The Leicestershire Round

7th October 2006

(Hinckley) - Barwell via Burbage Common (5.5 miles approx.)

Rail verses Bus

Travelling to the start of a walk by rail is such an enjoyable experience. Having bought an AMT latte and Independent paper to enjoy on the train, I listened to the hub-bub of continual chatter as the train tuk-tukked along the track. On buses, people are so silent and lifeless. I am a self-professed adherent to train travel.

The Hinckley Walk

Hinckley is off the track of the Leicestershire Round, so I had to walk along a few residential streets to reach my path again. Instead of the autumn berries, badger setts and butterflies, I had manucured gardens, 4-wheel drives and asphalt. Still, it added to the variaton of my walk.

The Point of Confusion

Being a bit finickety and being determined to cover all of the Round, I went back to where I went wrong last time. It looks obvious now, but when I was tired last time, I easily missed this turning to the right. Instead I ended up being covered in spider's web and crane fly husks, battling my way through the rough terrain ahead.

After my missed point, I back-tracked to the Sapcote Road and continued the Round. The long shadows give an idea of how pleasently cool this morning was at this time.

Beyond The Grave

Heading out of Hinckley, I crossed over this muddy field that was eased by these gravestones making the way easier. I felt a bit outraged that the memories of people's lives had become convenient stepping stones for ramblers. But I must admit, they were very useful...

As I walked out of Hinckley, Burbage Wood loomed before me like a wooded Tsunami. Speeded up over time, the woods would seem like that, advancing over abandoned land, taking over the land that was once theirs.

I could have mistaken it for cheeky squirrels, but it was the breeze that knocked the acorns from their cups high in the trees and sent them plummeting down to earth. How many of these will end up as new trees? How many of these will end up as food?

This is the Big Mother who made all of the acorns above. I wonder if the little acorns looked up at their mum and sighed to themselves 'One day I shall grow up to be as big as you.'

There is something very natural about walking in a wood (and I'm not just talking about the nature.) Mind you, we have been doing it for millions of years, and it's only in the last few hundred years that it's now become the exception to walk in a wood, and not the norm.

A bridge. The entrance to Burbage Common. I was interested in the markings of paint and rust that time had created over the iron works of the bridge. I had lined up my camera to take a close up of the bridge. Unknown to me, a dog had been watching as I set up by picture taking stance, and just as my finger pressed the button, it barked loudly. The picture didn't come out well.

The path could have carried on over Burbage Common but, oh no, it had to take this detour through the mud flats of Sheepy Wood. After the long hot summer and drought, nature is perhaps thinking about making up for it with regular downpours.

After the quag-mires of Sheepy Wood, the easy going surface of Hinckley Golf Course was refreshing to walk on. I had to be careful to stay out of shot's way. The players did see me coming and waited patiently for me to pass.

The late warm autumn weather has created a new flush of foliage in the hedgerows and wasteland. You could almost be forgiven for thinking this shot was taken in springtime. Thank goodness I was not wearing shorts.

I was amazed by the flutterings of butterflies I came across (is 'a fluttering' a collective noun for burtterflies?). This Red Admiral was enjoying a laze in the sun.

This is the reason why there are so many nectar-feeding insects around at the moment - ivy flowers. It provides a late supply of nectar, and plenty of it too! It was as busy as watching a Buddleja in high summer.

This Red Admiral has certainly been through an active summer. It's underwings looked old and mottled, still able to support it, but for how long? Chances are that it will not survive the winter. It was still working as busy as a bee though.

Talking of bees, there were plenty of those around as well. Bee-keepers around the country rely on the ivy flowers for their supply of honey late in the year. Bees will work frantically at this time of the year to store as much pollen and nectar as they can before hibernating in the winter.

A picture to show the passing of the autumn harvest. Although they are a bit past it for us to eat, I am sure that the birds will still rely on the dried blackberries as a food source throughout the winter.

Leading to Barwell Lane, this path crossed through a patch of field dominated by Giant Horsetail plants. They were certainly bigger than the average Horsetail found in the garden, but nothing compared to the giant Horsetails the dinosaurs lived amongst, which stood as tall as trees and eventually became our supply of coal we use today.

I saw this sign, luckily at the edge of the field, after I had just crossed the A47. It was lying discarded on the field. I reckoned that the bull had long since gone, but I kept out a very wary eye, just in case.

This fallen tree could have a bull hidden behind it. I kept an eye out for any unusual swishing of nettles, rattling of branches or moving mounds of earth. These bulls can get quite clever when they put their mind to it.

Safely out of the bull field (and having seen no bull) I made my way to the center of Barwell to catch one of the frequent buses from here to Leicester city center. Compared to last time, I felt very refreshed after this walk. Mind you, it was only a fraction of the distance!