Brixworth and Chapel Brampton

Thursday 02 February 2017, 10.15 am. With Maureen. Another grey day, but apart from some drizzle we stayed dry.  I chose this route because much of it does not involve agricultural mud-skating.  One muddy path over fields. Just over six and a half miles, with around 350 feet of climbing.

We parked at Spratton crossing on the Brampton Valley Way, and set off south along the old railway line towards Merry Tom Crossing. We reached this after walking for a mile and a half. At the crossing we took the road leading off to our right. 

We decided to brave the field path leading off to the left and slightly uphill. We tackled the two fields, rather than follow the road.  The path was pretty muddy, though easy to follow, and we were glad to be done with it.

We met the road and turned left towards The Red House, and right immediately afterwards. When a bridleway crossed the road we turned left towards Chapel Brampton, then through the village, and turned left to meet the A 5199. We crossed this and walked downhill and over the river. Not far after that is the Brampton Halt pub, in the old station master's house, and then  Pitsford and Brampton station on the Northampton and Lamport steam railway.  

We found a bench where we could refresh ourselves after the rigours of the morning so far.

We followed the Brampton Valley Way north now, back to Merry Tom Crossing, and this time we turned right again along the well-surfaced bridleway back up to the village of Brixworth.  We now had a mile or so to walk through the village, turning left along Spratton Lane and walking downhill to Spratton Crossing. The road here has no footway, and a couple of bends - we had to keep our ears and eyes open, as there was quite a bit of traffic.
There is an alternative route via field paths, so maybe next time, if the weather has been drier!