Walk 22/2007 – Jurassic Way – Part 6 – Winwick to Braunston

Sunday 21st October 2007

A very small group of us (4) took the 6th stage of progressing along the Jurassic Way. The weather was spectacular with brilliant blue skies and a crisp fresh air all day. What better way to spend a lovely autumnal day than to be walking and amongst the turning leaves in a variety of greens, oranges, reds and yellows. Today we started at the beautiful village of Winwick, familiar to some of us, as this was where we had completed the last stage of the club’s Jurassic Way journey.

This particular section certainly takes in some picturesque villages and each with their individual churches all very charming in their own way. In addition, Watford also has a enchanting parkland full of huge old sycamores, chestnuts and beeches, this remains from a great estate but where the original house founded in the Elizabethan age fell into disrepair and was demolished in the 1970’s. Within the estate parkland there is an ornamental railway bridge built in extravagant ironwork as the landowner of the time Lord Henley did not want a hideous construction on his land. He certainly achieved his goal and this is where we had a most relaxing lunch together.

Another village that we passed through was that of Ashby St Ledgers, a village of outstanding beauty, it carries strict conservation rules and there are several very attractive old properties manly built to limestone and with quaint thatched roofs, some with eyebrow windows. The main feature is the regal manor house with a very grand entrance gate.

Away from the villages the walk consisted of a great deal of traversing across arable fields recently ploughed and sowed, so quite muddy, as well as grassy meadowland, more comfortable to the feet but again a touch too repetitive for our liking. A number of lively pheasants were spotted throughout the day, but not a lot of other animal / birdlife was observed other than a group of rabbits dashing across one of the fields.

We crossed under the noisy M1 close to Watford Gap, although there is a simple answer to the origin of its name (Ed – well what is the simple answer?), the name did provoke many suggestions and entertainment along the way.

Of fascination was the ‘Watford lock flight’ built in 1996 – a series of 7 transfers in a very short distance on the canal, together with very narrow lock pounds squeezing only one canal narrow boat in one at a time. As a result there has to be a recognised etiquette for passing your boat through the system.

As the day progressed it unexpectedly developed into the ‘day of the apple’. At the Start of the walk two unattractive ornamental pigs were spotted on the post of a gate and they were each nursing an apple in readiness for their apple sauce accompaniment. During the walk we passed an unusual sight of a hedgerow abundantly full of wild crab apples. Finally unknowingly Cathy had also packed a toffee apple for her delicious desert at lunchtime.

Although the walk finished in Braunston, our day concluded by the canal at the Lord Admiral pub. A walk full of a variety as we passed through the delightful villages but not enough variety whilst in the countryside.

Report – Cathy

Walk rating – good

The church at Braunston where we left one car.	A tasteful ornament on a gate in Winwick.
A fluffy white thing.	A picture of crab apples? (requested by Cathy)
An ornate bridge as we approach Watford.	Cathy with her toffee apple.
Typical scenery in the area around Watford.	The church in Watford.
The locks at Watford.	Cathy surveys the scene as Nigel tries to work out where on earth we are.
Cottages at Ashby St Ledgers.	Doves greeted us when we got back to Winwick.