Saturday 22nd November 2008
It was cold but bright so we set off to do an Ivanhoe Way walk. We drove to Moira and looked for the carpark marked on the map. We found it but it had been closed for some time - looking at the pile of rubble behind the barriers so we parked in the layby. We walked along the road and found the Ivanhoe way signpost pointing across some grassland on a path which had been very churned up by heavy machinery. It was very wet and boggy and I had forgotten to put on my gaiters - wet trousers then! The path crossed new woodland and beside a lake and then crossed several small fields with horses and then newly planted fields which were very muddy. Our boots were very heavy when we left the field. The Ivanhoe Way now passed along the road and into Ashby de la Zouch. This was a pleasant market town where we stopped for a light lunch. We then walked up to look at Ashby castle. Despite having lived within 5 miles of Ashby for 16 years, we had never seen the castle before. We were surprised at how much of the ruins were still there. The castle is not visible as you drive through the town.
It was cold but bright so we set off to do an Ivanhoe Way walk. We drove to Moira and looked for the carpark marked on the map. We found it but it had been closed for some time - looking at the pile of rubble behind the barriers so we parked in the layby. We walked along the road and found the Ivanhoe way signpost pointing across some grassland on a path which had been very churned up by heavy machinery. It was very wet and boggy and I had forgotten to put on my gaiters - wet trousers then! The path crossed new woodland and beside a lake and then crossed several small fields with horses and then newly planted fields which were very muddy. Our boots were very heavy when we left the field. The Ivanhoe Way now passed along the road and into Ashby de la Zouch. This was a pleasant market town where we stopped for a light lunch. We then walked up to look at Ashby castle. Despite having lived within 5 miles of Ashby for 16 years, we had never seen the castle before. We were surprised at how much of the ruins were still there. The castle is not visible as you drive through the town.
Our route then became a bit boring as it was mainly road walking. We headed out of town on the Measham road admiring all the large houses along the way. We crossed the M42 roundabout and turned along the road towards Willesley where we crossed a bridge over the M42 and then walked beside Willesley golf course. We diverted off the lane and walked towards Willesley church and the scout camp. The church was abandoned and had been bought by the scouts for £10. Whilst we were looking for a geocache two men came over and asked if we had found what we were looking for. We explained geocaching to them and then asked about the church. One offered to show us round, so we had a good look at the windows, memorials and the tombstones to members of the Abney Hastings family dating from the 12th century.
It was very interesting and was the high point of a mostly road based walk. It was getting late when we left the church so we followed the footpath to find another cache and then walked back to the car just as the sun was setting. We had walked 13.2km.
It was very interesting and was the high point of a mostly road based walk. It was getting late when we left the church so we followed the footpath to find another cache and then walked back to the car just as the sun was setting. We had walked 13.2km.
No comments:
Post a Comment