Fineshade to Blatherwycke via Kings Cliffe

Wednesday 04 July 2018

With Marta. Very warm again. 6.6 miles. 
We set off from Top Lodge and walked out in front of the cafe courtyard then turned left along the forest track. We followed this for around 2 miles,  past the woodyard and down the hill into Kings Cliffe. We crossed the main road and walked down to the path into the allotments - a right turn at the bottom of the slope.

 After the allotments, the path crosses two fields, and then follows the field boundaries - trees alongside the Willow Brook. The path is easy to follow as it reaches Alders Farm.  You continue just above the farm with some farm buildings on the left, and once again the path is very clear, crossing a corn field, then soon turning left to continue on the other side of the hedge. It passes some recently planted trees, and a barrier, keeping the lake private, though you can catch a glimpse.

 Follow the clearly marked path. There are clear sings to make sure you don't stray.

 There is a gate to path to the church. The churchyard makes a pleasant place to pause, though the building is open only at weekends, unless you go in search of the key.

 From wikipedia:

Holy Trinity Church is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Blatherwycke, Northamptonshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building,^[1] and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.^[2] It stands in the grounds of the demolished Blatherwycke Hall.^[3]

Some info about the demolished Hall and its gardens.

Retrace your steps to the gate and turn left along the path to the main road. Turn right and cross the bridge over the end of the lake, where we saw black swans and one artificial and one real heron. Fish too.

Follow the road for a good half mile, up the hill and on until you reach the second road off to the left. At this point there is a stile and a gate on the corner and the path heads uphill across the first field. Then it follws the hedge, keeping it on your left. There are good views of Blatherwycke Lake and the countryside from here, and a memorial stone to a local woman.

 The path turns slightly left at the break in the hedge and heads across a couple of fields to the edge of Lynn Wood. It descends close to the trees, reaches a bridge and junction of paths. We take the path straight ahed leading fairly gently uphill with Fineshade Abbey ahead on our left.

 There's a stile, and the path runs between two fences for a short distance, before emerging at another stile and crossing rough pasture land heading towards more woodland. You enter this with another stile - there are 17 on this walk, according to my arithromaniac friend.

 When the path leaves the wood, there is an open field to cross, downhill then up to meet the road into Top Lodge.

Time for lunch when we reach the cafe.

Fineshade to Wakerley and return. July 02 2018

With Maureen , Norma and Marion. Just under 5 miles. Very hot again.

Leaving Top Lodge along the road, take the footpath to the left. Poppies were in bloom.

At the end of the field we turned left to walk through the woods with their welcome shade.

The path passes Fineshade Abbey and descends to cross the bridge. This tree was in the next field before we reached the A43. The sheep had the right idea in the heat.

 After crossing the A43 we followed the path near Laxton Hall Lodge as far as the next boundary, where we turned right to continue into Wakerley Woods. All the while we were following the Jurassic Way.

A silver-washed fritillary - quite a few in evidence this year.

And we think this was a white admiral

A break for a scone and water in the shade at the Wakerley Woods car park, before we returned to Fineshade Grounds cafe for a light lunch.

Pitsford Water anticlockwise - 27 June 2018

27 June 2018.
 In between the last walk and this one, we were visiting grandchildren in Hampshire.

This was the usual gentle walk round Pitsford Water , with Marta. Around 7 miles in very hot weather.

shade at last!

Rockingham, Caldecott, Gretton, Rockingham

Thursday 21 Jun. With Maureen.
Hot again and quite overgrown and rough underfoot in places.
We set off from Rockingham and followed the Jurassic Way close to Great Easton. Then by road to Caldecott, turning right at the road junction, then taking a footpath to the right which takes us close to the Welland to Gretton weir.
At the road to Rockingham we turned right and followed this as far as the Bridleway sign, rejoining the Jurassic Way and following it to Rockingham, where we had lunch.

Time for a wee rest In Caldecott

A few cows, but they showed little interest in us.

The Welland

meandering

Over the footbridge

Between Gretton and Rockingham

This section is usually very muddy - not today!

Approaching Rockingham

Outside the cafe

Burghley and Pilsgate

Monday 18th june. With Maureen.
The same walk as this one.  with lunch at the Garden cafe at Burghley.

Burghley House under a dramatic sky

The bridge is easier to cross after the vegetation has been cut.

No bench, but a place to pause!

Onward to Pilsgate

The Garden Cafe

How remiss of me!

I've finally got round to making a start on recording some of my walks since the last blog entry. Quite shocked to realise this was about 5 weeks ago! No valid excuses, just idleness at the point of writing!

so ....