Gretton, Harringworth Lodge, Bulwick fig of 8

Monday 12 November 2018. With Eddie, just under 10 miles. A glorious autumn morning, underfoot pretty good, but some muddy patches. 

From Gretton village hall we turned along Kirby Riad towards Harringworth, and took the Jurassic Way past the cow barn, and over the fields as far as Harringworth Lodge. At the end of the lake, we turned right just after a hedge, where another path continues round the lake.   We crossed two fields then the minor road between Deene and Spanhoe.  The path continues in a straight line across four fields towards a small wood, called Bantrup Bushes. At that point we turned right and shortly after the end of the wood, left, following the hedge until we turn right and join a surfaced track. This leads to Red Lodge Road and we turned left to cross the A43 by a bridge.

 We went into Bulwick and had a coffee at the village shop - The Pickled Village. 
A quick look at the map and we decided to try a slightly different route to return. This went along the Red Lodge Road until the road turns o the left and a bridleway goes off to the right. There are not many waymarks, but the route is clear with a map - over a loughed field, then alongside a hedge, and across another field, aiming for the corner. A short section after this took us to the Spanhoe-Deene Road again. We turned right and rejoined our earlier route a little further along, where the path turns left across fields and back to Harringworth Lodge Lake.

We walked past the house and buildings, turning left from the main drive to take the footpath behind the tennis court. Then over the stile, and turn right. When we meet a crossing of the ways we turn left to start heading back towards Gretton. We stuck pretty well to the route, although we detoured round the first ploughed field.

After three more fields where the stiles are marked, we rejoined the Jurassic Way and returned to Gretton.

Foxton Locks to East Langton.

With Maureen and Eddie. About 8.5 miles. Flat, some mud. We were doing a check on part of the Leicestershire Round route.

We set off from the Foxton Locks Top car park, walked along the road as far  as the canal. we turned left and kept the canal on our right, passing the viewpoint over the inclined plane, and then the small museum, before crossing over to the other side as we approached the bottom end of the flight of locks.

View towards the top cottage

The inclined plane

Looking over towards the bottom of the locks

The top cottage cafe

 We kept to the canal towpath, not taking the Leicstershire Round route, partly because it is poorly marked from this direction. we left the canal just before the JG Pears factory, and crossed the B6047 to pick up the footpath which goes to the left just before the weighbridge. For once this path was easy to walk and has obviously been cleared. I have felt the need for a machete before now!

Our route heads north across a couple of fields and becomes the Leicestershire Round, which leads us under the mainline railway and over the Langton Brook via a footbridge, then across fields, past the memorial stone to a horse called Lottery (the first winner of the Grand National - see link and this one. ) There's a picture by John Frederick Herring Senior in the Woolavington Collection of Sporting Paintings at Cottesbrooke Hall as well.

Eddie has just paid brief homage to Lottery.

The path here is clear, well marked, with a few stiles and gates. Before long we arrived at the bench at the bottom of the hill into East Langton, and stopped for a break.

We returned along the Leicestershire Round path, following the route in reverse - past Lottery's stone, over the footbridge, and underneath the railway. After another two fields and a strip of woodland, there are two more fields. The factory can be seen ahead. We crossed the A6 and went up the steps on the other side. After another field we turned right following the sign, towards the B6047.  This time our way was clear, apart from some dropped litter. I have seen it overgrown and virtually impassable in the past. We came out at the road, and turned right for a short distance to use the central island to cross the road.

The footpath sign leads us down a concrete slope and to the corner of a field. The path should take us about 50 yards to the left of the small brick building. I didn't spot the path today, so we ended up doing the two sides of a traingle instead of the hypotenuse, but we picked the path up at a footbridge . We followed the waymarkers, although there is one point where we were unsure, but eventually we came out at a gate and stile to a path between houses and outbuildings. This leads to Swingbridge Street, in Foxton.  Turn L and soon R to take footpath between houses to Middle Street. Turn L, then R on path between hedges to Main St, opposite Shoulder of Mutton pub. Turn L and walk up to Canal, turn and follow Canal to Foxton Locks. Signage a little hit and miss through the village.

