Ickworth Red (nay White) Route

It's not often I agree to a walk around a colour-signed route on a National Trust property but last Sunday I made an exception.  My Brother in Law Dave was itching to get his new boots muddy and I wanted to get a few miles under my plates, so I thought 'go on then'.  
We always have a good walk regardless of the venue, Dave is good company and absolutely laps up the chance to be outside.  


Despite the thaw that was emerging, black ice had spread itself across the 'macadam of the Social Club car park.  On the Friday night I recorded my lowest ever temperature on my shed-located sensor...   ...-15.1c.  That's stonkingly cold for my parts.

Sometimes I am glad to see the back of Dave

The path around Ickworth Park was mainly compacted snow apart from the sections in deeper woodland which was gloriously fluffy.  There were few people about and this made for a more appealing walk around this National Trust land.  The house itself took more than 45 years to build and I recommend you Google "Ickworth House" and take a look at some of the images.  It's a cracking, and unique property.  You'll find out alot more about the park than I can tell you on the National Trust website.  

Can I take a photo of ewe?

All around was a picture of wintry rural Britain so Dave and I made sure we took a few snaps. Once again, my point and shoot delivered less than average results in the main, so I retouched a few and some made it onto this blog post.

David "Don't call me Bailey" Peddar

Just over a third of the way round is the Fairy Pond which made for a couple of lovely pictures of reeds and rushes, Swans and Coots.  Some folk had been testing the strength of the ice with bricks and they were strewn over the surface.  I cussed for a while about this, then remembered that is exactly what I used to do when I was a young 'un.  So I let them off. I am sure they were pleased.

Lingered a bit at the Pond as you can tell.  It was a nice place to be.


We stopped for a brew as we emerged from the woodland and found a spot looking out over the open countryside, which would have been nice had the view not been clagged in!  It was a good opportunity to try out a different stove which has been lent to me by a fellow outdoor blogger, Martin Rye.  He suggested I give it a go to see if I like it before going on the TGO Challenge in May (see my TGO Challenge 2012 blog here).  It boiled up a cuppa in around a couple of minutes even at temperatures close to freezing, so it's looking like a contender so far.

Emerging into more open countryside

The wildish section of the walk was quickly drawing to a close, and the mist was growing thicker.  It's not a long walk by any means, and Dave and I agreed that it would have been nice to go around again.  Lunch, and the families were waiting for us so it was not to be.
Dave made a snowball and we moved on, following the tiny River Linnet as it gained momentum in the vale. I'd been wearing a softshell jacket which I won in a twitter competition by J E James Cycles.  It's a cycling softshell with removable sleeves.   I have to say performed rather well, and I didn't even have my bike with me, it's a bit too small for me even in Large, but only around my belly.  I am promised unto myself to remove said belly by May so I will keep it for WHEN it fits me properly.

Like I said, Dave made a snowball

and we followed the little River Linnet

The long hike up the drive was dreary, but we stopped in front of an old Oak tree for Dave to take a self-timed shot of us both, before popping out of the front gates and round the green to the car park, where we'd started a couple of hours earlier.  The walk was over.