Great Cransley and Thorpe Malsor (Sept 16th)

 Monday 16th September with Norma and Maureen.

we were supposed to be following this walk, but added an unnecessary extra 2 miles, by setting off in the wrong direction.

Ho hum..- turned into a seven miler.

Anyway, here are some photos

and our route

Great Cransley, Cransley reservoir, Thorpe Malsor, Loddington, Great Cransley

 Friday 9th August

Cloudy, but pleasant weather.

Met Marta at her place at 10. We did the same route walk as I did on July 15th. We drove to Great Cransley, parking along Church Lane, and  followed the same route as last time.  This involves the path almost opposite the Three Cranes,  crossing the field to meet Northfield Road. We turned right and walked for half a mile or so. When we reached a double footpath sign on our left, we took the left hand path with a hedge on our right. This leads down to the sailing and fishing lodge on Cransley Reservoir.  

The path takes us across the dam, and when we come to a fancy we turn right and walk uphill. After some distance the path follows the field boundary round to the right, and takes us into Thorpe Malsor. 

We chatted to a local man, whose dog had a sore foot. He covered rural crime, farmers’ tractors or satellite guides being stolen, his son’s motorbike, the fact he was in his decorating clothes …and more.

We sat and had a coffee and oatcake on the bench outside the church, before continuing along the road to Loddington. 

This section is about a mile beside the road, which is just a bit busy for comfort. The foot way is too narrow and we decided it was safer to cross over and face the oncoming traffic.

We turned left along a public footpath shortly before the end of the village and walked over the fields, annd down hill slightly to cross the stream. The bridge was slightly to the right of where we expected it. We continued past Mill Farm, and through more fields back to Cransley, keeping on route slightly better this time than last week!

Near Cransley as we left the field where there are horses and sheep, the slightly overgrown alleyway provided us with some delicious blackberries.

Just over 5 miles.

As The Three Cranes wasn’t open for lunch we went to the Red Lion in Broughton, where the landlord offered to make sandwiches for us - we think he may have been sent out to buy the bread!  Tuna sandwiches with salad and mayo. We drank alcohol-free beer with it. Very helpful and cost only £7.15 each in all.

2024/07/15 Great Cransley, Thorpe Malsor, Loddington,

 Monday 15th July

With Norma and Maureen. 

We parked at Great Cransley, walked to the reservoir,

and then to Thorpe Malsor Church for a break. 

Along the road to Loddington,

then after the road turning to Cransley , at the end of a row of houses and a hedge, we turned left and followed a footpath, which crossed a field, and dipped down to cross a stream.

We continued in the same direction (southeast) over a bridge crossing another stream, past Mill Farm, eventually reaching a field of wheat, where the path hadn’t been made good, so we strayed slightly, following tractor tracks, then had to follow the edge of the field to find the path in the southeastern corner.

Another field where we followed the line of the fence to our left, through a flock of sheep and a hopeful horse. Then we went through a gate and along a narrow path, back into Great Cransley.

Just over 5 miles in all

Great Cransley, Loddington, Thorpe Malsor, Cransley Reservoir.

With Maureen, Thursday 17 January, six and a half miles. Bright sunny weather too.


We parked on Church Lane.  We followed the no through road round to the right and turned right at the footpath through Cransley Wood. The path was a bit muddy, but very pleasant.
At the end of the wood, we follow a grassy track to the left, and the field boundary as it turned round to the right a little while later. The path turns left and along a disused railway track, over a footbridge.

This path emerges near Mawsley Lodge, a disused farm which is fenced off. Go past the farm, and turn right through a gate, along the edge of a couple of fields. The path meets another one, and here you turn to the right and continue in a northeasterly direction, going under a line of electricity pylons.

 The track bends to the left and is surfaced as it passes a large house and continues into Loddington, entering close to the Cricket ground.  You can take the left hand road at a junction, and vary the walk a little by passing the church. We stopped for a break in the sun, just before the church.

