Croxton Kerrial, 16 December 2012

The rain was still drizzling down at breakfast time, but the sun had started shining by the time we gathered in front of the medieval church – and the blue skies stayed with us all day.  Off we went on the old salt road, a brief spell of tarmacked tramping soon giving way to copious mud, the local herd of hippos having evidently beaten us to it. 

Having paused briefly to note the location of a burnt-out motorbike, we had soon finished the day’s section of the Viking Way, and reached the edge of the airfield, which was just about elevenses. 

After over-shooting somewhat in the World War Two section of the walk, a quick course correction got us to the pub exactly on time – publicans take note, this one opened just for us and sold quite a few pints as a result.

From there, we headed off over the hills, past where the abbey once stood and up to Windmill Hill, for the most popular historical anecdote of the day (which I’m not going to spoil here as we may use it again!), and down in to the Vale of Belvoir proper to swing past Branston, sauntering back into Croxton Kerrial just as dusk arrived.  Then, crucially, scones!

Natalie's Queens Road & Leicester walk

A second guest blog post from Paula:

Natalie kindly led a walk on Sunday the 9th of December from Queens Road. As it was the Christmas party the night before, Natalie organised brunch at Dos Hermanos which was a great idea. It wasn't surprising that there was a modest number of people for the walk as a few people were at home nursing their hangovers! 

We started off from Queens Road then went to New Walk.

New Walk - The Victorian Promenade.

I never knew this but after googling New Walk to help me write this blog there are plans to extend it. See website: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Plan-extend-New-Walk-heart-Leicester-way-soon/story-17539916-detail/story.html

We then went on to the city centre passing De Montfort Hall, the railway station and up London Road.

De Montfort Hall

Top Hat terrace on London Road

For those that are not aware of the above building it is located on London Road just before Pizza Hut Delivery and the Lansdowne. Each of the sixteen carved heads on the building represent Tanky Smith in one of his many disguises. Now you are asking who is Tanky Smith. Well he was Leicester's first private detective and was a master of disguise!  He made his reputation when hired by the Winstanleys of Braunstone to look for James Beaumont Winstanley who went missing while on a European tour. Tanky traced him to Koblenz, where his body was found floating in the River Moselle.

We also passed Allandale Road & Francis Street where a Christmas fair was taking place. One member enjoyed some Mulled Wine! We noticed a stall selling Penguin pie - one member (mentioning no names) thought that it was made from real Penguins but I found out that it was a fish pie! 

Anyone for a Christmas Penguin Pie?!

 Thanks to Natalie for an interesting walk that involved no mud!

Gotham, 2 December 2012

Plentiful signage (although it would have been better with some yellow paint, obviously).

As it was technically Advent Sunday – and therefore time for the opening of twee little chocolate calendars, but not, repeat not, Christmas, a select posse of LRWG amblers abandoned the prematurity of tinsel town in favour of Gotham City.  Well, OK, it’s actually a village, the title of which originally means the ‘home of goats’, but Washington Irving (when he wasn’t camped out in one of the bedrooms of the Alhambra palace, oddly enough) nick-named New York Gotham in honour of this corner of Nottinghamshire’s reputation for extreme foolishness, and then someone from DC Comics got a bit carried away and... well, you know the rest.

Nottinghamshire rambling.  An enormous steaming heap of dung.

Turning up this morning did not count as foolishness of any sort, as the sun was shining, the ground was nice and crunchy with ice rather than sloppy mud, and we had a figure of eight to describe.  The figure of eight route naturally indicated that we had found a nearby nectar-based food source, indicated at a specific angle to the sun, until A&A kindly reminded us that we weren’t bees.  So, flying being a non-option, we had to walk.  Off we buzzed.

This Lesser-Bobbled Walkleader is so focused on tracking his prey that he is unaware of our camera in the undergrowth

A fine day for walking it was too, with exactly the perfect weather for doing it, no getting lost, and a cracking brace of real ale watering holes.  Pub Number One was especially welcome given that the previously intended lunching locale turned out to have been claimed by a huge self-combusting pile of ripe manure, looking surprisingly scenic in the low sun but rather less pleasantly aromatic than one may have wished.  But, the usual extra topping of merry banter continued all ‘round and another success has been scored.  Congratulations to Matthew on leading his first LRWG expedition!

Nottingham attempts to twinkle alluringly in the distance.  Attempts.

Rob's Rothley Walk 18th November 2012

...and now over to Paula, our very first guest blogger!

