Northants Round 7 Bugbrooke to Nobottle , return via Nether Heyford.

Fri, 2014 May 16 10:34 AM   BST  

With Marta. 5 miles or so of NR , about a mile wandering round Harpole, and then return trip via Midshires way and other paths, and a short section of Nene Way. Very warm, rather humid after lunch.  Around 12 miles. 400 feet of climbing.

All locked up and ready to walk

We start from the green in Bugbrooke and walk along the road to Kislingbury for a short distance before taking the bridleway marked to the left.  We promise ourselves an early coffee . . .

walk this way

The path is enclosed by hedges and trees and we hear the call of a green woodpecker, but don't see it.

Tree trunk and ivy

After a mile or so we emerge into fields and make our way through two fields and down to join the Nene Way - a section we walked in 2011. We turn right and follow the path east to Bugbrooke Mill, with its flour lorries and silos.

a mouse fishing?

The path is easy to follow, leading across the road to the mill, and then alongside a hedge. As the tall bushes end, the path turns left into the mill grounds and crosses a couple of fields before going under the M1. We decide coffee can wait until the noise is behind us.

to the M1 and beyond

After the motorway we stop near the weirs and Harpole mill - there are large blocks on concrete on a footbridge here - tables and chairs ideal for a break.

near the weirs and old mill

the mill pond?

Our next obstacle/landmark is the A 45 - quite busy here, but with a central reservation, and not difficult to cross. On the opposite side our footpath is marked with a sign, but on the ground the rape plants are vigorous and we see no way through. We make a detour of getting on for half a mile roune the edges of the huge field, then make our way back to the route.

we found the path again after a long detour round rampant rape

Harpole is a village of friendly people, but of the two pubs The Bull is closed - ok, it's not 12.30 yet - and the Live and Let Live doesn't serve food. We buy sandwiches and liquid at the village shop, and find a churchyard bench to sit on for lunch.  We must have added almost an extra mile as we wandered up and down the High Street.

Harpole church

is this thrift?

From the church we take School Lane and pick up our footpath, which is enclosed by fences for a while, then heads north west uphill to Harpole Hill. There's a bench in front of the wood on top, but we don't need another rest just yet, we tell ourselves, sternly.

view from Harpole Hill

The path dips down slightly, then up across a planted field, and some steep steps take us to the edge of Harpole Covert and on to a track, continuing our northwesterly line along a low ridge then down into the hamlet of Nobottle.

steep steps to the ridge

and little else either

A short road walk takes us to the Nobottle sign. Just before this our path turns left - a bridleway, and part of the Midshires Way.  It is very clearly marked, though there are one or two meetings of ways which need care.

New Covert from the Midshires Way

There are a couple of fields of cows with calves, and in one in particular the cows show some interest in us - luckily from a fair distance!

Hebridean sheep?

what fine horns you have

The track becomes a minor road and crosses the motorway via a bridge.  We head on towards the A 45 again. It is single carriageway here, but not too busy.  We walk along the  minor road through Upper Heyford, then take a path to our left which joins the Nene Way at a footbridge, just after crossing some lovely restored meadows.

Ragged robin in the restored Heyford Meadow

The Nene near Nether Heyford, from the footbridge

Now it's just another mile or so - we think we deserve a coffee and cereal bar break in Nether Heyford before continuing along the Nene Way towards Bugbrooke, and rejoiinng the path we took at the start of the walk. A minor hiccup occurs with map-reading or memory, but we are soon back with 12 miles under the boots.

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Northants Round 6 - Blisworth to Bugbrooke (and back)

Tue, 2014 Apr 29 10:27 AM BST

With Marta. Fine weather mostly. 13.44 miles.

We manage to park near the canal in Blisworth, and head off down Gayton road. After about 50 meters we find the footpath, with an NR sign, leading up a sloping field. In the corner some chickens and a cockerel are vociferous in their coop.

Looking back to Blisworth

The first field is grass, then we cross a field of red earth, planted with a young crop. There's a clear path, and a signpost at the opposite end. The mud doesn't stick today - not wet enough. We pass a couple of people setting out some poles in the field. Too far away to enquire, we simply wave, and carry on towards what is still called Gayton Road, where we turn left and follow the road over the A43 to the crossroads. Another left turn, and a short distance down the road, just opposite the campsite and ponds of Gayton Wood Farm, our path goes to the right.

Spot the sign!

The signs are covered by the hedge, but I have to say talking and misjudged distance lead us to walk almost half a mile too far, before we realise and turn back! Once we find the route it's no problem to follow it across the field, turning left at the first hedge, then over the dismantled railway in its deep cutting.

Dismantled railway cutting

A little further and the path is enclosed by hedges and a fence as we come to Gayton Wilds House and New Wilds cottages. At the Tiffield Road we turn right and walk into Gayton, past some allotment gardens. We make use of the Golden Jubilee seat on the village green for a coffee break.

Gayton village green

We turn left along the road, and very soon, just before the village end our path goes to the right. Gayton is on a ridge, and before long we have great views - a little misty today - over the Nene valley.

Wide vistas

Couldn't resist the colours here

Skylarks are around too.   After this relatively high level walk, through oilseed rape, though with an excellent path, the land drops down steeply to the road, the West Coast mainline railway and the Grand Union Canal at Anchor Farm.

Toward the canal etc.

From here until close to Bugbrooke we simply follow the canal - and the nearby rail line, though very busy, is far less intrusive than motorway noise.  We see a heron, mallards with chicks, moorhen.

Boat porthole

First heron of the day

Very few boats, though there are plenty in the local marinas.

Just before reaching Bugbrooke we leave the canal, to follow the Northamptonshire Round into the village.  

Rail bridge behind canal aqueduct

Stream that goes below the canal etc.

We follow the hedge, then turn right at an aqueduct carrying the canal, with a bridge not far away for the railway. In the village we enquire at the pet shop about eating places, and the owner directs us to the Wharf Inn, back by the Canal. We've walked almost seven miles by now.

a second heron

After lunch we decide to take the most direct (and flat) route back to Blisworth, and follow the canal all the way.

Bridge at Gayton Junction

We have another short break on a conveniently placed seat at Gayton Junction, then almost take the Northampton Arm of the canal, but soon correct ourselves.

My best heron of the day

Another mile and we are back in Blisworth. This 13.4 mile walk feels quite enough for today!

Back in Blisworth

Map and details