Ivanhoe Way - Thringstone to Agar Nook

Saturday 14th February 2009
Although it was cold, it was quite bright so we set off on the next stage of the Ivanhoe Way; another section done from home. We left Thringstone and walked along Grace Dieu Road to the point we finished at last time. We set off up the hill, passing the allotments and Grace Dieu vineyard and then through Cademan woods where there was still some snow around. Although we often walk through these woods we followed the Ivanhoe way this time rather than the permissive path we normally take. This area overlies some of the oldest rocks in the country, and many tor like outcroppings are visible on the walk through the woods. After passing High Cademan we followed a path beside a dry stone wall. The footpath was under several inches of water, so we sloshed our way through eventually emerging onto Swanymote road. We had a good view of Mount St Bernard abbey as we walked along the road to the junction, which we crossed and went along the footpath which skirted Ratchet hill. This area had been recently planted with trees as part of the National Forest.
We emerged onto Leicester road in Whitwick and followed the road opposite until we came to another Ivanhoe Way signpost. This led into Holly Hayes Wood, which is an area of ancient woodland which has been purchased by the community and is managed by the Grace Dieu valley project. We had a pleasant walk through the woods and then along field edges leading to Agar Nook. We were intrigued by a melted line in the snow in a field. The line was about 1.5 metre wide and crossed the field at a diagonal. There was no footpath in the field and we could only assume that there was a pipeline running under the field which had caused the snow to melt. The melted area continued on the other side of the ditch. Very strange!
We crossed Meadow lane and followed a narrow path alongside Castle Rock school and emerged onto the road at the bottom of Bardon Hill. We were leaving the Ivanhoe way here and turned down the road and followed a footpath beside a brook at the bottom end of Holly Hayes wood. We found two caches as we walked along this stretch. We then came to a large pond; in the past, the pond area in Holly Hayes wood was an area of great beauty. Unfortunately, the dam was breached and the pond filled with debris in the July floods a number of years ago. After over 300 volunteer man hours, the 'Friends of Holly Hayes Woods' have restored the dam and spillway to allow the pond to be retained again. We sat and enjoyed a cup of coffee, until some lads came along with their dogs, which proceeded to jump all over us.
We continued our walk and emerged in Whitwick, near the colliery winding wheel. From here we followed the cycle path –no 52, as we were intrigued to see where it went. It wound through several streets, doubling back on itself to finally get back on the path running through Grace Dieu woods.
As we walked along Grace Dieu Road a flock of geese in formation flew overhead. There must have been about 100, honking and flapping as they went; it was quite an impressive sight. We returned home from here having walked 11.7 km. It was a shame I had forgotten the camera as there were some good snowy pictures around.