December 5th 2025, Sence Valley Forest Park.

 Friday 5th December.

We visited Joe and Migsy near Market Bosworth.

This time we did a two mile walk round the Sence Valley Forest Park, near Ibstock.

**Discover Sence Valley’s history, take a walk or spot some wildlife

Located north-west of Leicester, discover Sence Valley’s history. Once part of a large coal mine that closed in 1996, Forestry England planted 98,000 trees in 1998, transforming the valley into a haven for wildlife and visitors. In 2018  a further 48 hectares (102 acres) of the original opencast was acquired which has now been planted with 100,000 trees which will develop into a mature woodland. A Cherry Tree avenue has also been created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the forming of the Forestry Commission. 

Explore the mixed forest on our network of trails or test your navigation skills around the wood on our orienteering courses. A bird-spotter’s paradise, 150 bird species have been recorded in the area so make sure to stop by the bird hide and viewing screen to try and spot the rare diving birds or the grebes!

December 1st 2025 - Eling and Sunnyfields Farm shop.

 Monday Dec 1 2025 

Coffee and chill morning, then out for a wander round Eling and over to Sunnyfields Cafe for lunch of avocado toast with falafel and roasted tomatoes, plus chips.

 Our route - along Eling Hill, taking the public footpath through woods by the cemetery. 

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then over some soggy fields to meet the Marchwood bypass.

Turn left, walk facing traffic with a narrow verge alongside, just round corner to entrance to Sunnyfields. Route back along the road for a shorter distance with a wider verge, turn left along a quieter road, past the King Rufus, turn left again along Eling Hill. The way back was much better, luckily, as darkness was starting to fall.

November 30th 2025 - Eling Marshes and Goatee Beach

 Sunday 30 November 2025

Our annual visit to see the Copythorne Cats panto. We stayed in Eling.

Sunday was a beautiful cold sunny morning. 

We had a slow start, then walked 1.5 miles round Goatee beach and Eling Marshes boardwalk. 

We sat outside (well wrapped up) for coffee and cake.

November 24th 2025 - Pitsford Water.

 Monday 24th November

Norma came round for 9 am to drive out to Pitsford Water. 

 

We walked round  clockwise, without stopping apart from tying up shoelaces. Grey, but no rain, and not too cold for walking. 

We saw egrets, herons, coots, tufted ducks, mallards and gulls, of course.  No lapwings today. We stopped at the cafe (now called the Park Bistro) for lunch - a rather ungainly soft baguette.

Miscellaneous short strolls late October and early November 2025

 Oct 20th 2025. 

Norma collected me at 9.15.We met Kate and Maureen at Priors Hall and walked through South Gullet, then had coffee and a sandwich at the Good Bean. 

A further walk round the Lake and Lake Drive and over towards the newest part of the development.

This made almost 4.5 miles in all. As we reached the cars it began to rain.  

Tuesday 21st October

Met Marta at East Carlton for a short wander round the park - sunny and lots of autumn view.

22nd October

We had a short wander round Market Bosworth with Joe and Migsy.

3rd November 2025 

I went out with kate and Norma to Burghley and walked into Stamford. 

Coffee at Cafe Black. Wandered into a few charity shops in search of a toy bus for a book bag that Kate is making.

4.5 miles in all. Weather dry and grey, but not too cold or windy.

Thursday 6th November 

A wet start. Marta came round and we went to Uppingham. Had a long chat with coffee and tea cake in Esquires, then walked a mile and a half along the Rutland Way and back again - muddy fields today.

 We didn’t go as far as the fine view over Eyebrook.

Monday 10th Nov 2025.

A short walk with Norma and Maureen at East Carlton Country Park

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We did about 2 miles, then had coffee and teacakes.

Monday 17th November 2025

We intended to do the Burghley to Stamford walk but the park was closed for setting up the Christmas fair.

 Instead we walked around Stamford, and across the Meadows with Kate and Norma - about 2.5 miles. Coffee and teacakes in central cafe.

Tues 18 November  25 . 

Met Marta at the boating lake at 10 and wandered for about 2.5 miles around Corby, before having a coffee in Esquires

12th October 2025 - Pickwell to Somerby circular

 

Sunday 12th October

The promised mist has descended with a hint of sun to follow if we’re lucky.

After a lunch of soup we set off for Pickwell near Somerby. As we arrive in the highlands of Rutland the mist lifts and we have blue sky and sunshine, which lasts until the last mile or so of the walk. 

 

We park near the church, and walk west along the small road for a few hundred metres. We pass one footpath on our right, and take the bridleway which leads uphill, past an old brick building.

A little further along the bridleway turns right and heads southwest, downhill. It crosses a farm track, then continues eventually meeting a road close to Cold Overton Grange.

We turn right and follow the road. It bends right, and then at a left hand bend, there is a footpath to the right, which leads steeply downhill (north east), through a field of sheep, and into a short section of woodland.

Cross the corner of the field, and over a stile. Walk along the edge of another wooded area. The path goes past a pond, which you may catch sight of on the other side if a high hedge.

Emerge from the woodland and cross more fields. The path goes through Oaklands, and continues in the same direction - there are several rather high stiles..

At the road on the edge of Somerby, we turned right and walked along the convenient pavement next to the road, which takes us back to Pickwell, our flask of coffee and a biscuit or two.

Lots of autumn colour - crab apples, apples in gardens,  a horse, sheep, cows.

A short woodland section.

And some wide views.

6th October 2025 - Geddington to the Bull Pen cafe.

 Monday 6th October

Walk with Harry from Geddington village hall, through the autumnal Weekley Hall Wood.  We met Maureen, Kate and Norma at the Bull Pen.

A former colleague was there and recognised us. Quite a long chat, then had to catch the others up again.

Almost seven miles. Glorious weather, a cool wind, but cloudless sky, and warm sun.

A much smoother, flatter walk than over the last two weeks.