The starting point - obviously close to a pub for after walk drinks!

Rob led a good Sunday walk today starting from Rothley - which is situated aound 0.5 miles west of the River Soar and 5 miles North of Leicester.

The ramble started from Rothley and we also went to Cropston, Bradgate Park, Cropston reservoir, Thurcaston and back to Rothley for well-earned drinks at the Blue Bell Inn. I do remember a few years ago one LRWG member turning up to this walk an hour early due to the clocks changing - I mention no names!

A view of Cropston reservoir from Bradgate Park.

Did you know that Bradgate Park covers 850 acres?


The name Bradgate Park is thought to derive from Norse or Anglo Saxon meaning broad road or broad gate.

Look at that mud!

Old John is a prominent landmark of Bradgate Park on top of the highest hill in the park. It was built as a memorial to John, an estate worker killed in a bonfire accident during celebrations of the 21st birthday of the future eighth Earl of Stamford.

Thanks again to Rob for leading an enjoyable walk.

View of Old John

Grafham Water, 11 November 2012

Better than poppies...

Our third amble around this reservoir provided the welcome opportunity to surround a lot of water rather than being surrounded by it, and indeed it was a far less muddy experience than last week’s scenic adventure.  

The sun was shining so powerfully that it was more than one of us in a t-shirt today, then it was hats-off as we got to a churchyard bang on time for the 11 o’clock two minutes’ silence.  Respects paid, off we strode through some properly autumnal woods until we found a fine picnic spot with a view of the water for the walkers and one slightly sweaty Reservoir Dog.  The field we chose was covered in fresh spider’s webs as far as the eye could see, but no arachnids were reported in the sandwiches.

The picic site where arachnophobes fear to tread. 

A welcome pub stop for beer in Perry (next time we’re down on the south coast, we’re going to attempt to buy perry in Beer), and the traditional amble along the dam wall, as featured on the front cover of OSB#9 (you’d spotted that, of course, right?), and home relaxed and remarkably warm.  Not bad for November!

Hmm, this looks familiar.

More and More Mud, 4 November 2012

Right of way - as long as you're thin.

Back to Hartington again, familiar as the lunch stop on Rich’s walk less than two months ago, but all of a sudden a lot quieter and quite a bit less balmy.  But, it wasn’t raining, and we came equipped for quagmires and desultory bog-trotting, which is just as well as Vicky was soon leading us up the garden path, round the bend, up valley down dale and generally off on a bit of mission to achieve three important objectives: staying warm, seeing some cracking views while there was daylight enough to enjoy them, and getting to the pub on time.  All of which were achieved on the first leg, including an ascent up a towering bank of very wet grass which was, definitively, a complete sod. 

On Narrowdale Hill

After a pause to munch pasties and feed some very cheeky ducks in Milldale, we marched on to reach the pub in question, in sleepy Alstonefield, which served up cappuccinos,  Cumbrian beers and biergarten brollies just as the rain set in.

  The downpour was fairly light and only lasted for the length of a brief banter and pint-quaff, after which we were back on the trail again in time to watch a very English sort of sunset (terribly restrained, but stylish in its own way) from the top of Narrowdale Hill... and back to base to scrape off enough of the mud to be allowed back into our assorted jalopies.  ‘Bit of a classic day, really.

Belvoiring about, 21-28 October 2012

We’ve been gallivanting about in the Vale of Belvoir quite a bit recently, much to the delight of the local innkeepers.  This week’s photo of Belvoir Castle is actually from a pre-walk (i.e. a test of a route) which a few of us indulged in while a larger part of the group was down south on the South Downs – and since the route proved largely successful apart from the accidental bit of mass trespass (woops!), it’ll be on the programme in a month or two, so more about that later.

The second of our ambles around the castle was on a day too grey to warrant many photographs, but nevertheless just about dry enough to be a good time to return to a route already popular with both Leicestershire and Lincolnshire walking groups, which is why we ran it as a combined walk.  So, a surprisingly large bunch of us headed up onto the Wolds, along the ridge, down to Stathern for a pint and beside the canal all the way back to Redmile, where we ducked into another pub which proved to have been used as a location setting for Auf Wiedersehen Pet, of all things.  Haway, Andy, wor we gannin’ next?

