church from this path are magnificent, and Gaulby Church is visible as well.  The byway goes in a straight line to the road, and then uphill to the church and the village.

 At the road junction we ignore the road to the right and carry straight on. The footpath goes to the left past a farm, and through the farmyard.  We follow the way marks over a couple of fields and across a bridge through the hedge to a road, where we turn left, and just after the junction to Little Stretton, we pick up the path at a farm gate, near some large agricultural buildings. 

There are a fair number of butterflies on the wing, and around the thistles.

Hmm - just closed its wings!

Over a few more fields, and the odd stile, and we arrive at Little Stretton.  As last Thursday, the church porch is a pleasantly cool place to sit for a while.

We follow the path, past the old Manor House and the pond, along the avenue of trees to the road. We turn right and find our path just after the junction towards Stoughton. We turn left and walk along the edge of a field of wheat. At the far end a quick read of the map sets us on the right route and we follow the path past The Cottage, across the road and over pastures towards Burton Overy.  The pub appears to be closed today.  

I offer two alternative routes - one of about 2 miles, one of 3. Barry says decisively, "Oh, I think the longer one!"  Suits the rest of us, so we walk uphill from the village on the Carlton Curlieu road. When the road turns to the left we continue through a farmyard and fields directly to Carlton Curlieu - we can see the church on the hill ahead.

This village has a tempting bench so we take another rest - Maureen and I almost have a nap. But we must onwards.  From the Illston Road theres a bridleway to the left, which swings right between two hedges as far as Carlton Curlieu Manor.

Gordon strides ahead

Here's Maureen, with Barry as lanterne rouge.

Ha! caught this one just before it closed its wings!

Across the road the path takes us below the Manor, beside the hedge, then uphill and through a large wheat field. We reach Illston before too long - quite pleased to get away from the heat.

Map and details

Illston on the Hill circular

Mon, 2013 Apr 15 9:35 AM Western European Time 

Led by me, with Barry. Weather much warmer today - even the wind wasn't cold. Underfoot mostly dry, except for a few gateways - one in particular near Burton Overy. Quite rolling terrain. Distance 10 miles. Total climbing 643 feet.

This walk was adapted from one in Heather MacDermid's book "Foxton Locks to Rutland Water"

We drive out to Illston on the Hill on a fine morning with a smidgen of sun in the air, and warm - a tropical 55F, or around 12C. Not quite shirt-sleeve weather, but comfortable.
We set off from the Village Hall, walking past Oak Farm, and The Acorns to a T-junction. Across the road is the path, clearly marked as it crosses fields of sheep and lambs.

This ewe has three lambs - I missed the opportunity when they were all in a line!

There's a footbridge and then the path makes its way uphill and north east to Barn Farm. It carries on in the same direction past a big house called The Farm, where it joins the road (B6047).
Here we turn right and after 100 yards or so we turn left into Rolleston Park, where there is a cattle grid and then a long drive lined with horse chestnuts - not yet in leaf this year. We walk along the drive, past the gates to the Hall, and take a step back in time as a trap and four (?) approach us.

A great way to take the dogs for a walk

We pass the stables and the dairy - now rather fine houses, before taking the signposted track to Billesdon on the left, and then the marked footpath to the left which leads past the Cranhill Farm development.

We walk up the drive to the main road (B6047) again and after about 50 yards we turn left along  the "gated road to Illston". Very pleasant walking, trees to our left, views to our right, and hardly any traffic.  There's a space between gateposts, but no gate. Just before this our path turns off to the right and follows the hedge a short distance before going behind the splendid Ashlands, a mansion built in 1867 in Tudor style.  It's surrounded by manicured lawns and trees and has views over towards Frisby and Billesdon.

We walk downhill and to a grassy track with a small wood on our right. We walk along two sides of the wood and then keep the hedge on our right through three fields, swinging left at the end to join the lane which goes to thr right and up the hill into Gaulby.

We walked along the road to the church, and took a break on a bench nearby - sheltered and sunny today.

counting the hours while minutes run free - a clock with one hand

Until about 500 years ago no clocks had minute hands and you had to judge approximately how far to the next hour you were from the position of the hour hand - a bit like a sundial, I suppose.

Gaulby church with its four pinnacles and weathervanes.

Daffs at last!

Then we took the road to Kings Norton, passing some fine houses - one called Dovecot House . . .

. . . and there's the dovecot.

Kings Norton Church (St John the Baptist) is a very imposing building for such a small village.

Kings Norton Church

Shortly after the church, along the road towards Illston, there is a footpath off to the right.  We decided to take this route - across a field and past a small hollow - where sheep were taking advantage of some water. It didn't look very appetising.

We kept to the higher ground passing some small wooded areas on our left.  In the fourth field the path swung round to the left and downhill to meet a track which follows the Roman road, Gartree Road.

Decision time again - Burton Overy or not?  We have plenty of time, and the weather's good. Ten miles sounds like a decent walk, so we head along the path which follows the stream for a few fields. Just before Burton Overy we meet our muddiest obstacle - a gateway of course. I go ankle deep, but the boots are up to this, and my feet stay dry.

We walk along the main street past the large church and some interesting houses.

Timbered house in Burton Overy

At the pub (the Bell) we turn left along Carlton Lane, and follow this up the hill as far as Chestnut Farm, ignoring a footpath off to the left. At the farm we go through a gate and then beside a barn and into a field. Here we keep to the left hand side and walk downhill to a footbridge over the stream. From here we can see the small tower of Carlton Curlieu church, and make for this, following the path until it meets the road. We pause to persuade an errant lamb back into the field - another one that looks like a small quarried dip.

We walk past the old rectory and the church and turn left for 100 yards or so, then left along the bridle road to Illston.  This runs clearly between two hedges as far as the road (Gartree Road is a real road here) t Carlton Curlieu Manor House farm. It's still signed clearly as the bridle road to Illston, but isn't as superb as the last section.

In fact it's easy to follow, although the last field is a bit of a chore. We can see Illston church from the path.  We walk back to the village hall through the village with its church and pub.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

Map and details