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It's the first day of Autumn and the sun is shining. a perfect day to get out for a walk. It has been a quiet month for walks really, not helped by a bout of Covid which laid me low for a while. Plenty of bike rides though, managing at least a hundred miles per week. So I'm fully fit and raring to go. The starting point today is 'The Wharf'' at Welford marina. A former important Stagecoach stop right on the border between Northampton and Leicester. According to the board in the car park there are 6 local walks that can be done. The one I'm doing today will take me across Welford and Sulby Reservoir up to Sibbertoft. I'm also expecting a mixture of mixture of hard tracks, fields & paths with the odd surprise no doubt. Leaving the car park I cross a small wooden bridge into the lovely little Pocket Park. Postman Pat and his Black and White Cat are also enjoying the good weather!
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Not quite sure of the Postman Pat connection? This seems to be the second statue. The original had been up for 25 years and age had got the better of it. The replacement was put in place in 2019. It's a walk up the Naseby Road to get to the gate of The Welford and Sulby Reservoir. This is also the Jurassic Way footpath. The path goes along the side of the water but you can wander out to the dam for a full view.
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Welford Reservoir is the lower of a pair of reservoirs owned by the Canal and River Trust. The higher part being Sulby Reservoir. I cross the weir that separates them to the gate that leads to open fields. There are several fisherman camped out on the perimeter with all sorts of high tech gear.
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It's good to be out in the fields again. These appear to be very well maintained. Clearly laid out paths and marker posts help no end. It is just a matter of following the paths and crossing the stiles.The biggest challenge is a meadow full of cows. The Stile at the other end is more like a ladder, and it is surrounded by an electric fence. Thankfully the cows seem fairly docile and only show minimal interest in me. Good thing really didn't fancy a sprint to the ladder.. It's a lovely part of the walk actually and a shame to come out onto a concrete path. I believe It's actually part of an old World War II airfield. Time to check my bearings as I'm a bit unsure where to go from here? From nowhere a dog has appeared.It walks round me a couple of times , gives a bark and then wanders off, which suits me just fine. I find the gate to the next footpath and I'm back out in the fields again. There is a pond on the left with a few Morehens that scatter on my arrival. I'm well on the way to Sibbertoft now.
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| Cows in the meadow |
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| Dozing sheep under the trees |
A field of Sheep is all that stands me and the village of Sibbertoft. They, like the cows are very lethargic and show no interest in me. The first part of the walk is complete without mishap or injury. Hope I haven't spoken too soon?
I've noticed several gliders 'gliding' peacefully overhead, doing their own thing. They will be from the nearby Gliding Club at Husbands Bosworth. The Bosworth airfield was built in World War II and housed Wellington Bombers. I'm heading towards the village church which involves a left turn down 'Westhorpe'. There should then be a footpath somewhere on the right hand side. Good thing I'm alert, could easily have missed it tucked away between houses. Somebody often told me' to be alert' 'Your country needs more Lerts'. Got a bit annoying after a while in truth. I can see the church in the distance. Getting to it involves passing a large horse though. I whisper a few flattering remarks which seem to pacify it enough to show no further interest.
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| St Helen's Church Sibbertoft from the rear |
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| and from the front |
In 1086, the time of the Domesday Book there was a Priest in Sibbertoft. The St Helen's Church we see today though dates from 200 years later. Sometime in the 13th century. The tower at the west end of the church is 14th or 15th century. Outside the church there is a memorial stone to the noted Botanist Reverend Miles Joseph Berkeley, who died in 1889. He famously catalogued the fungi collection from Charles Darwin's Beagle voyage. Inside the church several ladies are busy preparing for the upcoming harvest festival celebration. Time for a spot of lunch before heading back towards Welford. Getting out of Sibbertoft proves to be a bit tricky. I take the opportunity to have a look at the War Memorial in Church St. After a bit of searching I manage to find the Bridleway on the right hand bend of the Naseby Road. The area that I'm walking is right on the edge of the famous Naseby battlefield of 1645.
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It's a slow downhill through fields and grassy tracks leading to a copse. The next field leads to a wood close to Sulby Grange. Coming out of the words there is an uphill track that leads back to the road. I cross over and pick up a vague footpath through another field of Cows and Sheep.
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One gate leads to another,only this time I don't like the look of what lies beyond.Some very large black cows have risen to their feet and are providing a welcoming committee. Looking at the sign I see that I'm on 'The Shakespeares Avon Way' footpath. I've walked this bit before , not that I remember it? The decision is made to walk back up the hill to the Naseby Road. That will take me back past the reservoir and back to the Wharf in relative safety.
So much for it being a 6 mile walk, I've clocked up 7.5 taking into account the odd detour. Nice to get out walking again.
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