Yarwell Mill - Old Sulehay - Wansford - Yarwell Mill

Monday 08 October. With Norma, Maureen and Eddie. 6 miles and a whisker. A rather dull day, with occasional sunshine.

The same walk as last Thursday, but in reverse and with a little extra wander near Yarwell Lock.

We took the Nene Way footpath from Yarwell Mill Country Park, and walked north, past the fields of horses and alpaca, as far as the road. We crossed the road and took the footpath behind some fairly new houses, past the playground , the allotments and orchard, until we reached the road towards Nassington.

A left turn and short distance along the footpath beside the road brought us to where the bridleway goes off to the right, heading towards Nassington. About fifty yards before the bridge carrying the dismantled railway crosses this we missed our almost hidden turn to the right, but found it easily when we returned. (Too much talking, guys!)

The path crosses several fields in a northwesterly direction, and continues between two fences for a short distance before reaching the Old Sulehay Road. We crossed the road and took the footpath which leads into the old quarry. We made our way to the far northwest corner of the quarry, and turned right along the bridleway east and into Old Sulehay Forest.

The path through the forest turns right and meets the Wansford Road just before Forest Lodge. We followed the footpath alongside the road into Wansford, and at the church turned right towards the bridge, where repairs are being carried out.

Another view of St Mary's church, but the skies are still grey.

Just before the bridge we turned right along the Nene Way southwards. At the end of the third field we turned left, towards the river and Wansford Lock. We walked round the little island before taking the path back round to the Nene Way and Yarwell. 

Through the short section between walls, then turned right along the road before turning right on to the path past the alpaca and horse and so back to Yarwell Mill, and another sandwich at the cafe.

Yarwell - Wansford and Old Sulehay Forest

Walk with Maureen from Yarwell Mill. Started at 1007. Grey skies to begin with, but the sun appeared around midday.  About five and a half miles.

We walked along the Nene Way north, past the fields with alpaca, and turned right along the road. We took the Nene Way footpath to the right at the bend in the road.

We followed the Nene Way as far as Wansford Bridge. We turned left away from the bridge, then left again at the church on to the road to Nassington.

We walked out of Wansford, past the Surgery complex. Just after Forest Lodge a footpath leaves the road on the right hand side. In a field were Hebridean sheep, grazing to improve the area for wildlife.

 This heads northwest for a short distance, then turns to the left. A straight path leads through Old Sulehay Forest. 

We followed the main path for almost a mile. Part way along we found a bench ideally placed for a break.

The path follows the northern edge of the quarry/nature reserve. When the path met the road we turned right and cut across the reserve following the footpath diagonally (southeast). 

We crossed the road and took the footpath between two fences, then continued southeast over several fields, until we reached the bridleway from Nassington. Here we turned left and walked northeast for about half a mile. We reached the Wansford to Nassington Road, crossed over to the footway along the verge, and walked a few hundred yards towards Yarwell. A footpath turns off to the right, and goes directly east behind a farm, an orchard and allotments, and eventually into the village. It reaches the road just opposite the Nene Way sign, and the path past the alpacas.

 It reaches the road just opposit the Nene Way sign, and the path past the alpacas.  We followed this back to Yarwell Mill, and once again had a sandwich at the little café kiosk.

Yarwell Mill - Wansford- Sutton- circular

Walk from Yarwell Mill 01 October 2018. Around 7 miles.

With Maureen, Norma, Eddie and Kate.

Bright, but chilly!

We followed the Nene Way footpath from Yarwell Mill country park. It leaves the road just before the car parking area, and heads north along the edge of a field, past enclosures with horses and alpaca. 

It then goes left up to the road in Yarwell village, where we turned right. The footpath goes off again to the right at a bend in the road. We followed the path as far as the bridge at Wansford. We turned left along the roadside, then right towards the A!. Just before the road we turned right again to walk under the A1, with the river Nene visible on our right. The path took us past a picnic spot, and then continued along the road way, past more construction work. We passed near a lot of litter and there was a lot of traffic noise. They are making the A 47 into dual carriageway, so the path can be a little awkward  to follow, especially just after picnic area. Take the road until you see the footpath sign, then head towards the river. All of this may become very unpleasant as the work proceeds.

