We met again at the Red Lion, Hellidon and walked through the delightful village past the old well.
From Lower Catesby we found a few fields to wend our way over to Staverton admiring the Catesby viaduct on the way.
Catesby is wrapped up in history and throughout the walk we tried to remember the facts - Robert Catesby was one of the plotters of the Gunpowder Plot, although apparently it was actually plotted in the gatehouse at neighbouring Ashby St Ledgers. The current Catesby House is a much later addition - I wonder what happened to the Catesby family house at the time of disgrace?
Angel, Tina and Mike's beautiful Golden Retriever, had a few difficulties with the stiles - especially when there were double ones and they were surrounded with barbed wire, but ingenuity worked - using willing backs as stepping stones and with a helpful lift or two. She managed to work out some of them by herself, looking for a point where she could squeeze underneath, although not once did we come across a doggy gate in the stiles.
Eventually we emerged into the village of Staverton where the main road seemed such an intrusion. No-one wanted to stop for liquid refreshments, as we are such hardened walkers in Northants! so we ventured into the really attractive section of the village complete with ironstone cottages and village green - and somewhere hidden away was the next section of the Jurassic Way. A few explorations and help from a local or tow and we were off on our way again. This section was to venture to our turning point, somewhere in the middle of a field, where the next section will meet up. A bench with a view provided a suitable lunch stop and after some discussion about whether to take an obvious, dry track across the previous field, or to wander on to our joining point - we carried on, with the intention of not leaving a gap between the next leg. Probably not the best decision made - we found the mud! Clearly, i had to examine it very closely but luckily, as far as I am aware, there is no photographic evidence. (Photos in this blog are all from the pre-walk!)
Back into Staverton, we took the road to Upper Catesby which helped us to make up for time lost in the muddy section. Legs were aching as we found a sign telling us only two miles to go - however that was by road and we were heading for pastureland.
Soon we were on familiar territory and break into several smaller groups as we headed straight back to the pub for a well earned drink in front of the open fire.
An ideal way to spend Valentine's Day!
Please add a comment if you read this - should I carry on writing the blog or not?
