On a foggy Sunday morning 6 regular members plus a new member to the longer walks started our walk outside the Bell Inn, East Langton.  We took a narrow walkway alongside a house, a couple of doors up from the pub, into a large grassy field, with several sheep with their newly born lambs, towards our 2nd stile and into another small jitty. At the bend we turned left onto the Leicester Round trail, towards Thorpe Langton.  If it had not been so foggy, we would of been able to see a wonderful view of the Welland Valley, stretching up towards Cottingham & Rockingham Castle, but that will be for another time. Our coffee break was at the lovely church in Thorpe Langton just as the clouds were breaking up to show a small glimmer of sun, shine, which remained with us, for the rest of the day. Continuing through the village, it was a shame to see the lovely, thatched village pub, was no longer in use, like so many in recent times. We took a farm track that ran along Stone Cottage Farm, where a farmer driving a tractor, and not paying attention, nearer collided with one of our members, but with him showing a speedy move, managed to jump out the way! Having stopped to apologise, he did offer to give him a lift!  Proceeding down the track, we came to a large ford, there was a sign saying, Bridge Closed, but as the stream was too wide and deep, we took the decision to cross one at a time and with caution, as there were holes in the planks.  Perhaps this is why the farmer, suggested giving us a lift? The next section was by permissive path, which was the continuation of the farm track, passing Langton Caudle and Fox Covert, on our right. At the end, we crossed over the road into Stonton Wyville, a tiny hamlet, for quick drinks stop.  Taking the footpath in the middle of the hamlet, passing some tiny lambs, probably last than a week old, by the medieval fishponds.  After this, there's a steady climb up, passing King Charles Well, although there's not much to see of this now. At the top on a clearer day, you can see the buildings of Leicester in the distance.  From here into Tur Langton, the terrain is undulating grassy fields, but there is a slippery slope near to the village that needs care, coming down, especially if wet underfoot. We walked the length of the village to take lunch at the Mint & Ginger Cafe, which welcomes, bicyclist, walkers and dog owners alike, which very tempting cake selections! Retracing our steps slightly, we took the footpath opposite the village hall, through a house and their garden, horse field and alongside their tennis court, back into a grassy field.  Like all Leicestershire footpaths, they were well marked with the waymarkers and yellow posts, leading us to Church Langton.  Here at the highest point, we looked over towards Foxton and Gartree Prison. On leaving the village, there was a small section of road walking, but there was a footpath, taking us back via the pretty village cricket ground to our starting point, The Bell at East Langton. We saw, lambs, calves, bluebells, violets, primroses, daffodils, a very pleasant walk.

It was a lovely sunny day, just perfect for walking when 5 of us set off from the Riseley Sporting Targets. After parking in the Sporting Targets carpark we set off along a farm access track following the North Beds Heritage Trail. Soon we reached Harings Farm but took a footpath which skirted the farm.  The path took us to a track which we followed through Worleys Wood. Emerging into an open field we could see Melchbourne House.  We then took footpath along the edge of the wood and field. Dropping downhill we reached some ponds and a small stream. Here we turned left on to a footpath which we followed to the Knotting Road.  Turning left we passed the hunt kennels and took  a footpath on the left we followed it all the way back to Harings Farm, passing Penn Wood on the way.  From the farm we retraced our steps back to the start where we took advantage of the café at the the Sporting Targets

Meeting at the rugby club car park on a beautiful sunny early spring day, 10 of us set off by making our way through a narrow jitty to the High Street – Here we crossed the road and turning left we walked to an archway which led us to Olney Surgery out on to West Street. Here we made our way to Long Lane which gently climbed out of the town – It soon turned into a footpath which made its way through estates and houses from many different eras. Crossing over a road the lane continued but now it turned into a footpath which made its way through a pocket park. At the end of the trees the path emerged from the trees to a beautiful open view across to Yardley Chase. We now made our way downhill between two fences. The path continued on through both pasture and arable fields until we reached the remains of a bridge which carried the long defunct Northampton to Bedford railway line which fell foul of the Beeching cuts of the 1960’s. Leaving the track behind we soon made our way to Hungary Hall where we had a break. There is very little recorded about the Hall other than it may be related to the Huguenots and the lace making in Olney. Today it’s a farm. After our break we walked across some fields and crossed back over the railway line with two concrete steps that used to cross over the fences now still in there same position but in the middle of nowhere. Continuing on we passed fields of Lammas and Alpacas before climbing again to a series of stiles – Now walking downhill we made our way to Weston Road where we turned left and walked back into Olney and some magnificent views of the church. Soon we walked to the Market Place and made our way back to the car park and the start. A lovely walk on a lovely day.

