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!)

Wing circular

Sunday 2nd February, with Harry.  Not measured, but about 2.5 miles.

The short route on minor roads, which we have done several times. See this post from October 2024.

Aconites, snowdrops, a few daffodils near the Maze. Catkins and more snowdrops

and the sunset beginning…

and finally the sunset through the Welland viaduct.