Around Rutland 2026 - Day 4

Monday 20th April - Day 4

Today I'm back walking on my own. Lovely though it is walking with other people it does add a certain amount of extra "stress" so it's nice to be walking solo again. The road from Thistleton to was uninteresting. In fact I was so keen to get started I have no idea if there was a church there! There was one at Market Overton with a rather lovely lychgate.

I am being spoilt by the weather; yet another beautiful morning with clear blue sky. I'm also fortunate that the terrain today is far more forgiving than yesterday; slight undulation for the first few miles as I seemed to walking along a ridge. The views on either side were spectacular and magnificently panoramic.

The path that I had intended taking onto the ridge meant going diagonally through a large rapeseed field. Given my aversion to said crop I chose a slightly longer route through a less annoying one.

Along the route there were a couple of thoughtfully places benches one of them dedicated to "Sachi The Springer Spaniel"

Fairly early on the walk I had taken my fleece off and packed it away in my bag. The sun had warmed the air a bit and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. I came down from the ridge (I was travelling almost at 10k walking pace the going was that good!) and came across the disused Melton to Oakham canal.

It was opened in 1802 and closed by 1845 when the new railway had taken all the trade. 

My route took me past Holy Trinity church in Teigh, one of the so called "Thankful Villages" who apparently lost no men during the First World War. I went thankfully onwards with the blue sky above me and hardly a wisp of clouds in the sky.

Generally the path has been well signposted and I've been able to see where I'm heading from some distance. Today was the exception which was a problem as my Map App was no help as it was only showing the planned route (in black) and my actual route (in dark blue) on a plain white background!! No features or contours - nothing!

Having left Teigh I crossed a field of sheep and their young, sleepy lambs basking in the sunshine. I twisted & turned a bit to avoid disturbing too many of them until I came to a fence. I looked left and right but couldn't see the usual Yellow topped signpost. There was a farm gate away to my left but no markers in sight. I wandered to my right past small, scrubby trees. All the while I was looking ahead trying to find a post. Nothing. I turned round to retrace my steps and, low & behold, there it was, tucked down in a bit of a hollow behind some bushes. 

Not long after I stopped on a convenient footbridge to refuel with a banana! I needed it at the pace I was walking. Snack over I set off again and had to cross the railway line that had presumably done-for the canal.

After crossing the railway I was on a tarmac lane that curved round and gentle climbed towards my lunch stop at Whissendine. About halfway along the lane I came across what I assume was a Second World War pillbox. 

(I Googled it and it comes up with an FW3/22 Casement. A bunker used for the defence of the United Kingdom against a possible enemy invasion. They were built in 1940 and into 1941.) 

Not far from the pillbox was a feature on the other side of the hedge that was labelled as "MOAT" I could just about make out the undulations. Every day is a learning day!!

I had my lunch sitting in the intermittent sunshine on a bench outside St Andrew's church in Whissedine. Sadly the bench wasn't as comfortable as the one on Day 2 but it was a bench!

From Whissendine it was mostly downhill to Oakham and home. The walk had one last curve-ball to throw me! A little uphill slog to leave me puffing and panting, not just from the climb but also because I was breathing in the "stench" of the rapeseed in full bloom in the field beside me! 

The next village I came to was Langham, only a couple of miles to go. It also had a church, I could have made a detour to see it properly but I chose not to!! I was definitely beginning to flag by now.

I thought I had reached Oakham but was disappointed to find the it was the village of Barleythorpe! Looking at the map it's more like a suburb of Oakham. Eventually I arrived at All Saint's church in Oakham itself. I must have a wander round it and the castle before I leave! 

I headed for home and was pleased to be greeted by Denise in the High Street and we walked back to the cottage together. An astounding 13.44 miles completed today despite my poor feet. I rather like walking mainly downhill! So much so that I'm going to do the same tomorrow and walk from Thistleton to Empingham rather than the other way round!

