Welland Park, Market Harborough

 Tuesday 17th December

Met Marta in Harborough at around 10 am. 

We had coffee and a tea cake in the Theatre Lounge.

 Talked about Christmas traditions, including Santons de Provence, and the fact in Argentina, as in many places, they traditionally give presents on Jan 6th, when the wise men arrive.

The church (St Dionysius) was open so we had a look inside.

After a stroll along the main street, and admiring this Aladdin’s cave of a shop

we walked a couple of miles round Welland Park, Then through indoor market and over to the Eco-village, where we ate lunch.

Pickwell walk, in reverse.

 Tuesday 26th November, with Harry.

In the afternoon we went out to Pickwell again,

Still plenty of colour

Frost on the grass in shady places

and did the walk from November 13th in the other direction, wearing wellies thus time - just as well since the ground was pretty muddy, especially the bridleway at the end. Hard work plodding uphill through sticky mud.  

Fab sunset again. 

Pickwell, Cold Overton, Somerby

 Wednesday 13th November 2024. With Harry, just under 5 miles. 

Pickwell church

After lunch we went out to Pickwell, and did the circular walk to Cold Overton and Somerby. We set off at 3pm, returned to the car just before 5. 

A varied walk - the first part between Pickwell and Cold Overton undulates along a bridleway with views over the countryside,

including a glimpse of the windmill at Whissendine.

The windmill, not very clear, in the centre

leaving Cold Overton

The second part was flatter through attractive deciduous woodland

with views of the sky as it glowed onto sunset, and then open meadows where we met some friendly sheep 

and a friendly, though not insistent horse.

Lots of stiles between Cold Overton and Somerby.

As usual Leicestershire’s way-marking was excellent - the yellow posts are generally clearly visible.

Across the ridges and furrows close to Somerby

There was a glorious sunset, and the moon was close to full..

We walked the last half-mile or so as darkness fell. The road from Somerby to Pickwell has an excellent pavement for pedestrians. 

We celebrated with coffee and ginger biscuits back at the car before returning home.

Pickwell, Leicestershire

 Friday 1st November 2024

With Harry, probably a little over a mile. 

Behind the church…

This was a very short stroll from outside All Saints church, along Main Street, 

Possibly the entrance to the old vicarage? A grand house anyway.

and then part way along the bridleway which leads towards Cold Overton.

Slightly muddy in places, but at the highest point there are wide views over the countryside, and a glimpse of Whissendine windmill among the trees.

Then another quick view of the big house’s drive way.

and Strawberry Court - a mews-like area.

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.

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! 

Illston and Rolleston circular

 Monday 19th August, with Harry and Norma. Just over 5.5 miles.

 

We set off from Illston, taking the footpath opposite Main Street, just across Illston Lane, and heading east. 

Not the most used path!

 We crossed three fields and followed the path past Barn Farm and The Farm to reach New Inn Lane. 

Across the road and a short distance to the right was the entrance to Rolleston Hall Estate. We walked down the avenue of trees, through fields of sheep, and turned right along a private road with no access to vehicles. 

This took us past the church, and down hill to the lake.

We stopped to admire the view, then turned back and found a convenient water trough to perch on for a short break.

We rejoined our path, leaving the metalled section shortly after passing a paddock. The path peels off to the left, and heads roughly northwest before turning southwest then west past Cranhill Farm Estate.

On the main road we turned right and almost immediately left on to Ashlands Road, the gated road to Illston. 

We took the second footpath/bridleway to the right and followed this. After a shortish distance it crossed the hedge on our left, and we took the path behind a farm and the grand house of Ashlands. 

A gate led into a wooded area, where the ground was still quite muddy in a few places.

When we came out of the wood, we turned slightly right to keep the hedge on our right and followed the path through three fields to reach the road between Illston and Gaulby. We turned towards Illston, and something under a mile of road walking brought us back to the village.

A pleasant and varied walk, with about 200 feet of ups and downs. We spotted a swallow, a muntjac and a buzzard while walking.

We had lunch at Buttercups, with its alpacas, goats and various stone and metal beasts.