 | |
The last leg of the 'Market Harborough Round' beckons. The one or two missing parts have been covered off on more than one occasion previously. So I think I can be excused walking those again. Rather than start in Hallaton we have for the splendidly named 'Weston By Welland' instead. The weather forecast is far from encouraging though. For each hour between 9am - 2pm there is a 70% chance of heavy rain. I'm all prepared with waterproof trousers, 2 raincoats and Wellington Boots. Not to mention a fold up umbrella in the rucksack.
The River Welland pretty much forms the boundary between Northamptonshire and Leicestershire. Leaving the small village behind we pick up the Macmillan Way. There are some excellent views looking back towards Welland. The fields are sodden , the Wellington Boots are proving their worth already. There are a few Sheep about but they show little interest in us. We are walking in the direction of Sutton Bassett. Passing a small farming settlement there are some Shetland Ponies in an enclosure. These are the sort of horses I can cope with , ones smaller than me! We pass the old 'six finger direction post'. I think I've now gone in every direction now. This dilapidated old sign is thought to date back to the second world war. It really could do wit a bit of TLC and re-painting.
 |
 |
We are now on the Midshires Way. The river is really high at the moment. All sorts of debris has collected on the banks and around the bridges. The River Welland is about 65 miles in length. Eventually the river drains towards 'The Wash' in East Anglia. We leave the saturated fields for some track walking There then follows a long steep road session as we make our way towards the village of Slawston.The Wellingtons are starting to rub the toes a bit too much for comfort. Closer inspection reveals a blister is forming to on my right heal. Thankfully I had the foresight to bring my usual walking boots. A quick changeover takes place. The relief is immediate.
 |
 |
On the North bank of the River is the village of Welham.The village has been here since before the Norman conquest.Despite only having a population of around 40 the village has a Church and a pub. We are just about getting our breath back after the long haul up the hill.I must say a swift half at 'The Red Lion' is very tempting.
 |
 |
| Church of St Andrew Welham |
The Welland Valley is regarded as one of the most beautiful areas in the Midlands. Welham seems to be quite a quirky place. A mischevious 'Little Miss Naughty' grins at you from a hedgerow. A long deserted telephone box is left abandoned. No effort to turn it into a book exchange or defibrillator hub. Even the phone is still in tact, it wouldn't let me place a call though. We continue onwards to wards the village of Slawston. A huge metropolis in comparison to Welham. After the haul up the long and winding road I'm not surprised the village lies at over 300 ft.Slawston hills (also known as Mill, Barrow or Burrough Hill) exceeds 400 ft.
 | |
We arrive in Hallaton home of the famous 'Bottle kicking. The famous old Leicestershire tradition that takes place every Easter Monday. I wrote about this in more detail when we walked through the other end of Hallaton in May 2023. The link is below for those interested.
http://peterja-storytellersnight.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-market-harborough-round-6-hallaton.html
I remember at the time lots of Bunting being put up ahead of the King Charles coronation. The charming Butter Cross monument was particularly well decorated as I recall. This would indicate that it was an area where there would have been a market of some sort. No doubt selling locally produced butter and other dairy products. Our path lies to the right down a narrow alley between the houses. It is also a very slippy and muddy alley too...
 |
There has not been a great deal of wildlife sighted so far today. The closest was passing 'Hare Pie Farm' . The significance of the 'Hare Pie' was covered off again in the previously mentioned Hallaton blog. It was on 'Hare Pie Bank' where Historians discovered the lost Chapel of St Morrell. Excavations have revealed the full plan of the chapel as well as the cemetery and evidence that the hillside has been used since at least the Roman period. The chapel is thought to have been a place of pilgrimage in the medieval period. A total of 11 skeletons have been excavated all orientated east-west in the Christian tradition and radiocarbon dated to the 14th century.
 |
| The River Welland |
 |
| Darkening skies |
Amazingly the rain has held off, we have seen it in the distance. The clouds are blowing rapidly in a south easterly direction. Briefly the sun puts in an appearance and we are treated to a rainbow. We have crossed over the River Welland again as we complete the loop back to Weston by Welland. The Market Harborough round is now completed. Today's walk a total of 12.4 miles.
No comments:
Post a Comment