The F.W.C. Christmas Meal will be held at
The Dog and Gun, Kilby
on
Friday, 12th December at 6.30 p.m.
The cost for two courses will be
£21 per head
Menu details below (ignore "Lunch")
>> A £10 CASH DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED <<
>> PLEASE PAY KATHY OR PHIL <<
>> AND INCLUDE YOUR MENU CHOICES <<

Fleckney, Smeeton Westerby, Gumley, Saddington

by Phil

All Sunday walks start with a gathering at Fleckney village car park (///loses.always.huts) at 9:30 a.m.

We begin with the muddy bit—best tackled while boots are fresh and spirits unflagging. Down to the canal, over the bridge, and up through Millennium Wood, where the trees stand as a reminder of the year 2000’s great optimism (and the brief terror that our computers might all stop working). Once across the busy Kibworth Road, we head along Mill Lane, passing the King’s Head. Alas, the inn will be firmly shut at this hour, so no chance of a sneaky half before the real work begins.

Turning right onto Main Street, we follow the road to the junction of Saddington Road and Gumley Road. A left fork, then another left at Pit Hill, keeps us on Gumley Road. This stretch has seen centuries of feet, hooves, and cart wheels—though today it’s more likely trainers, tyres, and the occasional dog walker. Continue until Dabdale Lane appears, where we bear right. The lane itself is indecisive, bending left toward Gumley and right toward Laughton and Mowsley. We take the right turn, briefly, until a cattle grid bars the way.

Straight ahead lies Laughton, a charming destination in its own right, but not for us today. Instead, we turn immediately right onto the two‑mile “Gated Road” to Saddington. This is where those of us with knees past their warranty may grumble, for the lane drops steeply. Still, the views are worth every creak and groan—rolling countryside that has seen Romans march, Normans settle, and ramblers puff ever since.

Passing Saddington Reservoir, keen eyes will notice that the water levels have finally risen. The ducks, grebes, and dragonflies are delighted, and so should we be—this reservoir was dug in the 19th century to feed the Grand Union Canal, and it still plays host to wildlife and the occasional fisherman with more patience than luck.

From here it’s up a modest hillock, then gently down to Mowsley Road. A right turn, a short descent, and then the climb into Saddington itself. The Queen’s Head awaits, with new landlord Dan ready to greet us. Tradition dictates we pause here, if only to wish him every success in his stewardship of this fine establishment. A pint, a lemonade, or simply a nod of encouragement—choose your weapon.

Suitably refreshed, we tackle the last mile back to Fleckney. Three peaks mark this walk, the highest being the rise up to Gumley. No stiles to wrestle with, though the roads can be busy, so a high‑viz jacket or waistcoat is strongly advised. Think of it as medieval heraldry updated for the 21st century: instead of a coat of arms, you’ll be sporting fluorescent stripes.

RSVP deadline is past

Event Types: Sunday Walk

All Sunday walks start with a gathering at Fleckney village car park (///loses.always.huts) at 9:30 a.m.

Kilby Bridge by John Broadhead

🚶‍♂️ Towpath Tales: Mud, Merriment & Miles

This week’s outing is tailor‑made for both yompers and strollers—whether you stride like a sergeant major or amble like a Sunday dreamer.

Our trusty leader will guide us across the fields until we meet the canal, where we’ll swing left onto the towpath. From there it’s a straight shot to Kilby Bridge and back again. And really, it would be positively impolite not to pause at the Navigation for a restorative drop of something cheerful. 🍻

Now, here’s the good news: the towpath offers a blissfully level route—no hills to huff up, no stiles to scramble over. The less‑good news? The rain has been generous of late, so expect patches of mud. Consider it nature’s way of reminding us we’re proper walkers, not pavement plodders.

For those who fancy the full adventure, the walk stretches to 9.9 miles. But if that feels a touch ambitious, you can simply turn back whenever you please. And for anyone craving just a sociable “coffee walk,” we’ll happily part company at Bridge 78 (Ivy Bridge, leading to Wistow) or Bridge 80 (Church Bridge at Newton Harcourt).

So lace up, bring your best muddy‑boot grin, and let’s make this week’s towpath trek one to remember.

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The minutes of the 2025 A.G.M
and the Agenda for the 2026 A.G.M.
(7 p.m. at the Golden Shield on 22nd January)
can be found HERE

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General information:

The Fleckney Walking Club meet every other Sunday for a walk of about 6 to 9 miles with a pub stop somewhere along the route.
What3Words is used to pinpoint start and other relevant locations for the walks.
We leave Fleckney village car park at 9:30 a.m. (///loses.always.huts).
For these walks you are advised to wear good quality walking boots and carry weatherproof clothing.
We suggest you also bring refreshments as a coffee stop and/or a picnic stop is also usually on the cards.
For those who are car sharing to walks outside of Fleckney, passengers are requested to subsidise their driver by the amount of 20p per mile (one way). For example, if the start of the walk was 10 miles from Fleckney the fee would be 10 x 20p = £2.

If you fancy leading a walk, there are plenty of ideas for walks here.

During the summer months we also have Thursday evening walks of about 4 to 5 miles in length.
This year the majority of the walks will be local ones, no transport required.
We meet at the village car park, by 7 p.m. (///loses.always.huts).

In the event of a walk being cancelled for any reason (usually weather) the walk leader will communicate the cancellation to club members by email and be at the start meeting point to advise anyone who turned up regardless.

The annual cost to join the Fleckney Walking Club is £10 for the Sunday Walks, or £5 to be a Social Member. Thursday Evening Walks are completely FREE.

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You can find The Fleckney Walking Club Group on Facebook. This is a private group but you are welcome to apply to join us.

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If you would like to join this walk then please fill out the form below and press the Submit button.
(If you are reading this message in an email, please click on the RSVP Now! button directly below to take you to the form.)

RSVP deadline is past

Event Types: Sunday Walk