If you would like to support my charities please follow the link: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/marg-davies-april-2026-round-rutland-walk    

If you'd like to leave a comment please do just remember to add your name in the text so I know who you are.

 

Around Rutland 2026 - Day 3

 Day 3 - Sunday 19th April 2026

Another fabulous day for walking. Blue sky, glorious sunshine, a bit of a cool breeze but excellent walking weather. Today I was joined by Belinda Matthewman, another WRAC Veteran, who I met via the WRAC Association (Hereford Branch) when she moved with her job to Worcester. She has since moved again back to Essex her home county but, like myself is a keen walker.

Belinda's first task of the day, once we had met up in Uppingham and got off road & onto the proper pathway, was to protect me from a herd of cows with their young calves! I have to say she did an excellent job. They were very docile and we just walked blithely by trying to ignore them. Only one cow seemed to be on the wrong side of us and she soon quietly MOOOved (blame Belinda for that one!!)

Although the weather was pretty perfect for walking the terrain was less so. the two previous days have involved some undulation but most of it has been on grassy pathways or across neatly smooth, harrowed ploughed fields. Today was mostly on tarmac roads & lanes, loose stony paths, slightly boggy bridleways or uneven, rutted farm tracks. None of the surfaces made for easy walking and I must admit to the soles of my feet feeling a little sore tonight.

The other difference today was that the gentle undulation ceased and we were up and down like a fiddlers elbow. We climbed down to the cattle, up through a wood, down the other side of the wood (Wardley Wood), then back up beside the wood!!! Why? Because that's the way the path went! So why couldn't we just walk from the cows to other side of the wood? We then had to walk down and then up again to the village of Wardley and past St Botolph's Church. 

It was here, in the village of Wardley that Belinda demonstrated her ability as not only a cow defender but also as a Horse Whisperer. She was duly made friends with a rather lovely chestnut horse. 

Interlude over we continued on and across the A47 Leicester road to continue our up and down journey (down & up twice actually) until we arrived in Belton-in-Rutland. There we found a comfortable bus shelter to sit and rest our weary feet whilst delving into our snacks. after a brief rest we continued down the Leighfield Way and back up past Lambley Lodge continuing ever upward to the farm near Long Wood. From there it was an equally long descent to the Leigh Lodge Fish Ponds. After that, guess what? you've got it. An even longer climb up to Prior's Coppice where we gave in and sit down, propped up against a gate in the sun, and had our lunch. We had covered about two thirds of the way and both of us could feel a soreness in our feet from the pounding on metalled roads, stony surfaces and hard-packed, rutted pathways.

After lunch there was more unrelenting roadway leading fairly steeply downhill to Brooke and St Peter's Church (Belinda's Dad was called Peter) We came across another field of horses and our resident Horse Whisperer did her thing!! She complained that the white one slobbered! Really? Eeeew!! 

We continued down past the horses & then, surprise, surprise! Back up a long, long hill to the top where Macmillan Way went off to our left and we continued right along the Rutland Round. We could see Rutland Water away off in front of us so had a picturesque view as we availed ourselves of the local facilities, a hedge! Needs must when the devil drives!!

We crossed the railway line (the same one with the viaduct of Friday and the bridge of yesterday) and came to the A6003 Oakham to Uppingham road. Now time for me to make a decision. To carry on on the Rutland Round along more roads and then turn back towards Oakham across fields and the A6003 again. Or to turn left up the pavement beside the A6003 and then the B641 into Oakham. The second route was shorter, had just as much roadway as the first. 

Reader - I chose to go straight to Oakham!! 

It turned out that Belinda was as relieved as I that we'd cut it a bit short today. We decided that, as we'd done more than we meant to yesterday we were justified in cutting it short today!! If you call 11.33 miles short. It took us just short of 5 hrs which was a fairly good pace considering all the ups and downs.