The Muddy Bottom of Thor’s Cave, 14 October 2012

Wheeling carefully through narrow lanes in valleys still sparkling in frost, we all parked up in Wetton, which was, despite sarcastic forecasts, perfectly dry.  It stayed that way all day, too, with bright sun soon warming us up as we tramped up hills, wallowed in bogs, slid back down again and, with mud-spattered derrieres aplenty, repeated the exercise several times until Thor’s Cave hove into view.  It looked like the most enormous mouse-hole ever encountered, so we did the sensible thing and looped off on a long winding detour, trekking through further scenic quagmires, and eventually chanced upon the cave once more.

The cave - beware of  the Norse deity

Climbing inside a limestone cave worn smooth by millennia of streaming rainwater whilst wearing mud-slimed soles turns out, unsurprisingly, not too offer a lot of grip.  So, having explored the cavern (uninhabited – Thor was out getting hammered), well, you guessed it, down we slithered on murky rears once more.  It was like 10,000BC mashed with an Andrex advert, but the surrounding view of the Manifold Valley was a great distraction.  A truly excellent day out, and good to have a bunch of our Lincolnshire cousins there too!

Thornton 7 October 2012

Louisa’s first walk – OK, not the first time that upright locomotion had been achieved, let’s be clear, but a first time as regards leading the whole shooting match (although it wasn’t a match, and we had no intention of shooting anyone).  Having started out with ice, and fogs sufficiently pea-soupy to be about ready for a topping of croutons, all of that rigmarole soon wafted away, the sun came out and all was well with the world, which is what you want for this sort of thing really.  A sizeable bunch of regulars and quite a few newbies (who we’ll hopefully see again!) ambled off into the suddenly shiny morning, only to be very quickly surprised by a field full of curios left by the local lama-farmer.

The lamas were accompanied by some very loud geese, who were far more territorial than the lamas, although it was quite unnecessary as this early in the walk we were all still fairly fragrant and there was no argument about which flock was best at honking.  Having got past those distractions, navigated a field full of young male cows, and decided that some animals are indeed more equal than others but, on reflection, never mind the bullocks, we strode on over more rolling fields, through some Woodland Trust err, woodland, and keeled-over en masse in a sunlit meadow for early lunch.  It turned out to be the best picnic conditions that we’d had all year.  Back to the pub, via the reservoir, for flagons of Equinox and merry banter until teatime.  What more could a new leader at Ramblers Anonymous ask for?

Hartshill 30 September 2012

Our first joint walk with the Warwickshire gang (AKA the Bear Walking Group), started in a car park, in a wood, where the sudden rustle of brown and gold leaves drifting through the haze declared that summer was packing up all that nonsense and jolly well handing over to autumn, thank you very much.  The sky stayed grey all the way through, and this canalside snap of the entourage enjoying elevenses was taken during the brightest part of the day, but the rain held off, we had a good banter comparing notes about the joys of organising a hectic walks programme, enjoyed a pub with three real ales and perry (perry!!!) half-way, and even squeezed in a cream tea on the way home... oh, and the route was a nice little wander, too!

Alstonefield, 9 September 2012

The alarm sounded, and it was a good morning to obey.  Outside, the sky was a reassuringly peachy hue, and breakfast slid down quickly before the cruise over to Derbyshire, during which the sun came out brimming with enthusiasm.

With some of the group camping it up in Cream Tea Land (Devon), it was a select expedition force who turned up in Alstonefield, where we encountered the pleasant bewilderment of a profusion of free car parks.  Off we set on Rich's Peak District circuit – during which the sun shone, and shone, and shone; it was still summer, no doubt about it. 

Down Gipsy Bank to one of those gorges that the Peaks do so well, the stream sparkling as if a proficient watercolourist was expected, easel in hand, any minute.  But we don’t carry that kind of kit and you’ll have to make do with some snaps.

Through the Dales to Hartington, for a picnic with the ducks and the amazing taste experience of rhubarb ice cream, then a hot march over the hills, admiring the sort of landscape which would make the Teletubbies feel at home – if they had longer legs, that is.  Through a herd of radiantly red cows, past a cantankerous horse, and home sweaty but otherwise refreshed.

Arthingworth, 2 September

Good heavens, Kelmarsh used to have a railway station, did it?  I'm so used to it being full of Romans, Saracens, Normans, etc. that I'd never noticed.  All that's left now is the car park, where we duly deposited our vehicles, and the track, which we stormed along until we got to the Long Dark Tunnel, which provided scope for difficult photography... and for losing the photographer, which was easier.  But, that loss was only temporary, and after a splendid pint in the village, we did another loop, with our new canine member providing additional entertainment every time there was a paddling opportunity.  By golly but they march at a quite a pace down in Northamptonshire!