Eddie walks round the pitch under the morning moon

This bus, labelled "Nene Valley People Rising" was on its way to the public meeting in Wansford
https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/a47-wansford-to-sutton-dualling/

We followed the Nene Way to Sutton , and turned left then right past the church.

Irresistible autumn colours

We walked along Lovers Lane, and then took the Nene Way  footpath to the right across fields and over the railway bridge to Wansford Station.

There were crowds waiting for the arrival of the Flying Scotsman, but we decided to continue walking.

We turned right at the station and very soon took a grassy footpath on the right, next to, but not across a ploughed field into Sibbington. once there, we walked along the road to the left, which brought us back to the road to Wansford Station. A little longer but a pleasant detour.  We turned right, the very soon left to the bridge over the A1. All of this road walking had either a proper footway, or a very wide verge.  We followed this road west until it joined the B671. A left turn here and before long we saw the bridleway sign on the right.

We took the bridleway slightly downhill and clearly marked, with a fishing area and lake on our right. At the junction, there are large boulders and to the right the entrance to the fishing lake. However, the bridleway continues ahead. Ignore the fishing lake gate.

Soon after this the bridleway as a "No entry" sign. This is for vehicles. The bridleway sign is nestled secretively on a post to the left!  It continues behind Yarwell Junction and on to rejoin the Nene Way, just after a bridge.   Here we turned right to return to Yarwell Mill.

We stopped there for a decent and reasonably priced sandwich and drink before going home. 

The first crossing of the A1 is an underpass, the second a bridge.

Nassington-Yarwell-Wansford- Sutton

No route descriptions here - it needs working on.
With Maureen - 8.5 miles.

So a fine day, and a few photographs!

River Nene

Near Yarwell Mill

An early coffee break - too tempting

alpaca

Wansford Bridge

This notice has been here a while

I had just said - pity there aren't more seats!

St Michael and all Angels, Sutton

We've been here before

Sky divers

Convenient seat again!

Nene Way 8 - Barnwell to Wansford

With Marta.  Weather fine, not sunny but warm.  14.44 miles, including short detour to Fotheringhay Church and shop in Nassington.


We started from Barnwell Country Park, crossed the old road opposite Oundle Mill and followed the Nene Way, which is pretty well marked, along past the marina, and locks, through some wide meadows, and over a footbridge into Ashton. The first part of the walk overlaps with this walk from Thursday, Aug 18, 2011

Through the village and after a while we turned left at the 'Entrance Lodge' to follow the road which turned into a track, past a Rifle Range, past Tansor Lodge on an old Roman road and into Warmington.  Coffee break (from a flask), part way along here. 
When we reached Warmington village we turned right, then left coming out at the church, which is a big one. 

and on to Eaglethorpe with its 17th century limestone dovecote

After this we made our way under the A605, through a decorated underpass

and over the fields to Fotheringhay. We climbed up the castle mound

Two boats below Fotheringhay Castle mound

The pub does a good lunch, then we wandered around the church - there's an impressive historical exhibition in there, and it's much lighter than many churches.

The prospect of another six miles was a little concerning, but we've done over 12 recently.  We left Fotheringhay on the Apethorpe road.  The turning to the right is just before the speed limit sign, but easily missed. A track leads to Walcot Lodge, where we turned right again.  About two thirds of a mile later, we were almost tempted to keep following the wider track which veers to the left, instead of going straight ahead. There is a Nene Way sign, but it's not immediately obvious.  There's a short turn to the left, then right a little later, but once all this has been negotiated, the route leads down towards Nassington. We needed something to drink, so detoured to the local shop.

Back to the route proper, and onward to Yarwell Mill, with its boats and caravan site. These millstones are on the road leading out of the Mill.

We should have taken a path across a field at this point. Instead we continued to the road, and turned right towards Yarwell. Not much difference in the distance. From here it's about a mile across fields - lots of horses grazing,

 and Wansford Bridge soon comes into view.

Phew, Wansford Bridge - that's the Northants Nene Way done and dusted.






Map and details