Wakerley Woods to Laxton and back.

 Monday 31st July with Norma, Maureen and Kate.

From Wakerley Wood we took the main path, then followed the Jurassic Way until it crossed the path heading north east to Fineshade and south west to Laxton. We took the right-hand (south west) turn towards Laxton Hall which we could see clearly ahead of us.

Chicory

Laxton Hall

This path is pretty clear, though a little more signage near the hall would help. It was easy enough with the OS app on my phone.

From there our path continued in more or less the same direction into the woods (Town Wood on the map).

As we emerged from the wood out route turned slightly south east, and we went on by a series of dog leg bends.

Great sign when you find it…not much use from across the field.

 The signage was either not clear, or overgrown, so we had to correct our route slightly, before going through a short wooded section. After this we kept a hedge to our right and arrived at the eastern end of Laxton, through an overgrown section between houses.

overgrown?

We turned right along the road and walked another three quarters of a mile to Spanhoe Lodge, where we indulged in welcome coffee and teacakes. 

Our route back was slightly different and shorter. We walked back to Laxton village to the western end, where we took the footpath just inside the gate to Laxton Park.

This heads north into Town Wood and joins the main path. We turned right, and followed the clear track, east then roughly north east and back to the car park.

unknown fungi

hemp agrimony

A lot of meadow brown butterflies around, but nothing much else. Lots of flowers including chicory, hemp agrimony and evening primrose. 

A very satisfying walk - around 7 miles in all, and no rain until we got back to the car.

Wakerley Woods to Spanhoe Lodge

 Monday 25th July

Collected Norma and Maureen and went to Wakerley Woods. Lots of fritillaries, and a few other butterflies - no reptiles, and hardly any people today. We walked over to Laxton and then along the road to Spanhoe Lodge for coffee and teacakes and a look at their outdoor pool - a bit wee. Chat re wasps and stuff. Saw and heard green woodpecker on the way back.

Back via slightly different route. A few drops of meagre rain.

Ending December...

Sunday 29 December.

A 17 miles bike ride to Fineshade, returning via Laxton and Harringworth.

On the bike to Fineshade

Mon, 2013 Aug 5 2:28 PM British Summer Time  Cycling | Event Type: Recreation | Course: --

With Harry - fine weather, much better than forecast. Almost 19 miles.

I cancelled a walk this morning on the strength of the poor weather forecast, and the rain hammering on the conservatory roof before 8 am. I was wrong - it turned out to be not a bad day at all!

No photos today, too busy cycling, but I got up Harringworth hill without stopping. Not fast, but still.

Bike ride to Fineshade and Kings Cliffe

Sat, 2013 Jul 27 11:47 AM British Summer Time

With Harry. Hot day. A few hills. loads of butterflies. Just under 18 miles.

Fab field of wild flowers just outside Gretton.  Then downhill to Harringworth, up to Wakerley, down to the A43, across and down then up to Fineshade Woods. Quick stop for a drink, then we rode through the woods with a pause-papillons. No photos, mind, they hardly stopped fluttering.

Down to the edge of Kings Cliffe, past Blatherwick Lake, turn off to Laxton, cross A43 again. Through Laxton, downhill to Harringworth, then the long slow hill back into Gretton.

Had to go back later and take some more pics.