Maureen and I stopped for a tuna sandwich at Bridge 61.

A quieter scene than in summer.

Gretton, Rockingham, Caldecott, and Gretton

ŃWith Eddie, on a misty drizzly morning, with limited views. But we didn't get wet, and the couple of ploughed fields weren't too sticky. All the same it was the first time in a while that I had to clean my boots!

We walked along the road to the recreation ground and followed the path to the end of Huntsfield Drive, then continued through the ginnel, jitty, alley way and picked up the path alongside the hedge. When we reached the track at the end we turned right. This took us to Corby Road. We turned right to walk a short distance along the road verge, before taking the track on the left hand side. 
When we reached a gate and some woodland we turned right, with a hedge on our left and followed the path. The scenery here is almost like a mini-Derbyshire, with the view of the Welland valley opening out ahead of us.

We walked on a mini escarpment and then downhill to cross the railway line. The path continues in this direction. Look out for a gate over on the right as you come through a hedge. At this crossing of paths, we turned left   in the direction of Rockingham, along the route of the Jurassic Way. There are one or two places where the path is not clear. 
The markers are there, but it is easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the hedge. 
eventually the path emerges at Rockingham.

A flock of goats near Rockingham

We turn right at the road (Rockingham hill) and make our way down to the tea-shop, just after the pub, for a welcome coffee and snack, at about 4 miles into the walk.

We decide to go for the longer walk via Caldecott, rather than simply return to Gretton. The weather is still a bit damp. 
We continue along the Jurassic Way, which goes over a field and crosses the Rockingham_ Cottingham Road, heading on northwest towards the Welland. The Jurassic Way path continues as far as the road from Great Easton to Caldecott. At the road, it turns left, but we went right away from the village nad towards Caldecott. There's a bit of road walking here, where we had to keep hopping up on to the grass verge.
At the A6003 we turn left and walk into Caldecott, turning right when the road bends round to the left. A couple of hundred yards past the houses our footpath is signed, and we head northeast, eventually arriving at the river, after a few fields. 
the path brings us out on Mill Road, where we turned right and followed the road back to Gretton.

Empingham, Normanton, Rutland Water circular

A very fine crisp morning.  Around 7.5 miles. With Harry, Eddie and Kate.

We parked in Empingham and walked down Crocket Lane beside the church, and through the village, past the green with the large willow trees, and over a stile at the end of Willoughby Drive. We crossed a field, and a footbridge over the stream.
We turned right on to Mill Lane. The path is marked as the Hereward Way. After the first house the path turns right diagonally across a field, over a footbridge and then uphill along the edge of two large fields before reaching the A606. 
 We crossed this and continued along the path, still following field edges until we reached Ketton Road, where we turned sharply right and walked along the quiet road to the next junction. 
Here we turned left along Empingham Road past Normanton Cottages, which look as though they could once have been almshouses. There are lovely views of Rutland Water from this road.

The road leads to Whare Koa (Happy Home in Maori) and Normanton Lodge farm, but our path continues south through fields with a wall on our right.
a fine specimen of fungus was growing on a log behind the gate.

At the next road we join the Rutland Round route and follow it to the Normanton car park on Rutland Water. The cafe was open, so it was time for coffee. 
From here we followed the reservoir track towards the dam,and over it.  

Lots of people out taking advantage of the weather today.

Once across the dam, we took the footpath to the right (still Rutland Round) down the fields and through the wood back to Empingham. 

Harry's photograph of the glorious sky.

Lunch at Wellies coffee shop rounded off the walk.

Pitsford Water, anticlockwise from cafe.

Almost 7 miles. With Marta.  Cloudy, but we missed any rain.
Lunched at the cafe.
On the way round, we saw the usual water fowl, including tufted ducks and great crested grebe. No lapwings today.

Tansor, Ashton and Cotterstock

Friday 19 October 2018. With Marta. Just over 6 miles, and once again,glorious weather after a chilly start.  Mostly the same route as yesterday's walk with an additional extra mile or so to include Cotterstock church.

Will the clouds win?

Maybe the sun will win..

