The Market Harborough Round (7) Billesdon & Skeffington

We are back in the village of Tugby for this our seventh leg of the Market Harborough Round. We are parked up in the Community Centre Car Park next to the Allotments. We set off in a clockwise direction towards the village of Rolleston. It's mid morning and it's already in the mid 20's and very humid. We are soon out amongst the rolling countryside that is so familiar on this walk. Archie (The  Dog) takes every opportunity to cool off at every waterhole.

We pass Briery Leys Spinney and take a slight detour in the direction of Goadby.According to the map there is a large lake just down the hill on the Rolleston Hall Estate. Also, tucked away in the woodland in this small hamlet is the Church. (St John The Baptist).This small chapel consists of a west tower, and nave and chancel all in one. The tower is the oldest part of the church dating to the 13th century but the top stage with its battlements dates from the restoration in 1740. 

Things quickly start to get very difficult.... The next field is very overgrown. We miss the footpath sign as a result and have to back-track to find it. The Footbridge too is covered in Thistles and Nettles. I am really regretting the decision to wear shorts at this point, the legs are getting stung all over. Somehow I seem to have either been stung or bitten under the chin too. Even the old varicose veins seem to have expanded....I'm not happy and vow never to wear shorts again. The footpath takes us the the busy Harborough Road which we cross. 

The footpath continues the other side of the road. Unfortunately there is no obvious footpath. The field is shoulder high with crops of the Oil Seed Rape variety. Rather than risk 'death by a thousand cuts' trying to hack our way through we make the unanimous decision to take the road route to Billesdon.      

Church at Skeffington

It is definitely the right decision as we pass the village pub, 'The Queens Arms'. A pint of Theakston's Mild goes down very well indeed.  Billesdon has a population of 901 according to the 2011 census. This small chapel consists of a west tower, and nave and chancel all in one. The tower is the oldest part of the church dating to the 13th century but the top stage with its battlements dates from the restoration in 1740.Or sword shaped hill , so maybe it once had a sharp ridge? The Church here is also dedicated to St John The Baptist. 

We leave Billesdon passing Kates Hill Farm. We see the footpath that we would have originally emerged from. We continue uphill past the cemetery. We are heading in the direction of Skeffington through some lovely woodland.  

 

 The village's church is dedicated to St Thomas Becket, and dates from the 1th Century. Skeffington Hall is a 15th-century Manor House which stands in parkland off the main street.The house was originally constructed in about 1450 and extended c1530 and again in the early or mid 17th century. It's the third beautiful village/Hamlet we have visited today. A cracking walk at a touch under 10 miles.