We walked into our new "home" for the week, a delightful little modernised cottage in the middle of Oakham itself. Denise made us a welcome cup of tea and then drove Belinda back to her car which she'd left at Uppingham. Belinda is now on her way home to Essex as she has to work tomorrow. Thank you for your company again today.

Tomorrow I'll see if I can do another slightly shorter walk and hope it's on softer terrain. If you would like to support my charities please follow the link: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/marg-davies-april-2026-round-rutland-walk    

If you'd like to leave a comment please do just remember to add your name in the text so I know who you are.

Around Rutland 2026, Day 2

Saturday 18th April 2026

Today I was joined by 3 wonderful ladies and an equally wonderful Spaniel dog (Margo) for the walk. To me, who usually walk alone, that's quite a crowd. 

For my previous 12 walks I have normally solo-walk. On a couple of occasions I have been joined for a day by other WRAC veterans & last year I was joined for the whole 100 miles by Ali Brown. My companions for today were Belinda and Lesley, both ex-WRAC, Gill & Margo who are not ex-WRAC.

Lesley drove us to our starting point in Empingham near St Peter's Church. It was a glorious day for walking: blue sky, sun shining, enough of a breeze to cool you down in the sunshine although it was a little fresh out of the sun. 

The other thing that we noticed, right from the start of our walk, was the abundance of kites riding the thermals over the fields of sheep who were looking after their lambs. Fortunately we didn't see anything nasty happening to the lambs - I think they were a little older and stronger than the new born ones that kites pick-off.

When we were back in Morcott this morning having our breakfast we could see two towers or chimneys far away, on the very distant horizon. We speculated as to what they were but all we could come up with were "towers or Chimneys" Little did we realise then that we would be walking close by them.

They turned out to be chimneys at the huge stone quarry processing area (I don't think I got them in the photo), a small part of a vast stone quarry that was criss-crossed with their own levelled motor-way-like roads, bridges carrying walkers like ourselves on the Rutland Round/Hereward Way.

There were larger structures carrying the Empingham Road to Ketton. It was amazing to see the rock strata, developed over millennia, exposed. It was also sad to see the vast scar left on the countryside. 

One also had to admire the warm, golden beauty of the stonework in the local villages.

We made our way through the very picturesque village of Ketton with it's gorgeous chocolate-box little cottages and its narrow, twisting lanes and alleys. We came across a rather magnificent "edifice" dedicated to the Jubilees of Queens Victoria and Elizabeth II.

Much to Lesley's delight (she's a copper!) directly opposite was the old police station manned by the Rutland Constabulary.

We continued past the rather magnificent church and over the brook (where Margo had a cooling paddle & swim). 

Onwards we went down little narrow lanes through the village our progress slowed a little by a grandfather and his two young grandchildren. 

We had to cross the railway line that yesterday I'd come across with the viaduct that went on to Oakham and beyond. On the other side of the bridge lay the pretty old village of Geeston then the path took us on another narrow path behind the newer village estate.

We came to a rather swanky gated Spa Retreat at Kilthorpe Grange. The original Rutland Round/Jurassic Way went across a corner of their land. It had been rerouted around the edge of the grounds. It only added a few extra yards but left me feeling miffed! 

Still chuntering about the extra walking we came out onto farmland and my chuntering continued because there was the crop that I hate the most - rapeseed. It gets everywhere; it's bilious, dayglo yellow hurts the eyes; it's pungent smell was even noticed by Lesley's Covid-ravaged sense of smell and made my nose twitch & tickle. My real hatred of it comes from my encounter on my first walk 12 years ago when it tripped me up several times as I fought my way through it and even untied my bootlaces twice!! There seemed to be miles of the stuff either side of us as our very straight pathway stretched out into the distance.