We parked at Tansor, and walked along the road through the village opposite the church. This took us past the village hall, and Linden Hall. we walked through the large gate at the end, heading towards the A605 Oundle to Peterborough road. It is possible to cross this road with care as there is an island central reservation. 

Time to try a spider's web photo

Once again  we took the minor road directly opposite and walked along it for about half a mile, until we came to a small crossroads, where a bridleway turned right, heading southwest towards Ashton.

After about half a mile we passed another bridleway turning right (ignore this path). Next we passed a rifle range, and the grassy surface changed to a road. Before long we arrived at Ashton. 

Selfie time

Brilliant sunshine once more and tables on the village green - smell the coffee! 

The Chequered Skipper - pub sign made of nails.

 We left the village along the  small road with a "No through road" sign. We went into the grounds of the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, dedicated to Charles Rothschild, who rebuilt the village in 1900. He also built Ashton Wold Hall, which is tucked away along a long drive. He committed suicide in 1923.

We followed the road where the wall has been built to accomodate some of the large old trees, and then took the Nene Way path which leads down to the road near the derelict Ashton Mill, with its pond.

Soon we reached the footbridge over the Nene.

There were a few people fishing along the bank. We turned right and followed the river round and under the A605 coming out at Oundle North Bridge.

Sunlit sheep quick march

We crossed the road at the bridge and took the Nene Way path past the boathouses, walking with the river on our left. Plenty of large bird life today - herons, swans with teenage offspring, cormorants perching on a tree.

One boat, today.

At Cotterstock Lock, we crossed the river and walked with it on our right, through fields to the converted corn mill.

From there we turned left, and walked up to the turning for the church. We paused on a bench in the sun before walking back to the corn mill and following the road to the junction for Tansor. We turned left, and walked along the road until we came to the footpath sign, which took us over a ploughed field, over a stile, then a pasture with a few cows and some sheep. Another stile, another ploughed field. Another stile and a narrow passageway between two gardens and we were back at our starting point.

Tansor to Ashton circular via the edge of Oundle

With Maureen and Eddie. Just over 5 miles on a fine autumn day. We parked at Tansor, and walked along the road through the village opposite the church. This took us past the village hall, and Linden Hall. we walked through the large gate at the end, heading towards the A605 Oundle to Peterborough road. It is possible to cross this road with care as there is an island central reservation.

St Mary's church, Tansor

 We took the minor road directly opposite and walked along it for about half a mile, until we came to a small crossroads, where a bridleway turned right, heading southwest towards Ashton. After about half a mile we passed a bridleway turning right (ignore this path). Next we passed a rifle range, and the grassy surface changed to a road. Before long we arrived at Ashton. This village was rebuilt in 1900 by the Rothschild family for estate workers. For many years from the 1960s to the early 21st century the village hosted the World Conker Championship. This event is now held at nearby Southwick.

The village is the birthplace of Dame Miriam Rothschild a noted natural scientist and author. The local pub is called the Chequered Skipper, after a butterfly which has recently been reintroduced locally.

After around two and a half miles we were unable to resist the sunlit tables on the village green, and had a break.

 We left the village along the  small road with a "No through road" sign. 

The wall was shaped to accommodate the tree, though Eddie is hiding the bulge.

In spite of the cows lying down, we had no rain today

This is the route of the Nene Way, and soon we reached a footbridge over the river. We turned right and followed the river round and under the A605 coming out at Oundle North Bridge.

Footbridge over the Nene

We crossed the road at the North Bridge,  and took the second footpath, not the Nene Way. The footpath goes between a fence and the boundaries of houses.  At first it was fine, but as we walked further along it was overgrown with nettles brambles and other shrubby plants. We eventually took to walking inside a tree nursery, where there is a clear path.
(Note to self, write to NCC about this one!)

Some footpath!

 Next there was half a mile or so of road walking,  passing a bridleway sign on the right, and the road to Cotterstock on the left, before we took a footpath leading diagonally across a field on our right. At the stile this path turned slightly to the left, to head directly for the houses in Tansor. There were a couple of slightly awkward stiles but we were soon back at the start point. We had noticed that the church was open, so we had a look round.

A large pond and the river Nene behind the church