Sunday, 22 August 2010

Woodhouse Eaves,Beacon & Bradgate

Date: 14 August 2010
Area: South of Loughborough, Leicestershire
Distance: 11 Miles 18 k
Start Location: Car Park in Woodhouse Eaves
OS Sheet: Explorer 246
Grid Ref: SK 5310 1446
Outline: Woodhouse Eaves, Outwoods, Beacon Hill, Broombriggs, Bradgate Park, Swithland Wood, Woodhouse Eaves.

For GPX file see Every Trail


Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1 : 25,000 map. They are not walking instructions.

From the car park head north along the road, as far as Hangingstone Farm, take the path right over the fields to Halfway House. Continue across the next field to reach a small wood, bear left and follow path to meet the bridleway west of Moat House.

Go to GR 519 159 enter the Outwoods, head west and south to GR 517 155 on Woodhouse / Breakback Lane, follow the road SE to GR 519 152 turn right up a track, in 100m left at gap in fence, turn right and walk up to path junction at GR 518 150 and take the path heading up into the woodland along the north side of the woodland to the top of Beacon Hill.

From the top take the main track down the south side of the hill to GR 519 144 take track heading south across into Broombriggs take path left across field to GR 522 141 and head SE to pick up the Leicestershire Round on Maplewell Road.

Follow Leicestershire Round across the Golf Course to Benscliffe Road and into Bradgate Park car park. Enter the park gate turn left, follow the wall down to the car park in the NE corner near the reservoir. Turn left along Roecliffe Road and take the path to then through Swithland Wood, follow the roads back to the car park.

Journey

I ‘ve been running and walking around the Charnwood Forest area for many years, this walk was based on my standard ‘about’ 10 mile walk, but tweaked to add a couple of miles, then on the day amended to lose a mile or so because of the rain. Yes, we wimped out.

Mrs O-n-G decided not to walk, so it was my long time walking mate A and I on our own. Having waited for a group of gaiter clad, pole carrying ramblers (what happened to red socks and bobble hats) to sort themselves out then off down the Leicestershire Round, we set off north past The Old Bulls Head and across the fields. Almost as soon as we left the paved track we were hit by a couple of showers, initially we pressed on but soon had to stop to kag up, which is a guaranteed method of stopping rain, for a about half an hour.



Having left the lovely woodland of the Outwoods we made our way on a fairly new path leading upwards along the north side of Beacon Hill. This path, for horses and cyclists, according to the signs, was installed as part of a large scale clearing and replanting scheme carried out several years ago in what had once been inaccessible woodland, it is now my preferred way up the Beacon. These and other works over the years, including introducing Alpaca’s and Long Horn cattle, have certainly enhanced the Beacon, which was featured on BBC’s Country File a couple of weeks ago.

From the Beacon we walked across Broombriggs following the Leicestershire Round across Lingdale Golf Course and up to the top of Bradgate Park below the Old John Tower and War Memorial.


More showers and a wet lunch standing under trees in Bradgate Park eating soggy sandwiches, I do hate rainwater in my coffee, was followed by a dose of heavy rain as we plunged downhill, only stopping to photograph the deer. This photo was taken as the deer were starting to walk away from us, I shouted “oi stop, look this way” and they did, gob smacked.


Later in the Wheatsheaf in Woodhouse Eaves we both agreed that it had been a crap walk, it was not the area nor the walk, probably not the weather but somehow we just did not feel up to it. We have both walked longer walks with more climb on them recently, so it’s not the fitness, it just happens.

Back when I was running, every now and then particularly on training runs you could start off feeling awful not enjoying it at all then, a few minutes later everything’s changed and you'd be flying. Other days you step out as fit as a flea and hit a wall inside the first mile and it’s a struggle from then on, but you get the miles done and in the book. I guess it happens with walking, just not so intense

As well as a days walk with a few pints after, this walk was pretty much training and testing for our Lakeland Circle walk in September. As a standard route, with or without tweaks, we know it well and with plenty of ups and downs it provides a good indication of our fitness. It also allows gear to be tested and things practiced, like this was only the third time in two years that I’d had to put on my over trousers and I then I managed to put them on back to front. Just shows!

Sunday, 15 August 2010

Winster Stanton Moor


Date: 7 August 2010
Area: Derbyshire Peaks, West of Matlock
Distance: 6 Miles 10 k
Start Location: Winster car park (opp. Miners Standard PH)
OS Sheet: Explorer 24
Grid Ref: SK 2389 6023
Outline: Winster, Stanton Moor, Birchover



See route & GPX file at EveryTrail



Route
These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1 : 25,000 map. They are not walking instructions.

From the car park, down to the centre of the village, take the small road to the left, west, of the shop. Cross out of the field at the sign, cross the stream; bear right and right again to meet Clough Lane to the east of Ivy House. North to Barn Farm, crossing Lees Road onto Stanton Moor.

Explore the moor, leave south of New Park Quarry, south along the road into Birchover or after about 500m take the woodland path. From The Druids take the track west to the B5056 and follow the Limestone Way back to Winster.

Journey
This walk was a stroll, a gentle amble, a bimble from lovely village of Winster downhill, up dale, through cow field and campsite on to the heather clad dome of Stanton Moor.



Six of us old friends and new friends all moving in total disharmony, generally ignoring maps and clocks just enjoying the sun, scenery, chatter and somewhat ribald good humour.

