June 5th 2025 - East Carlton to Wilbarston

 Tuesday 5th June

Met Marta at East Carlton Country Park at 9.45. We followed the Jurassic Way path to the Milking Parlour cafe in Wilbarston for coffee.

Damp and even wet on the way back.

About 3.5 miles in all today. Flowers lovely.Misty moisty views. Soggy boots. Shoulda worn wellies…

May 13th 2025 - East Carlton to Wilbarston and back

 Tuesday 13th May, with Marta, around 3.6 miles.

We met at East Carlton Park at about 10. 

We walked the usual Jurassic Way route to Wilbarston.

Protection from flies..

In the field just before the wood we saw a hare on the path coming towards us.  No time to take a photo before it ran off.

As the cafe isn’t open on Tuesdays, we chanced our luck and were able to get aa coffee at the pub before it opened.

We retraced our steps to East Carlton and indulged in another coffee. 

Wilbarston to East Carlton and back

 Monday 11th November, with Harry and Maureen

The brightest day we’ve had for a couple of weeks. 

Beautiful views across the Welland valley, blue sky and autumn colours. Fungi.

A sun dog - poorly photographed, fading fast,  on the left above the furthest left part of the building.

This is a short walk, but included around 300 feet of ascent, so we felt reasonably exercised.

The coffee stop at East Carlton, after a walk round the park itself, made a good break at around the three mile mark.

Corby Kingswood to Wilbarston, return via East Carlton and Middleton.

 Thursday 12th August 2021 with Harry and Maureen - a whisker over ten miles and 230 feet of climbing on a fine sunny morning.

We crossed the A6003 close to the path near Brunswick gardens on Viking Way, and followed the path - over a stile and through fields, alongside Swinawe Wood. On occasions the path is a little indistinct and overgrown at this time of year. It emerges on the road between Pipewell and Wilbarston, where we turned right and followed the road going left at the junction to Wilbarston. The view begins to open out as the road descends to the A427.

It’s not bad crossing here, as there is a small island in the centre of the road. 

In Wilbarston we called at the Milking Parlour Café for coffee and scones, and a wee rest. Then we walked up to the village hall and took the path along the ridge towards East Carlton.  Along the way we saw lots of butterflies, including one painted lady, and noticed the haws are ripening too.

the haws are turning red

Flax/ linseed

Probably the best bit of the walk with good views over the Welland valley to the north west. 

We walked along the fenced footpath below East Carlton Park, turning right in Middleton, then left up School Hill, and soon right just before a gate. Through a field and across the old road to Harborough.  

The next section has grown luscious and vicious nettles and brambles since I was last here in June, and was quite tough walking. 

Over the A427 again, and along the bridleway. Just after it bends to the right there is a left turn. After this it was a little tricky to negotiate the next bit as the path on the ground doesn’t quite correspond to the path on the map.

The path comes out opposite Danesholme Road - another crossing of the A6003…through Kingswood Nature Reserve

and then back to the start.

East Carlton to Wilbarston and airfield.

Tuesday 29th June

Met Marta at East Carlton 9.30. Lots of cars there. Walked to Wilbarston and airfield. Didn’t do the entire perimeter. (6 miles approx.) Dry mainly with some drizzle. Finished up with vegan sausage roll and coffee at the cafe in East Carlton Park. 

Pipewell airfield from Wilbarston

Thursday 16 January 2020, with Harry and Maureen.  Just over 5 miles, starting from Wilbarston village hall.

Rain forecast for later, lots of mud on field paths, so back to a walk we can be sure is dryish underfoot.

We followed the road past to the Fox pub and turned left at the Post Office/shop. Our route is under the main road and along the track and path to the airfield. This path was still quite muddy in places.

When we reached the airfield we turned right and walked clockwise, returning via the same route.

We arrived in good time for a mid morning coffee at Wilbarston's new and friendly cafe, The Milking Parlour - open Thursday to Sundays. 

East Carlton to Pipewell airfield again.

Monday 02 December with Norma and Maureen. Almost 8 miles, with about 300 feet of ups and downs.  A very frosty start, with brilliant sunshine made conditions underfoot rather less soggy between East Carlton and Wilbarston today.

A slightly different route from Thursday

East Carlton church as we return

Almost finished

Elegant reindeer

Their kind of weather today

The castle is conquered

,

East Carlton, Wilbarston and Desborough (Pipewell) airfield

Thursday 28 November, with Eddie and Maureen. Just over 8 miles. The weather forecast was for rain later in the day, but it didn't look promising. 

We decided on a change of plan, and took advantage of what dry weather there was by doing a much more local walk.

We left East Carlton Park and turned right downhill past the church. When we reached the Jurassic Way path we turned left between the houses and out past a horse paddock. 
The going proved to be very soft! 

Shoelace adjustment

We followed the path as far as Wilbarston Village Hall, then turned left and walked along the road to the A427, which we crossed. We walked along the minor road  towards Pipewell, turning right off this and on to the airfield access path at a corner. 

Look, there is light!

When we reached the airfield itself we turned left and followed the perimeter track for almost three miles, and having a somewhat damp break at the old weigh bridge.

Study in perspective 1

soon after this we turned left on to another muddy path which became a small road, leading to Wilbarston via a bridge below the A427.

Study in perspective 2

We continued to the Fox Inn, and turned right towards the village hall, then retraced our route back to East Carlton Park.



We were lucky - there was some drizzle, but not enough to soak us! 

Lunch at East Carlton cafe.