1st May 2015 Circular walk from Fleckney via Smeeton Westerby. Approx 5 miles.

May Day and rather nippy, but the sun was out and it stayed much the same throughout the walk. Sixteen of us set off from the car park in Fleckney.

It was only a short walk out of Fleckney into the fields and out towards the canal.  At the canal we took a right turn along the tow path towards Saddington.

We then came across the Saddington Canal tunnel - it's unusual as it can take two boats side by side rather than the normal one.

We all went down to take a closer look.

Some info:

The Leicester Canal Smeeton and Saddington to Kibworth.

Saddington Tunnel and The Leicester Section of The Grand Union Canal.

 This slightly crooked Leicester Canal tunnel was constructed in 1797 and is 808 metres

 long and available for two way working for boats of 3.96 metres or less beam and maximum

 of 2.13 metres high. The tunnel does not have an internal towpath -

 if walking or cycling along the Leicester Canal's towpath then follow the marked route

 which goes up and over the hillside directly following the tunnel's subterranean route.

Saddington Feeder Arm connects the Leicester Canal with Saddington Reservoir -

 fed by water from Saddington and Laughton Brooks, the reservoir was constructed

in the 1790s as a water source for the canal.

 After inspecting the entrance we then walked over the grassed top of the canal to the exit on the other side.

Here we found some local people with their dogs, one appeared to have 
 taken lessons on spectacular dives!

His name is Alfie

Leaving the canal towpath the footpath turned left over the fields towards Smeeton.

 The party got split up due to a bit of gossip which was totally engrossing.

Somebody forgot to switch the phone off.

                       

     Catching up at last.

This seat was put in exactly the right spot.

On the way to the pub.

Waiting for coffee and tea

Bridle path back to Fleckney.

Willie and Sheila having a rest.

Last mile of the walk, the weather got better.

During the walk it was planned that next week we would do a bluebell walk through Ratby woods.

Great walk see you next week.

Friday 24th April 2015 Peatling Magna and round walk via Arnesby Approx 4 mls.

At the Village Hall Car Park we were joined by a young walker – considerably less than half the age of any of the rest of us.  She is taking an NVQ in Photography at Leicester College and as part of her course wants to prepare a portfolio on local walks/walkers.  She lives in Cosby and found us through the blog and just came along.

She will probably join us for the next couple of walks (which may include the Bluebell Walk which should make nice photos).

There were 12 of us.

We parked at Peatling Magna and did a round walk via Arnesby – mostly off road though we used part of the little used Foston Church to Arnesby Road to finish. The start took us towards the Mill at Arnesby.

Fantastic weather, marvellous to be out as the trees were greening up, the rape showing yellow and plenty of blossom.

 It was a fairly short walk and without a coffee stop.  

When we'd finished we went to the Glebe Garden Centre where we had coffee and cake.

A walker whose birthday it was brought along some home made Welsh cakes for us to celebrate her birthday (which was 24th April).  We didn’t ask her how old she was.

Below we have photos of the day.

See you all next week.

17-04-2015 Walk from Groby Pool to Bradgate approx 5 miles

The walk today started at Groby Pool and on to Newtown Linford where we had coffee and some very tasty cakes at Jades cafe.

Our walk back to Groby took us through some woods where there was a fantastic display of primroses.  We could see the bluebells were just about to come into flower, definitely worth another visit soon.