21st June 2019 Walking from Fosse Meadows via Frolesworth to the Mucky Pig in Claybrooke Magna

Email sent to walkers in preparation of the walk.

On the longest day, in line with the tradition it is To The Woods Fields.

We start from Fosse Meadows Main Car Park – The nearest Post Code I can find is LE10 3AB.  We walk to the Mucky Pig and then back via what seems to be the Maseratti Graveyard.

As usual just under 5 miles.  I walked it today – hardly getting lost at all. There are no stiles and no mud but there are a few nettles, but not as many as I had expected. There are several fields of rape, but they are now seed.  There is a field of pea like plants - see photo.

Bring sun cream and for hay fever sufferers their Piriton tablets.

Either meet in Cosby Car Park as usual or at the Fosse Meadows Main Car Park at 10:45.

If you are going direct please let me know.

Photographs taken (not many).  This is only the preparation for the walk.

Friday 21^st June, Fosse Meadows, Frolesworth, Claybrooke Magna, and back. Stopping at the Pig In Muck for coffee.

It was the longest day, the sun was shining, we decided it was time to get away from hard surfaces. There had been some rain but the ground was dry enough.

We were 28 starting from the main car park at Fosse Meadows and after a short walk up the old roman road we struck off across fields towards Frolesworth. 

As we entered Frolesworth we turned again across fields towards Claybrooke Mill and Claybrooke Magna.

The recent rains had helped the crops which were flourishing. The farmers had cleared the footpaths through the fields. It had also encouraged the nettles and thistles, though some of our braver members were in shorts.

In Claybrooke we walked through the village to the Pig In Muck where we sat in the sunshine with refreshments.

Claybrooke is about two thirds of the way round the walk so after the break it was a short walk back to the Car Park.

Let’s hope that this is the beginning of the fine weather.

14th June 2019 Walking to Kings Lock from Blaby.

It had rained – newspapers were talking about a month’s rain in a day. Somewhere in Norfolk had recorded over 4 inches of rain in one day.

This seemed the time to go for a hard surface walk so the walk was arranged to go along the old Great Central Way from Blaby towards Leicester. The plan was to walk to the King’s Lock Tearoom for coffee and cake and then walk back along the canal if the towpath was passable, or back the way we had come.

18 of us set off, we were to pick up one of our group at the totem pole in Glen Parva.

We enjoyed the walk along the disused railway line and eventually dropped to the canal side near to the point where the canal and the River Soar meet.

                                   

 We did notice the towpath under the bridge at that point was flooded, though was passable.  

                                                       

                                         

                                         

We took our usual “Walkers on a Bridge” photograph.

Sadly we came across the notice telling us that due to the inclement weather the Kings Lock Tearooms were closed.

                                         

Disappointed, we checked our phones to see what cafes/bars were open nearby when one of our group suggested that we walk to her house and she would provide coffee and cake. This we did, as the weather steadily improved. So, thanks to our hostess, we sat outside drinking coffee and cake in the sunshine. A very sociable occasion.  

Then a short walk back to Blaby.

                                        

                                        

True troopers always save the day.

7/06/2019 Walking from Peatling Magna to Foston (rain interrupted) approx 3 miles.

Forecast was not brilliant.

Have to say the weather man did get it right and it was a very wet day.

Only required on hot sunny days.

We started from the The Cock Inn and proceeded in the direction of Foston. It was raining at this point in time but quite light, nothing that our waterproofs couldn't cope with.

After walking out of Peatling Magna we encountered a farmer holding up the traffic retrieving about a dozen cattle that had escaped from a field. Then, after they had secured the cows we continued on our walk only to come across another cow wandering up the road. Later we found out that it was in fact a bull, a very large BULL, he was a big boy. The farmer came by in his pick up and attempted to coral said bull but to no avail. The bull turned round and disappeared down the road.
Ten minutes later coming up the road was another farmer in another pick up leading the bull.

We all stood on the side of the road, out of harms way hopefully, as they proceeded up the lane.

 They were virtually parallel with the group when the bull turned tail, ran down the lane, then jumped over the hedge and the fence then disappeared across the field of corn at about 50 miles an hour with one of the farmers in hot pursuit although losing ground rapidly. That was the last that we saw of the farmers and the bull. Quite an exciting episode.

Continuing on our walk at a more leisurely pace we saw places where the cows had left their mark on the road so we fathomed out that they had travelled quite a distance. Then we came across evidence of where a car, possibly a pick up, had left the road and gone through the hedge. 

So we solved the mystery of how the herd got out and went for a walk along the lane.

Sheltering from the rain we decide to continue to the next cattle grid and if the rain persisted we would turn back.

The rain continued so after a couple of group shots, we set off back to the cars then round to The Garden Centre in Countesthorpe to dry off.

Very interesting walk, wet, fraught with apprehension (not everyone likes to meet a bull walking towards them) and a bit of detective work trying to solve the mystery of how the cows went walkabouts.
Could this be the winner in the 'Bird on the fence' photo competition

It was a Yellow Hammer. Very rare and not easy to spot.

 Great photo as was the photos of the Bull.
Thanks for the photos boys.
See you all next week for more gripping stories from the Cosby Friday Walking Group.

31.05.19 Walking in Bradgate Park approx 4.5 miles with a surprise.

Walking in the Bradgate Park Estate  located on the edge of Charnwood Forest. The park lies 6 miles north-west of Leicester and 7 miles south of Loughborough.

We all met at Hallgates car park.

Several walks start from Hallgates car park, the shortest walk to the Deer Barn Tearoom and Visitor Centre. Short walk across fields to Swithland Wood. Toilets (including wheelchair accessible). 

Today we are walking an anti clockwise route around the perimeter of the park.

Bradgate Park was first enclosed as a deer park around 800 years ago. It provides 830 acres of publicly accessible countryside close to Leicester City Centre.

The Park offers a wild and rugged landscape with dramatic rocky outcrops and gnarled old oak trees, many of which are well over 500 years old. The landscape offers some of the finest views, and is rich in change throughout the seasons. 

Climbing up towards the upper car park at Hunts Hill close to Old John.

Joined today by a younger walker who enjoys the outdoors as well as keeping fit with other sporting activities.

On the top parts of the park there was  a brisk breeze and a few grey clouds moving across the sky.

Getting close to the top with some wonderful views behind us.

Photo to send home to mum and dad.

Well earned breather at the top before our descent into Newtown Lindford.

On our way down to our half way point. Of course we'll have to stop for cake and tea, even coffee.

 Who can argue with this?

Cake stop - well, we all look happy enough now.

 Scones and rocky road - yum.

Surprise, surprise for an unsuspecting couple of walkers.

A golden wedding anniversary and an opportunity not to be missed -  flowers, a theatre token and a card were presented followed by a speech and photos just of how it used to be.

The blushing bride

 Shock horror, the speech is all about us!

The happy couple.

                                           

Do you remember 50 years ago there were flowers and cake - and we still have flowers and cake!

Cheers!

Back to the serious business of cake and a drink.

Scrumptious!

Scones with cream and jam or is it jam and cream?

 A beautiful part of Leicestershire to sit and watch the world go by.

Including the bird life.

Swans with their brood, keeping an eye on them from a respectful distance.

 Chilling out.

A lovely day enjoyed by all - congratulations to our Golden Wedding couple - a very special day.💕