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.

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