Ab Kettleby, 12 August 2012

Dave took us out into the wilds – and what with all that overgrown undergrowth (overgrowth?), it was wild, alright.  A picnic on the village green at Grimston, pint of surprising Scottish ale in hand, was just the job, and the proposed group photo in the stocks was prevented by poor design... they were too short.

Back over to Ab Kettleby via some stiles which were so overgrown that we had to get the Brush-Hook of Revolutionary Justice out to carve a safe passage (don’t worry, it’s not a machete, kids).  Then on to the Sugar Loaf for, of course, a Cornish pint.  Nice one, Dave – ‘interesting route, no rain until right at the end, and some top-quality watering holes, too.

Ancaster, 22 July 2012

While some of the gang camped-out in Shropshire, a few of us met up with the Lincolnshire Walking Group on a Roman Road (Ermine Street, to be precise).  Ancaster surprised us with a triple goddess on the church wall, a slither-past from a grass-snake, a buzzing from a buzzard and some fine gently-rolling countryside.  The lower population density of Lincolnshire meant that the half-way pub hadn’t been built yet, but we were distracted from our thirsts by the Red Arrows (pointing the wrong way in formation), and a brief display from a rather enthusiastic Spitfire pilot.  At the end-of-walk pub, while enjoying some chips kindly laid-on by the bar staff, a loud drone rising to a roar heralded the final treat – a Lancaster over Ancaster (it even rhymes).  Great things come from collaboration!

Ladybower, 8 July 2012

Vicky took us over the flanks of the reservoir, through the steaming forest, up to a sandy ridge and on to a view of distant Hope.  We pursued Hope and our hopes were fulfilled, with both beer and ice cream in Castleton.  Moving on from that welcome calorie infusion, we head backed and soon abandoned Hope, but weren’t completely hopeless, which was just as well, since getting back through the slippery woods felt more like skiing at some points... we made it, though.

Monsal Head, 17 June 2012

Karelle led us on a stereotypical French walk – through a tunnel and into a field of garlic.  But, leaving such trans-Manche stereotypes aside, returning to Monsal Head was a welcome treat made even more special by the old railway tunnels being open to walkers at last.  So, we took great delight in marching through them to shelter from the drizzle while it wore off, and at least one of us was impersonating Thomas the Tank Engine but we’re not naming names.  When the sun came out, it was time for ice cream before wading home through partially flooded canyons full of wild orchids – ‘not bad going!

Snowdon Attacks! 2 June 2012

The sun was shining, and the midges starting to nibble, as we boarded the bus to Pen-y-Pass – and before we knew, we’d all worked up a light sweat and were contemplating the climb up to Crib Goch.  It was not an entirely un-gruelling ascent – at least one of our number chipped a nail – but we made it, and the red ridge provided its usual mix of heady spectacle and occasional mild terror.  Up to the cafe on top for cups of tea and/or Purple Moose, down the Watkin Path and a tired slog through a lazy valley to Beddgelert, serenaded by a cuckoo for about quarter of an hour.  A long day but, as always, Snowdon proved unforgettably awesome.

Newtonian Orbit


 It was already way too hot when LRWG and our Lincolnshire cousins pitched up on the classic village green at Skillington – but that wasn’t going to put us off.  Nevertheless, this one was going to be a challenge.  We’d already had to take two ‘unofficial’ detours around blocked rights of way before we got to Isaac Newton’s house, but we’d made it on time and some of the group repaired to the pub while the more curious explored the architecture.  Then we got seriously stuck into a spot of low-level Kinder-Scout-memorial activity as between the pre-walk and today’s ramble an unwise landowner had erected both a barbed-wire fence and freshly-laid hedge directly across the path – not that either stopped us, of course.   All that tall grass was bit hayfever-inducing but the real ale on the brief trip our side of the county border was judged by most to be worth it!

 

South Croxton

Moo, etc.

Ah well, a diary always starts with good intentions then has fallow periods, and so it has been with this blog too.  Mind you, it’s been raining cats and dogs for donkeys' years, and that’s three too many quadrupeds for anyone to be dealing with when you feel like a walk.  Today, however, Phil took us on a figure of eight walk from South Croxton, through jolly green countryside with a pub break in the middle – which is where the OSB art department had to drop out due to a footwear malfunction.  But, ‘good to be back out there!

Brace yourselves, we’ve been on the scrumpy…

Some of us started the weekend away early on the Friday by meeting at The Good Earth Café in Wells where we had a variety of scrumptious veggie meals, and a few fine brews for the ale fiends as well!

