Stoke Albany, Ashley,Brampton Ash,Desborough

9.33 am, Monday 21 March 2016. Led by Tommy, with me, Maureen, Gordon, Marian, Chris, Terry. Dry, but not sunny. fields are drying out. 9.5 miles, and around 660 feet of climbing, though none of the hills were very long, and the views were good, in spite of some mist.

We parked at the village hall, near the church in Stoke Albany, and took the footpath heading north west by the church. it turns more or less north, past Lower Lodge farm, and under a row of pylons, joins a path from Wilbarston and heads north west again.  

A hardy band walks along the corridor in the fields

  On the outskirts of Ashley, we take a path east, cross a minor road and climb steadily up across field paths to the finger post where six paths join.

Six ways finger post to Stoke Albany (x2), Brampton Ash, Sutton Bassett, (hidden away at the back), Weston by Welland and Ashley

 We join the Midshires and Macmillan Way and follow the footpath towards Brampton Ash. We have a break - fairly high up, but sheltered between two rows of trees.

Renewed enthusiasm after a break - and we found a spot out of the wind.

 We cross the Harborough Road, and walk across a field near Brampton Ash church to reach Hermitage Road. A turn to the right and a short section on the road takes us to another footpath, on our left,leading to Red Hovel, and then alongside Brampton Wood. This is on our left.

Brampton Ash church, and lots of new lambs.

More new life

 Our route takes us through an industrial estate on the outskirts of Desborough, and along a public footpath over a locked gate, then across a field with a few horses, before following the other side of the wood - it is now on our left again as we walk north. We skirt Stoke Wood, and reach the minor road between Desborough and Stoke Albany. A mile or so and we arrive back at the church, and the cars. 

Back to Stoke Albany church

Map and details