Newtown - Walton

As two of the walking troup had been working all day,we only had time for a short evening walk this week.  Luckily we are still within a decent driving distance just to do a couple of hours.  The weather was also very very hot and clammy which made walking quite tiring.

This week we were joined by my 17 yr old daughter Shona, who had a night off work and fancied a little stroll.

We started off at the Village Green in Newtown, last time we were here it was raining so it was nice to see it in bright sunlight.

We then walked out of the Village, following the acorns that mark the route.

We had to walk more or less into someones garden area, the walkway was not the most obvious we have seen, having to walk between the fence then down a narrow path, before actually walking through someones garden - past their greenhouse and trampoline  :)

Then it was into a fiels full of sheep.  Mrs Sheep was very vocal towards us and was threatening to "see us off" but we just moved quickly past her as to not upset her, she was protecting her babies after all :)

We walked out of Mrs Sheep's field and through a field full of pony's and a horse.  This field has a had which was being protected by two very loud Dalmatians, despite their fierce, threatening barks, their tails were wagging like mad!!

Passing the dogs, we started to descend, we were very thankful that it was nice weather as the steps, I imagine, would be very hazardous if wet, they were very used, polished stones.  The view was gorgeous.

Through another couple of fields brought us to a gorgeous little wooded area, walking over a bridge we crossed a pretty little stream where Dotty Dog had a refreshing drink.

Back out into a Farmers field we had to pass some young male bullocks, these are always worrying to walk past as you never know if they are going to charge or not, they especially don't care for the Dog, even though she was on a lead at that point.

We then walked out onto the road and towards another pretty little wooded area, coming out into another Farmers field where we spotted this sign....

Think he has had some issues in the past  :)

Walking on, my Hubby offered me a bit of a half melted penguin biscuit he found in his rucksack!!.... I declined.

Exiting this field we entered the Village of Walton, a pictureque little place with gorgeous little cottages and the most amazing views.

It also has a pub called The Centurion - not sure if this is still a "working" pub or not, it was shut when we passed around 7pm.

A short rest on the Village chair, then off we trotted down the road to the car.

Dotty was very hot and tired, and slept very soundly that night  :)

Total walked today- approx 2.5 miles.  Time spent - approx 1.00 hrs walking.

Grand Total - Miles 28 / Time 11.45 hours.

Crosby On Eden - Newtown

As we only completed a few miles on Sunday, we decided we would take a stroll out on Monday evening as well.

Of course we started where we left off, parking by the church in Crosby On Eden.  It was at this point I realised my camera didn't have a memory card in, so  I had to borrow a camera, hence the poor photographs this time.

Walking up the road towards Crosby Lodge, a country house hotel in beautiful surroundings, we turned left just before we reached it and crossed a bridge over the A689.

Our route then took us past a farm, where cute little Shetland ponies were eating their dinner.

We then walked up a little lane, with trees either side, and onto a country roads. At the point the rain started, and the waterproofs dug out of the rucksacks !

The next road we came to was a muddy farmland road, so narrow you wouldn't want to meet a trac...... tor!

Or FOUR !!!

Four times we had to climb into the hedge to let the farm vehicles past, not fun with a daft Spaniel!!

We passed the farm, and crossed a little road to then walk through about 6 fields.  Field after field, grass after grass.  Still, by this point it had stopped raining and the coats were now tied around our waists.

Saw some cute bunnies about the same size as my fist.  (Dotty Dog was well and truly on the lead now, bunny smells excited her somewhat!)

The last field was an interesting one, first it started off with a wall..... unfortunately not Hadrian's Wall, but a wall made from tyres,

Into the field we walked across a mount, built up from both sides, we wondered if this was actually the site of the wall, but who knows?  The field had obviously been something, it was very uneven and unnatural.  Very interesting.  It also had a tiny little tarn in the centre.

At the end of this field we found a box, as there was a sign saying "temporary toilet" i was being wound up that you actually squatted in this box and did your doo. Reluctantly I lifted the lid and it was full of goodies  :)   PHEW!

We left the field and onto a road, where we were on our last leg towards the village of Newtown.

We ended on the village green, where we will park to start next time :)

Total walked today- approx 4.5 miles.  Time spent - approx 2.00 hrs walking.

Grand Total - Miles 25.5 / Time 10.45 hours.

Carlisle - Crosby On Eden

A nice crisp morning on Sunday when we set off for our wall-walk.

Staring where we left off at the modern art sculpture behind the Sands Centre, we headed off in the direction of Rickerby and away from Eden Bridges (this photo is looking backwards to the bridge)

Heading towards Rickerby, we had to walk inbetween Stoneyholm Golf Course and the River Eden.  It was just a short trot until the Suspension Bridge came into view in Rickerby Park.  

(A memorial suspension bridge from St Aidans Road was erected along with the cenotaph and on the 25th May 1922, Rickerby Park was formally opened and handed over to the City of Carlisle for the benefit of the public.) 

This is a walk we do quite regularly with Dotty Dog.

Past the golf club, we then walked over the bridge, taking time to take a little photo from the bridge.

This view is looking back towards Carlisle.....

This one is looking away from the City ....

And through the gate into Rickerby Park.

Rickerby Park is a beautiful park with some gorgeous huge trees.  Great for collecting conkers when you are young :)

If you look across the park you can see the Civic Centre as mentioned in a previous blog.

A little further on is the Cenotaph.

The war memorial cenotaph is situated in the centre of the park and was originally dedicated to the fallen of World War I.

An imposing but simple structure, the memorial bears the following WWI inscription which reads:“To the immortal memory of the men and women of Cumberland and Westmorland who gave their lives during the Great War and in honour of the glorious services of Border Regiment, Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry, Cumberland Brigade Royal Field Artillery and The Westmorland Detachment R.A.M.C”. 

After Dotty had a paddle in a filthy puddle it was time to leave the park and head on up into the village of Rickerby.

On leaving the park we walked up a little path inbetween the road into Rickerby and some corn fields.

Past the entrance to what was Eden School, this is the Study Quiet at the gate.

A little further on the left is "Folly's Tower" - In fields just beyond Rickerby Park is an octagonal Victorian folly tower erected by George Head Head. He owned Rickerby House in the 19th Century, at a time when towers and turrets were in vogue. There are several more towers built into the Rickerby Gardens and Farm buildings. , I wouldn't mind living in that!!

In the actual village is another very old building which has above the door "Boys School 1835".

Leaving the village took us out onto the main road and over the M6 motorway and towards the village of Linstock.

This is the view looking South.

Then it was time for lunch, and as it happens there was a nice little picnic table waiting for us on the side of Linstock.

Lunch today was Egg May Sarnies :)

In an attempt to keep Dotty Dog from drinking out of muddy puddles, we purchased this cool cadget, it slips onto water bottles and then clips onto your belt.

She had one slurp then refused to even look at it!!

Dinner over, we walked through Linstock, a pretty little village with some lovely houses.

Out of the village and onto a muddy country lane, that we have come to know so well :)

This led us back along the River Eden, where there was some gorgeous flowers and fauna to photograph.

The end of the path brought us out between some houses and into the village of Low Crosby.

Walking through Low Crosby brought us to Crosby On Eden and a pub called The Stag, where we treated ourselves to a celebratory pint :)

Total walked today- approx 5 miles.  Time spent - approx 2.00 hrs walking + 15 mins eating lunch.

Grand Total - Miles 21 / Time 8.45 hours.

(Personal weight lost last week - 3lb , totalling -5lb :) )