A Walk Atop the Lowland Hills!!

With the sun finally deeming to shine, Darling Wife and I spent the afternoon walking in the hills above Oakham in Rutland.

The border lands of Rutland and Leicestershire are a most attractive corner of little England. A real snap shot of rural idyll. Rolling hills, hidden villages, winding streams and verdant woodland make this a most enjoyable and interesting area in which to take a good walk.

Clad in Hunters after Saturday's continuous rain and with a flask of coffee and a biscuit packed, we took to the hills whilst the sun shone. Well marked bridleways and footpaths criss-cross the area and we took a familiar route of around 6 or 7 miles in length. This isn't Scotland or the Peak District but we did climb - or more accurately, walk - to a height of around 650ft which provided for excellent views down the length of Rutland Water and right across England's smallest county.

To add to the feeling of altitude we were fortunate to see a Raven, the first I've ever recorded in these relatively lowland parts. Compared to nearby Crows and Magpies it was considerably larger with a stronger bill and in flight its tail was characteristically diamond shaped.

Interestingly, although more than half a million people live within less than an hours drive of our locale we saw absolutely no one during our walk. No one else enjoying the spring sunshine, smelling apple blossom from orchard relics, sitting besides a gurgling stream enjoying a coffee or listening to warblers announcing their spring arrival from bud-burst oaks.

Peace, tranquility, time to talk and reflect...and some decent exercise for once.

LC James
Rutland Alps
9th May 2010