2026 Walking Group
Owing to illness a number of walk reports are absent. These will be added as time allows
Wyvern Probus Walk Report 5th August 2026
The August walk location and route was chosen by Brian Marlow but he was ably supported and led by Martin Waddington.
Brian and Martin were joined by Charles Stewart and Bonnie, David Caines, Gordon Squires and Richard Ward as we all assembled on the Car Park af the Ashby Arms in Hungarton. A heavy shower of rain had fallen prior to us meeting but by the time we were due to start the walk. it was dry and after the recent hot weather, quite cool.
We set off heading towards the Church which was designated as the start point of the walk. We passed the church walked down a slope to a point where there was a choice of route, down a steep narrow path on our right or though a gate straight in front of us, we chose the gate. This eventually took us in to a large open field with a line of trees immediately to our left, very pleasant walking. We were looking for a foot bridge in the trees - we found it and crossed in to another field. The route took us to the Hungarton Road which we crossed into another field. There was now a steady upwards climb to the next junction in the walk. David and Richard, in deep conversation, walked past it and had to be called back to join the others.
We were now heading towards Inkerman Lodge. On reaching it there was slight confusion as to which way to go, soon sorted. The walk took us along a path with high hedges on either side towards a small wood where we were looking for an old Railway carriage on the edge of it. We found it and continued though the wood which consisted of well-spaced and very tall old trees. Leaving the wood, we entered Park Road within a few yards of Whites Barn.
The weather had now, for some time, been warm and sunny and as we walked along Park Road, we were ready for a coffee stop. On reaching Quenby Lodge it was decided this would be the place, with Martin and Brian dispensing coffee and Jaffa cakes. Refreshed and ready to move on we crossed an awkward stile and continued the walk with Quenby Hall a short distance away on our left. Having mentioned a stile, we lost count of the number we crossed during the walk, some including double ones, causing difficulties to aged legs and muscles!
We left the field crossed a footbridge over a dry brook, climbing up a steep bank into tall grasses which made finding the right path a bit of a problem. The last stretch of the walk includes a long descent through a very large field of oats with great views over to Charnwood. We re-entered Hungarton along the narrow path we had considered at the start of the walk, carried on through the village and back to the pub for lunch.
A very pleasant lunch rounded off a yet another very enjoyable and entertaining Probus Walk.
A PS for the walkers. My surprise was a very enjoyable, proper afternoon tea, including their superb home-made cakes and delicacies with two other ‘surprise friends’ in attendance.
Richard Ward
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Wyvern Probus Walk Wed. 4th March 2026
The morning was somewhat dull and foggy as Charles Stewart and Bonnie, Chris Mitchell, Gordon Squires, Brian Marlow and Richard Ward met at the Fox Inn, in North Luffenham. We set off shortly before 10.00 am, walking thought the village to the church yard. He graveyard contains 31 graves looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and includes eight Canadians who died in the 1950s when the RCAF were based at Luffenham.
Leaving the churchyard by climbing over the only stile we would encounter on our walk we set off over a grass field walking downhill towards a foot bridge crossing the River Chater. The path continued upwards over another somewhat boggy field to a gate opening onto the North Luffenham road We walked along this road for a short distance, crossing the Oakham to Peterborough railway line, and then turned onto Pilton Road. This is a relatively quiet tree lined road. As we approached a grass field on our left with a van parked in it. we could hear dogs barking. When we got nearer a number of mixed breeds rushed up to the gate. Bonie just looked at them, totally not bothered. A young women came up to them a dog walker. Further on we passed Briar Wood, hidden behind large locked wooden gates without any indication as to what might be behind them. On the other side of the road, we read an information board about the now defunct quarrying operations including the use of miniature railways in this area of Rutland.
Having walked along the road for just over half a mile we left the road just short of Pilton Village and joined a 1.2-mile bridleway which would take us to South Luffenham. This bridleway is normally dry and firm underfoot but at the moment parts of it are wet and very muddy. We stopped approximately halfway along to take our usual coffee break with Kit Kats and Penguin Biscuits to accompany the coffee. (See photos taken by Chris and Brian.) We had very pleasant and panoramic view over the undulating countryside looking back at North Luffenham and the remains, almost on the skyline, of the Air Field.
We then carried on along the bridleway till we reached South Luffenham. We walked through the western edge of the village along the road leading back to North Luffenham. The road under the main line railway bridge was still partially flooded a week or so ago it would have been difficult to walk through it. A litter further along we once again crossed the River Chater at Moor Bridge. In the bank, adjacent to the Bridge is a man-made slope with stone slabs still visible in the sides which would have allowed cattle being driven along the road to get to the water.
Just past the bridge we left the road and took a field footpath which led us up a fairly steep slope back into the east end of North Luffenham. We completed the walk through this attractive village and returned to the pub. By now the sun was out and it was a warm and pleasant day.
