Corby to Pipewell circular in reverse.

 Monday 26th July.  6 1/2 miles. With Eddie and Maureen. The route was easier to follow from the other end.

 

The graves of several Lloyds of Stewart and LLoyds and Lloyds Bank fame are buried here as the family used to own Pipewell Hall.

When I walked here in 2008 this pillar was in the field near the footpath to Wilbarston. We found no trace this year.

Hardly surprising we had problems finding the path last time.

Corby to Pipewell circular

 

Thursday 22nd July, with Maureen. 6.5 miles. 

A very hot day, so we had lots of pauses for shade and water.

It was a struggle to find the public footpath near The Spread Eagle at Great Oakley leading to the A6003.

On the other side we couldn’t find the way through. We accessed the path via the road to Pipewell.

The first field of the official route was not easy to walk through - an overgrown meadow, fine. No clear footpath, not so fine. Even after that there were still obstacles: a couple of excessively high stiles, and ones with overgrown nettles.

We decided against retracing this route for the return from Pipewell, choosing instead the bridleway about a quarter of a mile out of the village on the road towards East Carlton.

This was easier, though not always clearly marked. It emerges on to the A6003 by a farm gate. From there we crossed into Danesholme and life was straightforward again.

Around Gretton

 Thursday 5 November

From Gretton, along Arnhill Road, under the rail bridge to the bridleway, turning left before reaching Rockingham Road, and after another left turn along a path between two rows of trees I joined the Jurassic Way footpath going towards Rockingham - that'd be a right turn.  When this footpath (heading south west) meets the path heading almost east, I turned left and through a couple of fields to the point where it crosses the railway line, not far from the tunnel. A steep climb leads up to the top and then the path goes, via a stile into a ploughed field - there's room at the edge, but once or twice I've almost been tripped by hidden wire... At the end of the field a muddy bridle way leads (left) to Corby Road and I returned via the farm tracks and footpaths.

That was about four and a half miles.

7 miles around Corby's woods.

Monday 2nd November 2020 

A convoluted wander...

The full moon not yet set

Trees still clothed in autumn colours

A spindle tree

A heron

The usual geese

Two pigeons and a coot

Corby to East Carlton and back

 Monday 26 October 2020 - almost 8 miles

Not our favourite terrain.

Bike ride round the valley about 10 miles

With Harry. Around ten miles in all.

From Gretton, via Lyddington, Thorpe by Water, under the viaduct and through Harringworth, up the hill towards Laxton, turning off towards Deene, and returning along the boneshaking. road past Kirby Hall.

20 miles - Gretton, Caldecott, Great Easton, Nevill Holt, Eyebrook, Stoke Dry, Lyddington, Thorpe by Water, Gretton

Tuesday 2nd June 2020, almost 9.30. With Harry. 20 miles. Weather light cloud, then very warm again.

Promises to be a hot one!

Ox eye daises

Lesser known (to us) Great Easton

Another black sheep family or two

Nevill Holt

Horses sheltering in the shade

Will the seat be free?

Possibly the call of a yellowhammer.

All fuelled up and raring to go

Harry's photograph of my usual line of trees

Only about 6 miles to go?

View of Lyddington from the footpath downhill

Getting closer

Crossing the Welland near Thorpe by Water

The call of a male cuckoo accompanied us all the way from the Welland to Church Gap in Gretton.

The route, showing a little confusion in Great Easton... next time we'll go the extra mile to somewhere different!

A circuit of the village to check on the tadpoles and the mileage was almost exactly 20 miles. A bowl of cold water for the feet, and a large cup of tea rounded off a splendid day out.