Seven of us met at Duck Street Car Park on a very windy, cold damp day. Travelling to Woburn we parked in the free car park in Woburn and walked into the village centre. Leaving the village along the London Road we soon turned off on a footpath into the Deer Park. The footpath passed between two fences and soon entered into the park proper through a high metal gate. We followed the footpath marker posts to a bridge and the head of the Basin Pond. We then followed the footpath posts alongside an access road which climbed uphill alongside the Hopgarden Ponds and over the Chain Bridge. We soon passed the exclusive Paris House restaurant with a taster menu of in excess of £120 per head for 6 courses. We all decided that we would stick to our packup for now. Having passed the restaurant we exited the Deer Park into a field and made our way into Milton Bryan through an old activity centre. Here we made our way to the church where we stopped for a coffee break. During our break we all decided to shorten the walk by a mile because the walking underfoot was so wet and muddy. Also the weather forecast was for heavy rain later in the day. So from the church we walked out of the village on the Eversholt Road and joined the original walk at a waymarked footpath just out of the village. This path led us through a wood then across a muddy arable field, on through an attractive grassy area and dropping downhill to a gate out onto the Eversholt Road. Turning left we walked into Eversholt and onto the very welcoming Green Man Pub where we stopped for our lunch. After our lunch we retraced our steps back along the road to a footpath on the right which led us back into the Woburn Deer Park. Following the marker posts again we followed the path uphill through Purrets Wood and onto to Woburn Abbey which although closed for the winter had major construction work being undertaken. Dropping downhill we passed between the Basin and Stew Ponds we cut across the open park land to the Park Farm with its stables. From here we made our way past the Upper Drakeloe pond back to the car park and the start. As we arrived it started to rain so we had just avoided the walking getting even wetter by the skin of our teeth. We all agreed that it had been a very special walk and well worth the mud and the wet underfoot. The trip home just took a bit of the gloss of the day with us being held up on the M1 for ½ hr because of a car fire!

On a bright, sunny day 6 of us set of from the walker’s car park in Glendon Road. We walked through a small woods, then we emerged in the industrial area where we had to negotiate our way across the busy A43. Walking by the road for a short distance we soon left the traffic behind as we followed the path into Weekly Hall Woods. Following the labyrinth of paths and tracks we followed the edge of the woods making a circumference of the woods with its many different habitats and conditions. After 3½ Miles of lovely walking in the woods we made our way back to the car park having had a great walk.

Starting from the car park at the Country Park 12 of us took the path that led us anticlockwise around the lake. The path led us close to the village of Odell but just before entering the village we turned left and stayed on the path around the lake. Passing many fishing spots all which are named either with a theme related to the country park or a wild animal often seen in the park. Soon we arrived back at the visitor’s centre where we walked to the road. Crossing over through a kiss gate we walked to the church which was open for visitors. Having had an interesting look round we continued on our walk the village green and the lockup. Built in the 1800’s this is regarded as one of the best surviving examples of a 19th century lock up.  Constructed in 1824 it still is in use today but only for storage. From here we crossed over the High Street and walked to the footpath which follows a small stream. Soon we turned left on to another footpath which made its way to some horse paddocks which we walked through in a circle to a lake. Following the path above the lake we soon took a path which followed the shore of the lake until we emerged on to the Odell Road. Here we turned right and walked back to the Country Park and end of a very interesting walk.

Seven of us met at Duck Street Car Park and travelled to Stevington. Parking near the church we set off suitably clothed in wet weather gear as the forecast was for heavy rain later in the day – Leaving dry land on a footpath near the church in gloomy dank weather. We soon passed the well adjacent to the church and soon hit what was going to be the theme for the day MUD. The path followed the line of the River Great Ouse. Having followed the footpath through various grades of mud we came across a notice stating the the footpath was closed due to the conditions under foot. As there was no suitable alternative we all agreed to give it a go and if it was too bad we would retreat and find a pub. Soon we found the area by the river and sure enough it was un-walkable. However we found a very muddy (over boot depth) but walkable alternative which was also well walked. We took this route got very muddy but soon walked into Pavenham where we stopped for a welcome coffee break. After a well-deserved rest we made our way from Pavenham on a series of paths towards Oakley. However we soon met our next muddy test near a farm where the cattle had churned up the mud near a gate where our path passed through. Again we walked through mud over our boots but all safely made it through making our way into Oakley stopping at the Bedford Arms for our 2nd break and our lunch. After another welcome break we walked from the pub to Oakley Bridge over the river and then walked beside the river towards Stevington as the heavy rain started to fall. The path led us away from the river and soon we walked past the Stevington Windmill then into the village back to the start. Surprisingly we all agreed that it had been a very good walk and we all felt very happy for  our day despite the rain and the mud.

Starting from The Green in the centre of Woodford twelve of us headed for Whittlesea Terrace and then Woodford Shrubbery. After walking through the woods we emerged on to a track which we followed to Woodford Grange. Walking past the farm we made our way to the old Northampton to Peterborough railway disused railway track which is used as a walking route from Rushden Lakes to Thrapston. Turning right on to the track we walked along the track crossing over the River Nene twice stopping for coffee at the 2nd bridge. We soon reached the crossing path which leads to Woodford Mill and its teashop. However we decided not to visit the teashop and turned right to follow the Nene Way back to Woodford and the end of the walk. Here some of us visited the Dukes pub for a very welcome lunch after our walk.

Meeting in the Higham Ferrers - Market Square 24 of us set of on a grey Sunday Morning to enjoy a guided walk around Higham. Claire our walk leader led us first along College Road to Chichele College then on to the Cemetery Chapel. From here we continued the walk on a series of footpaths and back ditty’s eventually reaching Shelly Drive and then Northampton Road – From here we headed back to Higham Road and the Tollbar to join The Greenway – Soon we arrived back in Midland Road where she outlined the history of the Parish Rooms, The John Parker Factory and the John White Close. Walking on we made our way into the Castle Field and Claire explained the debate on whether a Castle or a Manor House had been sited there. Walking around the moat we made our way to the Kimbolton Road and back to College Street returning to the Market Square passing various Blue Plaques and visiting St Marys Church and the Bede House. On arriving back at the Square we all made our way the The Carriage House where a further 10 of the group joined us for the group’s annual Christmas Lunch. Many Thanks to Claire for leading the very interesting walk and arranging a very enjoyable belated Christmas Lunch