Saturday 26th January 2008
Despite having had my first course of chemotherapy last week I felt fit and fine and as the weather was ok we went for a walk. We drove to Shakerstone and parked near the pub and set off under the railway bridge where we could see shunting engines moving trains around on the Battlefield line. The paths across the fields were beautifully marked and were firm underfoot which was surprising considering the amount of rain we had had recently. We walked past Odstone Hall and then continued on towards Nailstone. We stopped on the way to do "Odstone Out" - a geocache, which we found easily. In Nailstone the pub was closed so we sat and had a cup of coffee and a biscuit in the churchyard. The church was also closed. We left the Leicestershire Round and started our return walk. On the way we past a pub, so called in for a drink and bag of crisps -purely medicinal to keep my fluids up. The next field had been completely enclosed with electric tape, blocking off all the stiles but it wasn't live so we ducked under and followed the footpath to reach the road to Carlton where we took the footpath to Barton in the Beans. The first field here was exceptionally, ankle deep muddy (possibly cow slurry-but we don't like to think of that -John will clean the boots later!), but we got across and followed the footpath, stopping to do Birthday Surprise -another geocache. We finished our walk along the very muddy bridalway back to Shakerstone having walked about 13km. This walk was all across old coal mining areas but there were no signs of slag heaps or mining industry anywhere much of it being converted into the New National Forest.
Sunday 27 January 2008
Sunday 13 January 2008
Leicestershire Round: Market Bosworth to Shackerstone
Saturday 12th January 2008
The first bright day for a while and the only one forecast for a while so we made the best of it and did a bit of the Leicestershire Round- we are now about 2/3rds of the way round.
We parked at Market Bosworth Park and walked through the town and along a lane to join the footpath. The path went past some lovely houses, all with balconies to make the most of the views although it looks as though the views may be disappearing as a lot of the land had been excavated for what looks like a road and a housing development. After a short diversion along the wrong footpath we continued across fields to Carlton. At one place the footpath was under about 6 inches of fast flowing water which we waded through, only getting the tops of the socks wet, thanks to our gaiters, and continued through the very muddy field.
Yes that is a footpath under all that water!!!!
Although the fields were muddy we did not have to go across any ploughed areas so it was not as difficult as last weeks walk.
After Carlton we crossed more fields to arrive at the Shackerstone Railway. This is a tourist railway known as the Battlefield line. There were no trains running today but the Victorian Station was open so we had a look around.
We crossed the Ashby canal at Shackerstone and stopped at the Rising Sun for lunch which was a lovely pub –very warm and cosy, and good food.
When we eventually pulled ourselves away from the pub we returned to Market Bosworth along the Ashby canal. We got back to the car just as it was getting dark after walking 14.2km.
The first bright day for a while and the only one forecast for a while so we made the best of it and did a bit of the Leicestershire Round- we are now about 2/3rds of the way round.
We parked at Market Bosworth Park and walked through the town and along a lane to join the footpath. The path went past some lovely houses, all with balconies to make the most of the views although it looks as though the views may be disappearing as a lot of the land had been excavated for what looks like a road and a housing development. After a short diversion along the wrong footpath we continued across fields to Carlton. At one place the footpath was under about 6 inches of fast flowing water which we waded through, only getting the tops of the socks wet, thanks to our gaiters, and continued through the very muddy field.
Yes that is a footpath under all that water!!!!Although the fields were muddy we did not have to go across any ploughed areas so it was not as difficult as last weeks walk.
After Carlton we crossed more fields to arrive at the Shackerstone Railway. This is a tourist railway known as the Battlefield line. There were no trains running today but the Victorian Station was open so we had a look around.
We crossed the Ashby canal at Shackerstone and stopped at the Rising Sun for lunch which was a lovely pub –very warm and cosy, and good food.
When we eventually pulled ourselves away from the pub we returned to Market Bosworth along the Ashby canal. We got back to the car just as it was getting dark after walking 14.2km.
Monday 7 January 2008
Leicestershire Round:Dadlington to Market Bosworth
5th January 2008
It was a bit brighter today so we went for the first real walk of the New Year. We parked at Cheyney Wharf by the Ashby Canal to do the next bit of the Leicestershire Round.
We walked along the canal towpath for a short while before walking through Albion Wood to Bosworth battlefield. At the battlefield we had a short diversion off the route to look for a geocache which we found it near King Richards Well where Richard III drank before the battle against Henry Tudor.
We walked back past the visitor centre and across fields to Sutton Cheyney. The church here was very plain from the outside but inside was quite ornate with memorials to Richard III who fell at Bosworth. We continued through woods to Bosworth Park stopping to do another geocache on the way. The paths were very muddy and it was hard work walking, two steps forward and sliding one step back. We eventually arrived at Market Bosworth and diverted off to have lunch in Ye Olde Red Lion which was a very nice cosy pub. After lunch we looked around Market Bosworth which was small but had some nice shops. We then left the Leicestershire Round and continued our walk going down the other side of Bosworth Park and then crossing more very muddy fields planted with oilseed rape. The footpaths had not been marked so in a few months these paths will be very difficult to walk. We walked back through Sutton Cheyney, using different paths. We then walked towards Daddlington so that we join up our sections of the Leicestershire Round. It was getting dark by the time we rejoined the Leicestershire Round. We did the last mile along the towpath after sunset looking at all the barges and houseboats with names like Chucklebutty, Tin Hatters and Beardlets Billet. We got back to the car at 4.30pm after a good walk even though it was very muddy. It was 15.7 km and there were no cows or horses -just a sheep with a cough!
It was a bit brighter today so we went for the first real walk of the New Year. We parked at Cheyney Wharf by the Ashby Canal to do the next bit of the Leicestershire Round.
We walked along the canal towpath for a short while before walking through Albion Wood to Bosworth battlefield. At the battlefield we had a short diversion off the route to look for a geocache which we found it near King Richards Well where Richard III drank before the battle against Henry Tudor.
We walked back past the visitor centre and across fields to Sutton Cheyney. The church here was very plain from the outside but inside was quite ornate with memorials to Richard III who fell at Bosworth. We continued through woods to Bosworth Park stopping to do another geocache on the way. The paths were very muddy and it was hard work walking, two steps forward and sliding one step back. We eventually arrived at Market Bosworth and diverted off to have lunch in Ye Olde Red Lion which was a very nice cosy pub. After lunch we looked around Market Bosworth which was small but had some nice shops. We then left the Leicestershire Round and continued our walk going down the other side of Bosworth Park and then crossing more very muddy fields planted with oilseed rape. The footpaths had not been marked so in a few months these paths will be very difficult to walk. We walked back through Sutton Cheyney, using different paths. We then walked towards Daddlington so that we join up our sections of the Leicestershire Round. It was getting dark by the time we rejoined the Leicestershire Round. We did the last mile along the towpath after sunset looking at all the barges and houseboats with names like Chucklebutty, Tin Hatters and Beardlets Billet. We got back to the car at 4.30pm after a good walk even though it was very muddy. It was 15.7 km and there were no cows or horses -just a sheep with a cough!
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