At last we were through and began thinking about somewhere to stop and eat our sandwiches. We thought about stopping at the side of the road but, on looking at the map I notied that our route took us beside a stream where we thought there might be somewhere more suitable. Low and behold we came to a sunny spot overlooking the River Welland. Not only was it quiet and sunny but it also had a very comfortable thoughtfully placed bench. Gill and I sat on the bench, Belinda sat on a nearby log and Lesley sat a bit further along propped up against a handy tree. It was idyllic but I was so busy feeding my face that I forgot to take any photos!

Lunch over we headed on along the final third of our walk. We passed some beautiful houses with well manicured gardens.

We came across a church surrounded by field with only a dirt-track as access. It reminded me a little of Larkrise to Candleford.

We continued, still beside the River Welland, through fields and woodland filled with bluebells, until at last we came to the penultimate village before home, Barrowden, another quaint village with a green and a pond. We found another bench at the edge of the village and I sustained myself for the final push by eating some of Denise's homemade Toffee-jack, an energy booster if ever there was one. 

Why is it that the final part of any walk I seem to do ends with an uphill slog! Today was no exception the only saving grace was the rather lovely renovated windmill/turned house at the top of the first climb. It took a few goes to hoist my phone camera above the hedge and click and actually photograph the thing!!

The last bit up to the hotel where we'd be staying for a couple of days were killing but it was wonderful to finally be greeted by Denise and have a final, dishevelled, sweaty photo taken of us all.

A massive thank you to Belinda, Lesley and Gill for your company today even though I got a bit twitchy when you called "Margie. Sit" or "Margie. Stop" I'm not sure who reacted quickest, Margo or me!!

If you would like to support my charities please follow the link: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/marg-davies-april-2026-round-rutland-walk

Well, at 21.30 today I have finally finished the Blog!!! When I lost all my first draft the air was a tad blue!! I have since calmed down, had a hot meal and a shower and am now rewarding myself with a "small" whisky! It's been a long day.

Please leave a comment if you'd like but remember to add your name in the text so I know who you are. 

Around Rutland 2026 - Day 1

Off to a bright(ish) & early(ish) start this Thursday morning. Denise drove me to Uppingham to start today's 12 mile walk.

Having dropped me off she then drove past me & took a photo!! She was off to Corby apparently. 

I was off back to the hotel via  Eyebrook Reservoir. 

It's been a rather nice first day. The weather has been ideal; not too hot, not raining, no storms & the wind wasn't too bad, a bit blustery out in the open.

The path was clearly marked pretty much the whole way. Nice large yellow topped posts with the pathway logo.

Eyebrook Reservoir was spectacular from a distance but you couldn't see it for trees from the path. It was only as I approached and as I left, from the hillsides above that I could really appreciate it.

Before!!

After!!

After last year's wander round the Gower Pilgrimage churches I was interested in the churches here in Rutland! My oh my! They are huge compared to the Gower!! Definitely the powerhouses of the rich. Not sure who's glory they're extolling!

 

All in all a fabulous day's walking. Mostly flat or gentle undulating with a couple of long, steep descents & climbs. 

Loads of sheep & one field of a large herd of young bullocks (or maybe heifers?) where the path wanted me to go but I declined!!! A local man walking his dog told me I could go through the woods which had HUGE notices saying PRIVATE LAND & then regain the path after the bullocks!! I thanked him kindly & did just that.

At Eyebrook Reservoir, just before I started the climb up towards Lyddington, when I was walking surrounded my thick trees & hedging, I heard a plane with a propeller doing a couple of low level runs over the water. Couldn't see the bally thing but I sure could hear it

 Apparently the Reservoir was used for low level training by the "Dambusters" in WW2.

Back at the hotel soaking in the bath now. Meeting up with Belinda, Lesley & Gill for a meal & then walking the 2nd leg with them tomorrow. Wish us luck.

You can support me and my two charities by clicking on the link below which will take you to my fundraising page at Give as you Live Donate: 

https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/marg-davies-april-2026-round-rutland-walk

If you'd like to leave a comment please do - Just remember to put your name in the text so I know who you are xx