Foxton to Thorpe Langton, along Leicestershire Round

 Tuesday 26th October, with Marta. 11.5 miles, there and back.

The flight of ten locks was busy

View over the inclined plane.

From the top car park we walked down past the museum and the locks. Past the pub and shop we turned right along the canal until we reached the sign for the Leicestershire Round, taking us through the village, and joining the footpath through a gate close to some houses.

The route was pretty clear today, with Leicestershire’s yellow posts proving helpful as ever.  The path heads east then slightly north to join the B6047.

We crossed and found the path easily just after Bowden Business Park. Usually we have to fight our way through vegetation - nettles and brambles, but luckily this has been well cleared recently and it was a delight to walk through the short wooded section.

The path continues east. After a fairly big field we turned left (north) and headed towards the A6. A flight of steps (after a gate) takes us down to the road - the trickiest one to cross on this walk with no central island.

Once more several fields to cross. The conditions today were reasonable - dry and firm. Most of the field boundaries now have gates rather than stiles, which makes life easier.

We strayed slightly from the path as we approached East Langton, walking with the hedge on our right, rather than our left. I was disappointed to find that the seat I’d been planning to use for a break has gone. No problem, we found a spot in the village.

As we continued we spotted another dog fouling sign - I suspect this works better.

The path leaves East Langton at the point where Back Lane turns at a right angle. The path is clearly marked all the way to Thorpe Langton from here, and there are wide views south over the valley. Most fields have kissing gates, but there was one awkward farm gate which we had to go back and close properly. Luckily the sheep were not feeling adventurous today.

At Thorpe Langton, St Leonard’s church was closed, as usual. We had a brief wander round the village then set off back to Foxton.

Some seasonal colour in East Langton

and a rather beautiful horse

 On the return leg we took the path towards the chemical factory near the canal. This path was also much clearer and easier than in previous years.  We crossed the road and joined the towpath back to the Locks and lunch.

Unfortunately we were unable to renew out acquaintance with Jack Cryer, as he is now reclining on the floor of the room that no longer belongs to the Top Lock cafe - for now.

His cup of tea on the window ledge

he watches through the glass

a narrowboat goes through the lock

a gleam of polished brass

Jack kept the lock when working boats

hauled goods along the water

Couples toiled and lived on board

along with sons and daughters.

The hour or so it took to rise

the seventy feet or more

was put to use in passing news

and building living lore.

Now Jack stands there, cast in bronze

beside the window still

to watch another motley crew

rise and descend this hill.

We walk the tow path one fine morn

and pause for tea and cake.

You stand near Jack in mirror pose

and bring the past awake.

Oct 2012

Gretton to Bulwick via Harringworth Lodge, returning via Deene.

 Thursday 21st October 2021, with Harry, approx 11 miles.

The view over to Seaton

Field mushrooms?

colours changing - a little later than usual th8s year.

What are you looking at?

Bulwick

Lunch and a large coffee in the sun trap of the Pickled Village

Onward and over the A43 - not a pleasant part of the walk. Then there’s the reedy marsh to cross before reaching the teapot in memory of the Brudenells.

Kirby Hall from the road

A wee stretch

Geddington to Weekley Hall Wood and the Fox and Peony Cafe.

 Tuesday 19th October 2021. With Marta. 7.7 miles of easy walking, in dry and remarkably mild weather.

From Geddington we followed Grange Road for a bit less then a mile before turning into the wood. We then followed the main track southeast then south west, with a couple of intentional diversions for exploration.

The path turns northwest and makes it way behind the police station and other businesses to emerge at traffic lights where we crossed the A43 near the roundabout. Busy road. 

We walked along Rushton Road, and turned left on to Old Rushton Road at a smaller roundabout.  A short way along here is the cafe, where we enjoyed an excellent Americano and a toasted tea cake.

After coffee we turned right from the cafe and crossed the A43 at the roundabout with the A6183.

A bit more exploration and we made out way back into the wood and retraced our steps..

This wood could be lost - let us make sure it is saved.

The Roaches 2021

Saturday 15th October 2021.

With Harry, 7.5 miles, but it felt rather longer. This is the walk we have done a couple of times before. This time we gave Hen Cloud a miss.

The start of the walk is the tricky part - we missed the turning, and ended up heading across country to where we could see the path on the other side of Black Brook. 

After that it was straightforward enough though boggy in places. 

This was the view of the Roaches as we drove up on Friday. 

Unfortunately Saturday was not sunny, but it was pleasant enough, though the wind was brisk.

Gib Torr, one of the many monster shaped rocks in the area.

We walked down the entrance track from Anroach Farm where we stayed. A right turn took us along the quiet road past GibTorr Rocks, and Moss Top farm. We continued after the cross roads and a junction from the left. Where the road bends to the right we took the track straight ahead - we should have turned left towards Moss End Farm.

The sound of a helicopter accompanied us for most of the walk - delivering rocks for path improvements and erosion control.

However once back on track we headed for the Roaches School building at Roach End. Lots of people around, and even a coffee and ice-cream van.

We crossed over to the Roaches path. 

Instead of going ahead to Hen Cloud we turned left along the path which joins the track from Summerhill Farm, before joining the road climbing up past Hazel Barrow Farm and Newstone Farm. 

Strange heads?

The path leads through more boggy bits and downhill towards Gib Tor Farm, where we met the road, and turned left to return to base.

Just over 1000 feet of ascent and descent.

Harringworth Round

 With Eddie and Maureen, about 7.5 miles. Not warm and very little sun.

Harringworth stables.

We decided to tackle this anti-clockwise, taking the path close to the entrance to the stables which crosses the field towards the Welland. The path follows the river as far as Turtle Bridge.

Nettles are still thriving

We turned right soon after crossing the bridge, and made our way towards Barrowden with the hedge on our right. Look out for the way marker guiding you across a field and away from the church spire.

We crossed a couple of fields with stiles, and turned left up the road, the right and left at the junction. We didn’t visit the coffee shop today - the weather was not inviting enough for us to go the extra mile. Instead we continued towards Morcott - quite a. long slightly uphill stretch of road.

View of the windmill ar not easy to get from here, but I tried.

We had to cross the A47 - not too bad this way as visibility is good . Across the road we went through a short downhill section of woodland, then crossed a field to a stile and steep steps down to the A6121. We crossed this and walked through Morcott as far as Mount Pleasant Road, where we turned left then picked up the footpath leading back to the A47 close to the junction with a small road. The next section involved crossing a couple of fairly big ploughed fields - downhill and fairly dry.

We followed the path which goes under a small railway bridge before climbing steeply to Morcott Road (from Seaton to Morcott. Lovely views of the Welland valley viaduct from here.

We took a late scone and coffee break at Seaton church - the usual sun trap bench was at least sheltered from the wind.

From now it was downhill all the way past the farm with its pond to the Welland valley, dry and unflooded and easy walking back to Harringworth. 

We took the path under the viaduct through the churchyard and past the stables to return to the cars