June 2024

On a cloudless, sunny morning, the way led across the playing field, past the new fitness facility, and over to St James’ Church, standing proudly in the azure firmament. From there, down Church Gap and across the fields – and the railway line – with the village of Thorpe-by-Water clearly visible in the distance. The River Welland was sluggish and opaque, covered in reeds and weeds. Under the railway bridge that once carried the Rugby to Peterborough line and across to the village of Lyddington, passing a convenient resting place en route. More fields with long grass and herds of cows on the way to Caldecott where the parish church of St John the Evangelist, proudly pointed its spire towards increasingly cloudy skies. On the way out of the village, a flower shop by the roadside proudly displayed its colourful wares. The fields were covered in waste high grass and walking was difficult. Gretton Weir was low and cluttered, but it was good to see the tower of St James Church once more and to climb back into Gretton past the new houses on the steep path up to Arnhill. Opposite The Bluebell Inn, the Baptist Church had a graveyard wall bedecked with flowers in commemoration and celebration of two hundred years of service to the community. 8.25 miles and 13 stiles.