Hello and welcome back to my blog 😊.

Today I met up with Chris and we enjoyed a 5-mile circular walk from Cropwell Bishop to Owthorpe and back, crossing fields, country lanes and along the towpath of the Grantham Canal.

The morning was much colder than our recent weather, which was a shock to the system. I had got used to the brief mild spell we had been blessed with last week.

Arriving at the Cropwell Bishop Memorial Hall car park I noted that Chris had arrived early and was busy getting his boots/gaiters on. Watching Chris getting the gaiters on is usually good for a laugh as he struggles with the buckles and there is a good deal of huffing and puffing going on! 😊

Eventually, we set off up the road and joined the towpath of the Grantham canal. This section of the canal is dry.

The section leads to a bridge which at one time used to be a roving bridge – unfortunately it has been removed to make way for a road. To a canal enthusiast, these are interesting bridges and were designed to enable a horse to change to the towpath on the other side without having to unhitch. Clever stuff!

Leaving the towpath we joined a wooded footpath running beside the road with distant views of the Cropwell Wolds. Soon we crossed a stile and passed through a farmyard leading to open fields.

We passed across a ditch via the wooden planks – carefully checking that they were not rotten!

We passed some fish ponds and headed uphill across another field to St Margaret’s church.

In the churchyard there was a bench so we had a break here, enjoying the peace and quiet. Blossom was on the trees. Chris pointed out that the clock had an unusual wooded face. The clock was installed in 1680 and was built by Richard Roe of Epperstone.

Leaving the church we passed another fish pond. Before it burnt to the ground in a fire in the late 1820’s Owthorpe Hall was located nearby. It was the seat of the Hutchinson family. One member was Colonel John Hutchinson who was a politician and military leader (a Roundhead) – he was one of the people that signed the death warrant of King Charles 1. He also had the fishponds dug to supply fish for the Hall.

Joining a country lane we walked past a very impressive wedding venue at Oddhouse Farm that had been build in a barn.

Passing the venue we re-joined the Grantham Canal and set off along the towpath. There was some water in the canal and while Chris was looking at the canal he saw something move in the shallow water – it was a frog! As we turned to go I spotted another frog on the towpath – it was good to see the wildlife.

After a stretch along the canal we left the canal and followed a path up Blue Hill and headed towards Cropwell Bishop.

Crossing a few more fields we arrived at Cropwell Bishop. Cropwell takes its name from the Danish ‘Kroppr’ or early English ‘Crop’ for the outcrop of nearby Hoe Hill. The Bishop bit was added in the 10th century when the land was given to the Bishop of York. We passed the church of St Giles which was built in 1215.

Further on we passed the creamery where the world famous Cropwell Bishop Stilton cheese is made.

Historically, Gypsum was mined at Cropwell Bishop and made use of the canal as a means of transport. These old warehouses are still standing.

Arriving back at the car it was clear that Chris didn’t need his gaiters for this particular walk – it had been mud free!

Happy Walking 😊🚶