We walked through the churchyard and across the field to the main road out of Loddington. 

Next we had to walk along a pavement next to the road - luckily not a very busy road. At a crossroads we turned right into Thorpe Malsor.   Downhill a short distance and we turned right along a track just before the church.

  A wide track goes along the edge of woodland, then at the end of the first field it turns left.Before long Cransley Reservoir comes into view at the bottom of the slope. We walked across the dam and past the sailing club, then took the footpath through a gate, then slightly uphill with a hedge on your left, to meet the road back to Cransley. 

At the road we turned right past White Hill Lodge, and followed the road. A short distance before the village a footpath cuts the corner, through a field. To reach the village aim for the farm, but go to the right of it, and there is a stile.
This is close to the Three Cranes pub, which is now closed, and Church Lane.

We were greeted by the first mass of snowdrops I've seen this year. 

 There's a beech tree planted to celebrate George V's silver jubilee.

We took a short walk down to the church and caught a glimpse of the small lake behind Cransley Hall.

Great Cransley etc again.

With Norma and Marion. October 2nd.

Great Cransley, Loddington, Thorpe Malsor

Walked on two occasions -Thursday 14th September and Monday 18th September 2017(with Norma and Maureen).
Just under 7 miles. Good conditions underfoot, and on both occasions we avoided the rain.

We parked on Church Lane. At the end just before the sign saying no through road for motor vehicles, we took a path through a wide gate, passing some waste ground on our right and then a cemetery. After the cemetery the path goes downhill through a field of sheep, then up again close to Old Lodge Farm. When it meets a track, you turn right and  follow the track downhill and up again.

Red admiral making full use of the ivy flowers

 At a T-junction you turn right and continue for a short distance until you see a signpost. Turn left here through Cransley Wood. The path may be a bit muddy, but on both occasions I walked it was very  pleasant.

 At the end of the wood, follow a grassy track to the left, and follow the field boundary round to the right a little while later.

 It is easy to follow the path, as it turns left along a disused railway line and over a footbridge.

 This path emerges near Mawsley Lodge, a disused farm which is fenced off. Go past the farm, and turn right through a gate, along the edge of a couple of fields. The path meets another one, and here you turn to the right and continue in a northeasterly direction, going under a line of electricity pylons.

There are a couple of cattle grids like the one in the picture, but there are gates at the side!

  The track bends to the left and is surfaced as it passes a large house and continues into Loddington, entering close to the Cricket ground.  You can take the left hand road at a junction, and vary the walk a little by passing the church - no benches here, though there are some along the road.

 I had a little trouble waiting for a photo-opp here - avoiding including the bins, and waiting for the sun!

The second photo was on Monday - different sky!

We walked through the churchyard and across the field to the main road out of Loddington. 

This section is about a mile of walking along a pavement next to the road - luckily not a very busy road. It passes Three Chimneys. At a crossroads you turn right into Thorpe Malsor. 

Not quite yarn-bombing, but very pretty!

You walk downhill and just before the church turn right.

 A wide track goes along the edge of woodland, then at the end of the first field it turns left.

 Before long Cransley Reservoir comes into view at the bottom of the slope.

 There's a perfectly sited picnic table just before the dam. On Thursday there were dragonflies, and plenty of birdlife - grebes, swans, the odd coot.

 An excellent spot for a break, before crossing the dam.

 and the sailing club.

The footpath goes through a gate, then slightly uphill with a hedge on your left, to meet the road back to Cransley. 

At the road turn right, go past White Hill Lodge, and follow the road. A short distance before the village a footpath cuts the corner, through a field of sheep, where three or four tups had been fairly busy. To reach the village aim for the farm, but go to the right of it, and there is a stile.
This is close to the Three Cranes pub, and Church Lane.

We finished our outing with a sandwich and coffee in the Dunelm store in Kettering.