Hallaton, Goadby Goolston and Cranoe

Date: 27 March 2011

Area: Leicestershire. West of Uppingham
Distance: 11.4Miles 18.3 k

Start Location: Hallaton

OS Sheet: Explorer 233

Grid Ref: SP 7878 9654

Route
These notes are provided only to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1 : 25,000 map.
From the Village Green head downhill to the Church, turn right into Hunts Lane go to the top, cross on to bridleway to Moor Hill Spinneys, Hallaton Spinneys and Keythorpe Hall Farm. Turn south along the Midshires Way, past Keythorpe Lodge Farm to footpath on right to Goadby or take the track a bit further south. Pass through the village and down the hill, turn left along road, passing the entrance gates to Noseley Hall to take the footpath through Old Park, follow down to cross the stream and uphill into Glooston. Follow the road to Cranoe, by the church take the footpath to Othorpe House and on into Hallaton

Journey
This walk starts in what I think is one of the best villages in England. Hallaton was home to my great grandparents, my grandparents, my mother and all their families. Indeed a cousin still lives in the village and I understand there are a few more distant relations around. However, Hallaton has two far more significant claims to fame than my ancestry.

The best known is Bottle Kicking held annually on Easter Monday. In its simplest terms it is a sport, a game, a competition between two villages. In reality it is the re-enactment of an ancient battle, a rights of passage for the young men and women of the villages. To gain an impression of this battle, have a look on YouTube. As a starter I recommend Bottle Kicking.

The second claim was the discovery in 2000 of a large hoard of Iron Age and early Roman coins and artefacts including five thousand silver and gold coins, the remains of an ornately decorated Roman parade helmet and some mysterious silver items. For more information on this stunning and highly significant find visit Hallaton Hoard.

The landscape in this part of north east Leicestershire and into Rutland is very much of the Wolds, an intricate weave of rolling hills, long ridges, steep sided valleys, streams, rivers, woodland and small villages. The land is extensively farmed with fields of sheep, cattle, horses and arable alongside each other. This walk certainly has all of the above plus a stately home.

The way is well marked with yellow topped posts. The walk north from Hallaton to Keythorpe Lodge Farm is a long steady climb to Moor Hill Spinney then a drop down into a small dished valley where we sat and watched several pairs of Hares running and playing (but not Mad). As you climb out of the valley look out for the marker posts taking you across the field to the right, away from the farm track. On picking up the Midshires Way the track climbs to a long gently desending ridge with views both east and west, on a good day these view can be stunning.

Watch out for the footpath to Goadby, we missed it, talking about a previous walk along here, so we walked down the less attractive stony track and back along Horse Hill Road to the village. Going down the hill out of Goadby you can limit the road walking a little by talking either of the footpaths on the left, both come out by the stream on Palmers Lane. Noseley Hall has apparently fallen on hard times and is for sale, if you have £14 million to spare. If you are interested, the sales particulars can be seen here Noseley Hall

After crossing through the Old Park, across a couple of fields of crops and a section of woodland we crossed a stream and found the perfect lunch spot, out the wind, in the sun, on gently sloping grass. Later walking over the fields to Glooston we were serenaded by Skylarks, for me one of the most evocative of sounds in the countryside.

From Glooston it’s a kilometre of road walking, with terrific view over the Welland Valley, to Cranoe don’t go down into the village but turn left by the Church and follow the footpath to the right back to Hallaton savouring the views.

Although the day was dull with a slight chill wind and a cloudy sky that took all the brightness and life out of the photographs we both really enjoyed this walk, it had a bit of everything and we will do it again Mrs G said in the summer, I thought it might make a good walk in the snow. We shall see.

Post walk refreshments, coffee and cream scones, were had at the Bewicke Tea Room. Next to the pub?.