We all enjoyed some liquid refreshment and a very pleasant meal in, as we all agreed, is a very attractive and well-kept Hostelry.
Richard Ward
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Wyvern Probus Walk Report 7th January 2026
Halt – Who goes there. The Keys – Whose Keys? - David Caines’s Keys. No, not the Tower of London but the Village Green in Exton - but more of the ‘keys’ later.
The Green was the meeting point for our first walk of 2026 organised and led by Charles Stewart. Joining Charles were David Mitchell, Chris Mitchel, David Caines Mike Stephens. Martin Waddington and Richard Ward. There was, as we met, a slight drizzle in the air but that soon dissipated and for most of the walk it was dry and sunny. Charles had planned an approximately four-mile circular walk through Exton Park, as far as Fort Henry, and back to Exton. Lunch at 12.30 pm at the Twisted Trout in Empingham, the pub in Exton is currently closed.
We set off at 9.50 am, through the village to join the Viking Way on the edge of Exton Park. Shortly afterward we met a dog walker who warned us of sheet ice further along the bridleway. Sure enough, just past the cemetery we encountered a stretch of frozen water on the path, a reminder of the recent icy conditions. We continued the walk with Tunneley wood on our right until we reached the end of the wood and a fork in the path. A turn to the right would have taken us along a mile long bridleway straight to Fort Henry. Charles suggested a slightly longer route, which we took, turning left and continuing along the Viking Way for a half mile or so to join a long straight path heading due east to Osprey Wood. At the point where Osprey Wood meets Toll Bar Spinney, we descended a long and steep set of steps into a wooded valley. Once we were all safely down, we stopped to enjoy a welcome winter warmer supplied by Charles accompanied by the Jaffa Cakes.
We caried on walking along the attractive valley for a quarter of a mile to reach the edge of Fort Henry Lake with a view across the lake to Fort Henry. Walking alongside the lake we reached the bridge and then the bridleway that would lead us back to Exton, a distance of 1.6 miles. A short distance along the path there is a junction, the left turn being the one to take. By now the walkers, as is often the case, were somewhat strung out with David Caines and Richard some distance in front of the others. They did not turn left but continued on the right-hand path. Charles some way back, realised what they had done but could not contact them so the remainder of the group followed them. When they reached the junction of the Viking Way which they had passed earlier in the morning David and Richard realised their error! This error added another half mile to the walk.
David and Richard were now well ahead of the rest, first back to Exton and subsequently first back to the pub in Empingham. David switched off his car, went to lock it and could not find his keys - his house keys also attached. After a thorough search he concluded that he had driven away from Exton with his car keys on the roof! He then phoned his wife Liz to ask her to come and rescue him but she was out with a group of friends so there would be a delay. David already knew that the spare key wouldn’t work as it needed a new battery.
By now David and Chris Mitchell had arrived. It was now 12.45 pm so we went into the pub to explain the situation and ask for lunch to be delayed. David Mitchell, suggested that he would drive David C. back to Exton to conduct a search for the keys, this they did. Whilst they were searching the rest of us, minus Martin who could not stay for lunch, sat at the dining table with our drinks and a couple of packets of crisps. The two Davids returned having had no success in finding the keys so we then enjoyed our much-delayed lunch.
Though somewhat longer than planned the walk was very enjoyable, the weather kind and the company, as ever, delightful. However the lessons to be learned, we decided are: The Walk Leader needs to be at or near the front and don’t leave keyless entry car keys on the roof of the vehicle!
To conclude the Lost Keys Saga David kept us informed of subsequent events by email which are repeated below:
“After much liaison between Liz and me it was agreed that David would take me back to Billesdon and I would stay with him until Liz C arrived home. Liz M made us both a cup of coffee and we all watched Katie Boulter playing tennis in New Zealand while we waited for Liz C to arrive.
Having got into the house I grabbed the spare key fob and we rushed off to buy some suitable batteries, changed it over and the whizzed off to Empingham to, hopefully, retrieve my car.
Everything worked and all is well that ends well.
I will contact the Police in Oakham to register the loss and hope that some good soul found it and handed it in, and if not after a suitable period I will have to bite the bullet and invest in a replacement key fob
Many thanks to David and Liz Michell for their support this afternoon.
Thursday - Good Afternoon Everyone Part 2 of “lost key saga”.
This morning Liz insisted that we drove over to Exton in the belief that “I cannot be relied on to search or look methodically for anything” so we dutifully drove over to Exton and walked further down the road that David and I had explored yesterday.
I detoured off to talk to the school to see if anyone had handed them in and whilst I was talking to the Secretary Liz phoned me to say that she had found the keys. Typical, isn’t it, and would you believe it they still work after a night on the grass verge.
I am now taking her out to lunch at the Manton Garden Centre.
Richard Ward
