December 8th 2025 - Empingham to Whitwell Harbour Cafe

 Monday 8 December 2025

Norma, Kate and I  walked from Empingham via Nook Lane and the Rutland Round footpath through the wood, and up to the north end of the dam. We followed the path, past Sykes Lane, and round as far as the Whitwell  water sports area. 

 We indulged in coffee and teacakes in the festive Harbour Cafe,

 before returning to Empingham along the same route.

The weather improved with some blue sky and sunshine, good temperature for walking, and little wind.   A gentle 5 miles, in pleasant conditions.

12th October 2025 - Pickwell to Somerby circular

 

Sunday 12th October

The promised mist has descended with a hint of sun to follow if we’re lucky.

After a lunch of soup we set off for Pickwell near Somerby. As we arrive in the highlands of Rutland the mist lifts and we have blue sky and sunshine, which lasts until the last mile or so of the walk. 

 

We park near the church, and walk west along the small road for a few hundred metres. We pass one footpath on our right, and take the bridleway which leads uphill, past an old brick building.

A little further along the bridleway turns right and heads southwest, downhill. It crosses a farm track, then continues eventually meeting a road close to Cold Overton Grange.

We turn right and follow the road. It bends right, and then at a left hand bend, there is a footpath to the right, which leads steeply downhill (north east), through a field of sheep, and into a short section of woodland.

Cross the corner of the field, and over a stile. Walk along the edge of another wooded area. The path goes past a pond, which you may catch sight of on the other side if a high hedge.

Emerge from the woodland and cross more fields. The path goes through Oaklands, and continues in the same direction - there are several rather high stiles..

At the road on the edge of Somerby, we turned right and walked along the convenient pavement next to the road, which takes us back to Pickwell, our flask of coffee and a biscuit or two.

Lots of autumn colour - crab apples, apples in gardens,  a horse, sheep, cows.

A short woodland section.

And some wide views.

June 9th 2025 - Seaton to Gretton linear.

Monday 09 June

Harry collected Maureen and drove us to Seaton. She presented us with scones and a ginger cake. He dropped us off near the pub. We walked through the village past a display of perennial sweet peas which outshone even ours at home.

At the end of the village we took Grange Road downhill and along the public footpath, through fields and past Prestley hill - one of the twins peaks, or paps of Lyddington.

Our route goes past the site of the ancient fish ponds behind the church and Bede House into Lyddington.

We refreshed ourselves with a leisurely (45 minute) coffee stop at the White Hart, before taking the quiet Thorpe Road, and the footpath on the other side of the slightly busier road at the end. 

We followed this across the fields, under the disused railway bridge to the footbridge over the Welland.

A few more fields, then it’s back uphill to Gretton, crossing the railway line, and along the short stretch of tree-covered path. 

A final uphill pull through the ridged and furrowed field to Church Gap brings us into Gretton. About 5.5 miles. 

May 19th - Gretton - Thorpe by Water, Lyddington

 Monday 19th May 2025, with Norma and Harry.

Contacted Norma and arranged to meet at her house. With Harry, we walked over to Thorpe by Water where we saw a few swifts.

Our next stretch was along the small road as far as the bench near Lyddington, where we had a longish break (and coffee) before returning along the same route, apart from the Thorpe by Water village section. No cuckoos. A few swifts on Gretton High Street. 5 and a half miles.

May 18th Uppingham, Stoke Dry, Lyddington

 Sunday 18th May 2025m

Slightly grey morning. Brightened later.

Coffee and lunch, then out - we went to Uppingham

and did the walk above Eyebrook Reservoir

, and back via Lyddington,

a break for coffee at the White Hart,

and we followed the pavement next to the road from there.- around 7 miles in all.

Some of the cows were lying down, but so far no rain.

Sykes Lane to Barnsdale and back

 Tuesday 2nd April 2025

A walk with Marta from Sykes Lane to Barnsdale and back. 6 miles approximately. 

We admired the bluebells.

We walked down through Stamford Community Orchard, where trees are in bloom just now.

Returned - and had lunch at Harbour Cafe - not brilliant -  white bread a bit sticky. Note to self - remember to specify!

Bluebell time at Rutland Water

 Monday 21st April

With Harry, Kate and Norma.  We parked at Whitwell, and strolled gently through Barnsdale Wood,

admiring the bluebells ..

…and red campion

and someone’s wild-ish garden

We walked as far as the bottom of the lane at Barnsdale, had a brief pause to admire the lake, then returned. 

The weather was grey, mainly drizzly, then a bit heavier, but still light rain.

We finished with coffee and tea cakes at the Harbour Bar, which was quite full - as expected on a damp Easter Monday.

Around 4 miles.

Wing, Manton and Rutland Garden Centre

 Monday 3rd February 2025. With Kate, Norma and Maureen.

Almost 5 miles.

This walk began from the maze in Wing, then we turned left through the village, past the church,

admiring the snowdrops and splendid aconites along the way. 

We followed the minor road towards Manton 

then turned right along the Rutland Water cycle route beside the road. More aconites to be admired.

The shared cycle/walking path was very quiet this morning - I think we saw one cyclist, though there was traffic noise from the road itself.

After about a mile we reached the new (2023, anyway) cafe - no longer Wellies, but The View. Bigger and more spacious now.

Coffee and cake or scones were consumed before we tackled the final mile and three quarters - this was mostly downhill, along the bridleway, which, as I had suspected was muddy,

though only for a short distance. It reminded me why we have been avoiding the fields this winter!

Across the railway line, and up the final incline into the village, pausing to watch the freight train (not to catch our breath!)