Walking around Thornton Reservoir about 4.5 miles there and back. 17/9/2021

Lovely day for a walk. Thornton Water had been requested and you can see why, it has lots of  plus points. No stiles,  great views and lots of wild life.

Guillemots drying off.

A little pause while we all caught up.

A heron in among a flock of geese

Good views of the reservoir. 

On our way back.

Then on to Forest Hill Golf Club for refreshments which is undergoing massive refurbishment and renovations - we were so taken aback by the changes we forgot to take any photos!

Walk from Smeeton Westerby to Gumley 10/9/2021

Friday’s Walk.

From the Leader

I tried the walk from Kibworth, Parking in the School Car Park.  Was just over 7 miles.

Did a survey of how many cars were likely to turn up and found that we could park at Smeaton Westerby and that reduced the walk to just over 5 miles.

We were to meet on Debdale Lane. Three cars turned up, that was 8 walkers.  We were expecting a couple of others, waited a while but when they didn’t arrive we started the walk.

One of our regular walkers had had a cataract operation and didn’t want to risk getting dust in her eye but planned to meet us, with her husband, at The Bell in Gumley.

Due to the incompetence of the Leader he had failed to bring his phone (which had the route on it) or the map of the route so he led the walk from memory.  Experience has shown that this is not a particularly reliable method of achieving the planned walk with this leader, however this time the walk to the pub at Gumley went to plan.

At The Bell we not only met our cataract lady and husband as planned; we also met the missing two plus another who had come in the same car to Smeaton Westerby but had been unable to get to the Debdale Lane starting point and had made their own way.

The Bell were, as usual, excellent and we had coffee and a rest before returning by a slightly different route.

On the way back we missed a footpath sign and so the walk ended up about half a mile longer than planned.  This probably burned off most of the complementary chocolate supplied with  the coffee at The Bell.

As we arrived back at Smeaton Westerby it started to rain. Traditional Friday Walkers’ timing.

Interesting artwork.

Great time had by all - thanks to our leader of the day and photographers.

Friday 3rd Sept walk from Croft to Stoney Cove. app 5 miles.

Four nuns to see us off on our walk from Croft.

Very handsome horse showing off his galloping skills.

Footpath sign leading out of Croft.

Out into the countryside.

Stoney Cove Diving Centre - always something of interest to see. 

Homeward bound.  Interesting decor.

Rather a challenge this stile.

Just cut.  Felt like we were mountaineering!

Not much wriggle room here.

Back through the nature reserve at Croft.

A couple of hours later and six nuns greet us back from our walk - well spotted!