12th December 2014 Christmas Munch at Acorns, Burbage Woods Visitor Centre.

It was the day of our Christmas Munch, at Acorns Coffee Shop Burbage Woods. www.acornscoffeeshop.co.uk also on Facebook. 

We met at Cosby Village Hall car park 10.30 am as usual. Those who could not make the walk would be meeting at the Visitor Centre, Burbage Woods at 12.00 midday to join the walkers.

Everybody was in very good spirits, the odd Christmas smile and appropriate head gear was evident. 

So, we set off  up Burbage Common Lane towards Elmsthorpe.

N.B. If the phone rings and you stop to answer it you can get behind the crowd a little. We all spotted the straggler for obvious reasons and waited at the railway bridge.  It was news of late arrivals for the walk. They were going to catch up later.

 

We continued towards the Woodhouse Farm Shop and popped in to try some samples and purchases were made. Orders were placed for collection later.

 

Time was marching on so we decided to turn around and head off back to Acorns Coffee Shop at the Visitor Centre where Christmas munch was waiting.

On our way back, everyone was in good spirits looking forward to what promised to be a good Christmas munch.We were not disappointed. On entering Acorns a veritable feast was laid out in front of us. Settling down, we soon start making inroads into the sandwiches, pigs in blankets, roast beef in Yorkshire puddings, various quiche, salads, crisps, dips and pork pies. Mince Pies and scones with cream followed.  There was much more, look at the photographs, nobody was disappointed.

 

 

It was great to meet up with people we'd not seen for a while.

 

Willie and Sheila didn't know where to start so popped on to several tables to try out the delicacies that were available.

 

Smile please

Some beautiful gifts were presented, so much appreciated.  We really enjoy doing what we do and love being part of such an amazing group of smashing people and hope everybody enjoys the walks as much as we do.  Thank you all.

Willie and Sheila thanked Helan, Adam and the team 
 from Acorns. Great Christmas munch and five big stars from the Cosby Walkers. We'll be back soon.












Apart from people going on holiday and those still to complete their Christmas shopping we'll be meeting at the Village Hall car park next Friday at the normal time.

Got a feeling these two have have found a holiday over Christmas. 

5.12.2014 Walking from Blaby to Leicester returning by BUS approx 4.5 miles

Well, it was a bit of a grey day to start with. Meeting at the park in Cosby we drove to the industrial estate on the Blaby By Pass. We started our walk here, straight on to the Great Central Way which goes all the way to the centre of Leicester.

Some info:

The Great Central Way follows the line of the former Great Central Railway, once one of the most important main lines in Britain. Its visionary founder, Sir Edward Watkin, also founded the original Channel Tunnel company 100 years ahead of its eventual completion! He built the London to Manchester "Great Central" railway in 1899, hoping that it would eventually link to France.

The railway closed in 1969, but in the 1980s, the section to the south of the city centre found a new lease of life as a cycleway and footway. By the turn of the 21st century, this in turn became part of the UK's most widespread Millennium project - the 10,000 mile National Cycle Network.

We soon got a move on as the temperature was only about 6 degrees.










We came to a totem pole along the way where another of our regular walkers joined us.

 

























It didn't take long to get to the outskirts of Leicester. We headed for the castle gardens to see how the renovation of the church spire of St Mary de Castro was going.

For info

St Mary de Castro is an ancient, Grade I listed church in Leicester, located within the former bailey of Leicester Castle. Today it acts as a parish church in the Church of England's diocese of Leicester.

The spire has been taken down because it became unsafe.

How it used to look with the spire. It's being rebuilt, completion expected next year.

Out of the castle gardens, we headed for the new Jubilee Square at the top of High Street; this used to be a car park and caused a bit of a to-do when it was announced that the car park was to become a 'people place'. Apparently, it cost four million pounds so we were interested to see if it was money well spent.

On our way into Jubilee Square

The debate continues -  car park or park?

After a good look around the Square we went into Wetherspoons at the top of High Street for a cuppa and a natter.

After our break we walked down the High Street, some to do Christmas shopping and others off to catch the bus.

A report on the bus trip back was e mailed to us.

short version       we go to the bus station and the bus was in, great. The doors were closed and they were playing around with the ticket machine. After 10 mins they let us on so we settled down, got the free paper and  we sat there and sat there then they decided the bus might break down while en route so they told us to get off and on to another bus. After every one had got on the other bus we set off, of course where we got to the bus stops in town with one bus taken out the bus filled up fast, same at every stop and it seemed every traffic light was against  us so it took 1hr and 10 mins to get to Blaby    we all said it would have been quicker to walk back. 

Agree - it probably would have.

Don't forget it's the Christmas munch next week.  Don't have too much chocolate before you start the walk.

28 11 2014. Walking from Ratby to Foresthill Golf Club and back app 5 miles.

Be prepared

We all gathered in the car park at Cosby Village Hall on another very grey morning.

Twelve walkers, all prepared for the walk with the strong chance of rain en-route - the forecast on the radio indicated  rain at about twelve o'clock. So, at 10.30am we set off for a car park on the edge of Martinshaw Woods just outside of Ratby.

All togged up we set off on the Ivanhoe Trail, a cycle path that follows the route we were taking for part of the way.

Martinshaw Woods are extremely beautiful, in late spring they're normally carpeted with masses of bluebells. The sun may not have been shining that morning but mother nature does a great job at any time of the year. Leaving Martinshaw Woods we crossed over Markfield Lane heading towards Burroughs Woods.

 

Taking the Thornton track on the Ivanhoe Trail we passed through Burrough Woods and then up alongside the Forest Hill Golf Club.

As the golf club was our destination for a cuppa we had to make sure we got on the right path.

Yum!

As usual, we spent a good few minutes too long at the cafe. Nobody minded, we were not in a rush and everybody was having a good time.

Eventually, we set off on our return trip.....

........back through the woods towards Ratby.

Wonder where we will be walking next week and will the weather be kind?