Croxton Kerrial to Melton Mowbray

Date: 2012-09-30

From: Croxton Kerrial

To: Melton Mowbray

Region: Leicestershire

Walk :  Linear

 OS Sheet: Explorer 247 & 246

Start Grid: SK 834 290

Distance: 10 ml, 16.1 km 

Height Gain: 481 ft, 146m

Height Lost: 651 ft,198 m

Walking with:

Notes: Largely on field paths and tracks a few short sections on road, a few stiles and a good few gates, muddy in parts.

Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.

From the Pub in Croxton take the path and track W to Branston, in the village turn left to Eaton.

Here pick up the Jubilee Way and follow it all the way to Melton Mowbray. I changed my route part way through the walk and diverted to Wycomb then along the road to Scalford, as shown on map.

Journey

Although this walk has been mapped out on the computer for several weeks the decision to go was a spur of the moment thing taken just 45 minutes before the number 8 bus left. In that time I had to change clothes, top up the rucksack, plot off the map, copy the route onto the GPS, grab  food and water and get to the bus stop. 

As with the other number 8 bus walks this one take place at the northern end of the Leicestershire Wolds laying between Loughborough, Grantham and Melton Mowbray. The previous walks have largely been across the valleys and along the higher land of the Wolds. This walk was different as it was mainly along the valleys and across the high land. Although I have to say, that sometimes, it was difficult to tell if I was on the high land or the low land, the occasional stream helped. However, the facts are that over the entire walk there were some more 200 feet in descent than climb.

When I set out on a walk I usually stick close to the route planned. However, just outside Branston I met George, who was converting a fallen tree into logs, and we had a good old chat. He lives in the village and knows the area very well. At one point we talked photography and he mentioned a number of photographic places among them the village of Wycomb, which was close to the planned route.

I plodded on through Eaton Grange, White Lodge. While in Goadby Marwood I had a look at the map and decided to leave the Jubilee Way and headed off towards Wycomb., In doing so I gave myself  two K of road walking from Wycomb to get back on route at Scaleford. But it was worth it, Wycomb is a village of   very pretty houses, barns and church  mostly built of orange yellow sandstone. I also hoped that by taking the road I might get to Melton in time to catch the 1440 bus home.

The walk fro Scalford down to Melton was alright but, four consecutive fields with young cows in took out much of the enjoyment. The final kilometer and a half is through Melton Country Park which was fine, a nice place with good variety of wildlife and public areas, gardens and lakes, sports pitches and flood control measures. Unfortunately the route from the park to the town center takes you into an industrial estate, I am sure it could not be helped and it’s probably the most direct route, I just felt a little let down that after 10 miles of walking through such wonderful countryside and a great park I ended up in an industrial estate. C'est la vie.

On the upside I made the bus with 15 minutes to spare

Woodhouse Eaves and Bradgate Park

Date: 2012-09-30

From: Woodhouse Eaves

Region: Leicestershire

Walk :  Circular

OS Sheet: Explorer 246

Start Grid: SK 530 145

Distance: 8.4 ml, 13.5 km 

Height Gain: 630 ft, 192m

Height Lost: 630 ft, 192 m

Walking with: Andy, Mrs G and Katie

Notes: Largely on field paths and tracks a few short sections on road, a few stiles and a good few gates, muddy in parts.

Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.

From Woodhouse Eaves take the Leicestershire Round E towards Swithland Reservoir, at the railway bridge take footpath S to Swithland. In village turn left E to bridleway on right S to Leicester Lane turn right then left onto bridleway. Then left S towards Hallgates, cross road into Bradgate Park. In the Park pick up the Leicestershire Round heading NNE and follow back to Woodhouse Eaves

  

Journey

Once again circumstances dictated our walk this weekend, if we wanted a walk it would have to be on Sunday, with a relatively late start. Andy drove over to us and we went out on a walk he planned.

As I have said before the area south east of Loughborough, part of Charnwood Forest, is great for walking with hills, woodland, moorland and rocky bits all joined together by a network of roads, footpaths and bridleways including the Leicestershire Round. There a number of villages around the area but Woodhouse Eaves sit in the center.

Maize and Hay

On leaving Woodhouse Eaves we were straight into a country side of hedges and fields, some pasture land others clearly arable. The Great Central Railway fixes the eastern point of the walk. We wait in hope of a train appearing. Unfortunately when it came, it was a disappointment for some, as it was not a steam train merely a diesel.

Great Central Railway

Pressing on we entered Bradgate Park a wonderful gem of a place, very roughly 3 miles by 3 miles in size. The park is hilly, rocky, has open grassland, wooded areas and dense bracken making it an ideal home to the herds of deer contained there. Much of this area is open to the public with three main car parks and miles of paths.
Bradgate House, now in ruins was once the home of Lady Jane Grey. She was a cousin of Edward VI, who in his will nominated Jane as his successor to the Crown. On his death in 1553, she became Queen, only to fall foul of the political wrangling over religion and the Kings half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth. Jane was beheaded in The Tower of London in 1554.

Bradgate Park

Old John

From Bradgate we walked through a section of recently forested land, across a golf course and back to Woodhouse Eaves.

A very pleasing walk with plenty of interest.

Ambergate to Crich Stand

Date: 2012-09-23

From: Ambergate

Region: Peak District

Walk :  Circular

OS Sheet: Explorer OL24

Start Grid: SK 349 515

Distance: 7.3 ml, 11.7 km 

Height Gain:955 ft, 291m

Height Lost: 955 ft, 291 m

Walking with: Andy, Mrs G and Katie

Notes: Mainly on canal towpath and good tracks, some fields and roads fairly long climb and descent, a few stiles and gates, muddy in parts.

Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.

From Ambergate Station car park walk down the approach road, turn left under the bridge to  A6, turn right N. Take footpath on the right up on to the canal towpath N. At second bridge cross over on to track passing Thurlowbooth Farm and turn right on footpath NE to Chase Cliffe. By Chasecliffe Farm take footpath to Crich then through housing estate towards Crich Church. Follow signs for the Tramway Museum. At junction turn right and take track on left to Sherwood Foresters War Memorial. Take the path N to Wakebridge Farm and S to the road, cross down to another road, cross down to the Canal, follow the towpath S back to Ambergate.

Journey

This was not the walk we had planned, unfortunately due to external problems, plans had to be changed and a last minute decision made to do this walk again. As we only decided as we were driving out of Long Eaton we hadn't checked maps or plotted a route. Although done the same walk last October we soon found ourselves on different route up to Crich. It was just as steep though.

View to North East

Crich

On the way up w had kept Mrs G going by telling her about about the super tea room in Crich we’d stopped last year. Unfortunately it was closed, as was the one at the Memorial. Mrs G was not impressed.

Mercian Regimental War Memorial

The Memorial, its position, its surroundings and the views, the way it is kept and what it stands for worked its moving magic on us and a few quiet moments were spent

Tram Arriving

Stopping for lunch at the end of the tramway line we were entertained by a variety of trams arriving, from Crich Tramway Museum, changing around the conductor pole and all the seats then trundling back to the Museum.

Walking along canal, through leafy woodland, out on to open hilltop and back helped to dispel or at least reduced the range and depth of the recent problems as did the opportunity to discuss some of them.

Bridge over Canal, Whatstandwell

The therapeutic effect of walking and talking with friends in such wonderful settings as these keeps us walking.