Wadenhoe, Aldwincle, Pilton, Achurch

Thursday 09 February 2017.  With Maureen.  The reverse of Tuesday's walk, with a little extra.  7 miles in all. Muddy in patches.

We parked near Wadenhoe village hall, and walked along the Nene Way path, below the church towards Aldwincle.

 On the way we passed this fire-pit, perhaps for scout camps?

 We followed the path into Aldwincle, emerging near the church, where we turned right and shortly afterwards left along Cross Street. This becomes a farm track - with puddles, but easy enough to walk along. We turn right when we meet the bridleway (once the Thrapston to Oundle Road . . .). When we meet the metalled road we turn right again on a footpath  beside the hedge. this leads to the road between Aldwincle and Wadenhoe.
A short section of road walking and we arrive at Wadenhoe War Memorial. We make good use of the bench!

We followed the road past the houses on the way out of the village, and at the bend took the footpath signed to the right. There are two paths, and we took the one through a gate and fence, then across the field to the opposite corner, where the path goes into a short section of woodland before rejoining the road towards Pilton. 

Carvings on the Bede House

We went through Pilton, past the Bede House, and to the church, before turning south across fields.  One gate and a stile and we reached the road heading to Lilford and Titchmarsh. We turned left over the two bridges across the Nene, then picked up the Nene Way footpath through the Linches. There are a few muddy patches here.

Up through the Linches

Almost an owl

Just as we reached the road to the church at Achurch, there were snowdrops everywhere.

The Nene Way goes through the churchyard, then downhill over a grass field, crosses a branch of the river and another field before arriving back in Wadenhoe near the Mill car park.

On the way we saw a red kite. As always it was too quick for me to get a decent snap!

And finally a few exotic chickens.