Leicestershire Round (12) Launde Abbey to Fearn Farm (7m)

August 2004...Weather hot and humid with slight breeze.

The walk started at Launde Abbey, past the lake and Launde Park Wood, and over the River Chater. We then go up a long steep hill and up on to Ridlington Ridge and turn right. Further along we search for a Trig point (191m) that is in a field of corn with no path along the edge. Eventually we found it, one face showing, buried in a hawthorn hedge.

The path then leads down into Belton in Rutland and dinner in the lynch gate of the Church of St. Peter, hiding from the heat of the sun. The village seemed very peaceful considering the closeness of the A47, and made a nice spot to stop looking down the street past the village cross. Today was another first where several hoverflies pitched on the arms.

From Belton we cross the A47 and reach the Church of St. Peter at Allexton. The Church is basically late Norman (1160-1180). Leaving Allexton we climb up and down and reach Fearn Farm, about half way to Hallaton. We were to visit the Trig Point but the sound of thunder made us cancel until next time.

Due to heavy rains we lost our way and found ourselves in Market Harborough, where the town centre was flooded and we had to return to try to pick our way through the villages of South Leicester. Heavy rain accompanied us most of the way home, and for the second walk running we were very lucky with the rain.