After stopping for lunch alongside the Nine Ladies we moved slowly around the moor admiring the views,  the sight and smell of the heather, ending up by the Cork Stone which two of us climbed, then taking the woodland path bypassing Birchover we emerge at the front door of Druid Inn just in time to avoid the first rain shower.

An hour later, we wandered damp but cheerful around Rocking Stone Farm, down to the B5056 to join the Limestone Way, walking up Dubwood Lane , in the rain, as far as the historic Ore House. Another shower hit us as we arrived back at the campsite, but ten minutes later we sat around drinking tea and enjoying several slices of S’s moreish chocolate and courgette cake.

Later we went down to the Miners Standard for a few drinks and superb meal.

We enjoyed our day, thank you A & S, G & R

Monday, 9 August 2010

Petersfield to Bedhampton

Date: 31 July 2010
Area: Hampshire, Petersfield and Havant
Distance: 15.7Miles 25.25k
Start Location: Petersfield Railway Station
OS Sheet: Explorer 133 and 120
Grid Ref: SU 7438 2355
Outline: Petersfield, Buriton QE Country Park, Charlton, Finchdean, Rowlands Castle, Leigh Park, Stockheath, Bedhampton Railway Station

See route and get GPX file from Every Trail







Route
From Petersfield Station head down through the town centre and south along the old A3 road, left and across to Buriton before heading uphill to a road. Crossing right follow the signs left across the fields into the Forest and down to the visitors centre. Head back south a bit to pick up Staunton Way. This is the start of a long but steady climb curving around the Forest to come out into fields heading towards Charlton.

Leave Charlton by Church Yard and follow the Staunton Way south over Charlton Down to Finchdean. From the centre of the village bear right uphill to bend in the road and pick up the path across the fields, walk down in to Rowlands Castle From here follow the Staunton Way into Staunton Park and Leigh Park Gardens and try to follow the signs and the 1 to 25,000 map to reach Bedhampton.

Journey

Every couple of months we travel down to Portsmouth to see my mother in law for the weekend. This gives me a change to do a walk on the Saturday while Mrs O-n-G spends time with her mother. So earlier this year when I found an article on the internet describing an 11mile walk from Liss to Petersfield using a section of the Hangers Way, I was immediately interested, as I knew could get a train there and back letting Mrs O-n-G use the car to take her mum out.

The Hangers Way walk starts in Alton in Hampshire and heads south through Selbourne, Steep, Petersfield, and Buriton generally keeping to the wooded areas (Hangers) along the sides of the Downs. It finishes at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park south of Petersfield. http://www3.hants.gov.uk/longdistance/hangers-way.htm
On a blustery damp Saturday in early April I walked from Liss Railway Station out to pick up the Hangers Way near Empshott and walked, slipped, slithered and waded through deep mud to Petersfield.

After that it seemed natural that the next walk in this area would be from Petersfield, south to the end of the Hangers Way and then, to make a walk of it, on to the railway station at Rowlands Castle. A study of the map showed The Staunton Way starts at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park and passes through Rowlands Castle; route planning is seldom this easy. http://www3.hants.gov.uk/longdistance/staunton-way.htm

Furthermore, south of there the Staunton Way snakes its way through the very attractive Leigh Park Gardens and into the massive council housing estates of Leigh Park and Stockheath. This was where I was lived with my parents between 1953 and 1963. During that time I had explored and played over a wide area of the estates but have seldom returned since. What the hell I thought, it’s only four more miles to walk but I can catch a bus to mums from Bedhampton, perhaps its time I went back for a look.

On Saturday I didn’t get up in time and missed the 0832 train from Hilsea Halt to Petersfield, but managed to make the 0932. As I walked through Petersfield town centre, there was a bustle about the place, it felt pleasant, comfortable and I was quite taken with it. There was a wide range of the small local shops of the type that seem to have disappeared in many places, plus in the square there was a small market.

I have walked in the Queen Elizabeth Country Park many times but on this visit it felt quiet, lifeless, flat even sterile. I’m not sure why this should be as there were plenty of visitors about including two ladies, in what looked like evening dress, but there was little bird song and few flowers other than Ragwort. Perhaps it was just the time of year, a quiet period between the spring and autumn flowers or it might have been the close, thundery weather that darkened the atmosphere and mood.



I had a pleasant chat with a lady doing the flowers at the Charlton Church as I passed by on way to Charlton Down. On a good day the walk from Charlton to Finchdean is very enjoyable with super views, on Saturday it was warm and rainy and a bit unpleasant, the hamlets and farms in the valley below appeared to be fading in and out of the murk. Then the sun would break through and drag a fast moving golden glow across the downs, fields and woodlands.

From Rowland Castle I followed the Staunton Way south. Leigh Park Gardens and the lake looked to be pretty much unchanged from how they were 30 years ago.


Less than a mile later more memories came flooding back as I recognised places and things I’d not seen for nearly 50 years. Several times I was shocked, almost to a standstill, by the strength of memories and feelings that were triggered by a tree, a path past some now derelict garages, a road, a view of our old house, the Dentists I went to, still there.

Unfortunately, my overwhelming impressions of the walk through Leigh Park will be of a depressing mixture of 1950’s and 60’s social housing bareley changed since 1963, of wild, unkempt ribbons of paths along dirty streams strewn with rubbish and scruffy gardens. I did not expect much, I only saw a limited area, I’m sure other parts are far nicer but I didn’t see them. Clearly a ten/eleven year old child tends to accept their surroundings as the norm, how the adult person will see those same places 50 years later will depend on many factors. But I am sure that Leigh Park had a hand in making me as I am.