We then ambled to Wells Cathedral passing the famous water fountain, as featured in Hot Fuzz – yarp!  The tour of the cathedral was great with a good mooch through the triforium and plenty of time up-close with the scissor-arches.  The cathedral frontage has statues with ‘singing holes’ behind for the choir to sing out of on processions, and thanks to our very own Julie Andrews impersonator the Mendips were Alive with the Sound of Music soon enough, much to the astonishment of passers-by and baffled footballers, which was fun.  After climbing a lot more stairs we reached the top of the tower with great views, saw the Tor in the distance and had a group photo, not reproduced here to protect the red-faced and easily winded.

Later that evening after bagging a bunk everyone headed down into Street for the pub.  People returned back to the hostel full of spirits – or full of scrumpy – and ready for rest for the next day’s walk.

Saturday morning began with a ‘full English’, then we were off, climbing a hill to a folly where we saw the Tor lined-up through the trees and had elevenses.  After seeing plenty of sheep in the fields we eventually came across an orchard with newly-born lambs, and a buzzard hanging about in hope of lunch.  We made it to the Tor and set off up the climb, and with each step we took it got windier.  At the top we were greeted by a rain squall, the remains of a view, and a didgeridoo player serenading us as the wind whistled through the tunnel beneath the ruined tower.  As the rain set in a few of us ran down to Glastonbury to seek food at The Blue Note Café, and then after refreshment and a light spot of retail therapy for some we continued.  Just outside of Glastonbury we discovered a trapped lamb so the James Herriots of the group rescued it from the brambles and it ran off looking pleased to catch up with the flock (this sheep rescue now bringing it to three, so everywhere that LRWG went the lamb was sure to go…).

On the way back to the Hostel, we called in at a Cider Farm and, after sampling their wares, took several flagons back to the hostel, so on arrival we could sit sipping excellent perry and nibbling the famous lemon drizzle cake by the light of the setting sun.  Then it was time for the similarly famous lasagne, and off the next day to Gorge on Cheddar…

Gotham to Bunny

All the leaves were brown, and the sky was grey...

This walk encapsulated the homes of many a famous person from Batman to Peter Rabbit, and Batman met Robin in Ruddington en route (according to local legend). The walkers met early, keen for a good start at the Sun Inn in Gotham.  We set off and had an quick tea break, then onwards we marched to Bunny where we encountered Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail & Peter.  Next stop was Ruddington and we entered Rushcliffe Country Park and ate lunch watching the birds on the lake, filling up a whole line of benches with ramblers in a row. 

..but we went for a walk, on a winter's day.

After lunch we continued through the park and saw some creative animal wooden sculptures ranging from animal totems to swans, dragonflies & an evil looking snake that several members practised their balance on, much to everyone’s amusement.  We were making good time rambling by various railway tracks, the dyke and fields and we were soon back to the pub for a nice pint at the end.  Despite the cold weather the walk was a good stomp through the British countryside.

To Barrow & Back

Another branch line

Rambler escape vehicles in training

It was a windy walk, meeting at platform 9 and ¾ at Loughborough Railway Station; some new members came back for more, even for a walk of 12 miles. So we all set off taking in views of wide open fields. Through a small woodland and ending up in Hoton, then onwards to Prestwold. Walking through a yew avenue to the church where we sheltered from the wind to munch our sarnies. Seeing the first sign of spring on the way with snowdrops in a corner, being early by two weeks!




Over to Walton on the Wolds where we were honoured to meet Julius Caesar on the edge of a footpath. After much hilarity taking photos we marched onto Barrow where we had our first pub stop.  Catching a breath before walking again - taking in the lovely scenery of the towpath all the way from Barrow to another pub at Loughborough.

En route to pubs 1 and 2!

Newtown Linford walk for New Members (lots of ‘em!!!)

Reservoir  Bobbles

New members – or new people we hope will become members – came along to join our walk around  took to joining LRWG on our walk around Groby Pool, Anstey and Switherland Reservoir on the 15th of January.  It was a great success with about half of the thirty-strong turn-out being new faces!  The walk was 8 miles, taking in some lovely landscapes; a particular favourite was Bradgate Park, with the deer and the ruins of Lady Jane Grey’s house. The weather was a little on the cool side but we had sunshine, making for some fantastic photos towards the end of the walk at Groby Pool of swans, cygnets and Canadian geese ice skating on the pool (Swan Lake?).

You're on thin ice, Ducky