Wed 08 August Islip to Aldwincle

Wed 08 August.  With Marta. Just under 5 miles. It's Monday's route in reverse, more or less. We started from Islip, and walked the Ridge Road first, past the holiday cottages and on into Aldwincle coming out near Pear Tree Farm, then picking up the Nene Way ad following it through Titchmarsh Nature Reserve. Lots of herons in evidence today. We picked a few blackberries as well.

 An unripe walnut.

Changing skies.

More Himalayan Balsam

Swans on the lake

 We didn't cross the footbridge this time, but stayed on the west side of the river, walking through a shady section of woodland, and over a large field with cows, following the Nene Way.

 At Islip Mill we crossed Mill Lane and followed signs fro the Nene Way through a couple of fields and the pub garden and back to the High Street.

We picked up a sandwich at the Cafe at 34 in Thrapston.

Mon 06 Aug: Aldwincle to Islip circular

Monday 06 August. With Maureen, Marion, Norma and Eddie.
The same walk as last Thursday but with a different starting point, with no diversions. Hot again. Just under 5 miles today!  I set a new fashion standard by using a light brolly as a parasol - it worked better than a sun hat!

John Dryden's grandfather was rector of All Saints church here, and the poet was born in the rectory in August 1631.

From Aldwincle we took the footpath marked to Islip, from near Pear Tree Farm. 

  This leads through a field, goes to the left of a house, then crosses another field to a gate in the corner on to the minor road. At the bend in the road a farm track leads to holiday cottages and a view of the fishing  lake.

 After the cottages the footpath continues southwest and we reached a parking area for anglers. Our route lies along the road through a wooded section, then it comes on to Ridge Road, which becomes Mill Road and takes us to Islip, where we follow Mill Lane down past the mill and over the footbridge.

 We paused for a few minutes in a shady spot near the Nene, watching the canoes and a narrowboat coming through the lock.

 We took the same route as last time following the Nene Way through Titchmarsh Nature reserve. 

The cattle on the opposite side of the Nene were obvjously seeking relief from the heat!
We stopped for a scone break at a shady picnic table close to Aldwincle, before continuing to the village, then on to Wadenhoe Old Barn for lunch.

Thursday 02 August: Islip to Aldwincle circular via fishing lake and nature reserve.

Thursday 02 August. With Maureen. About 6 miles. Hot again.

In Islip walk down Mill Lane as far as the mill, then cross the footbridge.

Turn left and follow the path with the river on your left.
When a path branches off to the right, keep left and cross another footbridge.  The path (part of the Nene Way) continues between two lakes, and eventually along a wooden walkway to the gate below. Dry as anything today, but I have seen it more than muddy.

You reach a place where a track goes off to the left. Lots of dog walkers around here. The track leads past a car parking area and on to the road into Aldwincle. 

We turned right and followed the roadto the junction, turned left, and walked through the village to the local shop, where I  bought a disposable cup since I had forgotten the one I use with my flask!

We had a short break, the retraced our steps through the village, almost as far as Pear Tree Farm. We took the footpath to our right which leads through a couple of fields to the minor road and then a farm track leading to holiday cottages and a view of the fishing  lake.
After the cottages the footpath continues southwest and we reached a parking area for anglers. Our route lies along the road through a wooded section, then it comes on to Ridge Road, which becomes Mill Road and takes us back to Islip.

Himalayan balsam

Wadenhoe, Aldwincle, Pilton, Achurch

Monday 13 February 2017, 9.45. Maureen, Steph, Norma, Tommy and me. Fine sunny morning after the wet weekend. Same route as last Thursday, though we took the road from Lilford bridge to Achurch instead of the Nene Way through the woods.  Not too muddy underfoot.

Swan on the Nene near Wadenhoe

Is this alder??

Aldwincle church

The track from Cross Street

The bridleway was probably the worst section for walking

Another buzzard, too distant to get a decent photo

Pilton church

A break in the sun!

Snowdrops

Back down to Wadenhoe

The mill with blue sky.

Ignore anything after the 7 mile point! 

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.

Wadenhoe, Achurch, Pilton, Aldwincle

Tuesday 07 February 2017.  With Marta. Dull weather, but dry.

We parked near the village hall and began by walking trough the village to the mill, then across the river, following the Nene Way over another bridge and up towards St John the Baptist church at Achurch.  Just over six miles.

The Nene is quite high

Looking up from the car park to Wadenhoe church

This looks like Mr Toad - or a friend

We parked near the village hall and began by walking through the village to the mill, then across the river, following the Nene Way over another bridge and up towards St John the Baptist church at Achurch.  Just over six miles.

Towards Achurch St John the Baptist

Ferns in the churchyard

From the churchyard we made our way through the Linches woodland, emerging just before the road junction, where we turned left and downhill towards the road bridges over the Nene.

Snowdrops in the woods

By the road to Lilford bridge

Soon after the traffic lights we turned right over a stile in the hedge to take the path to Pilton. From there we could see Lilford Hall.

Lilford Hall on the other side of the river

We followed the path and made a short diversion to the church, which has connections to the Tresham family, and possibly the Gunpowder Plot.  We were able to look inside, as one of the key holders was near by.  We had a pause for coffee and cake too, and the sun came out.

Then we walked back through the village, and along the road towards Wadenhoe, taking the footpath to our left through some trees and then across a field with a few Jacob's sheep. We aimed for the gate between two sheds and came out on the road near Wadenhoe War Memorial, where there's another bench. 

Noisy rooks

Curious sheep

At this point we decided to break for lunch at the Old Barn, before deciding on further plans. 

We agreed to go up to the church and "see how we felt". We were energetic enough to walk along the road to Aldwincle, which isn't bad as it has a pretty wide grass verge and not a lot of traffic. We made our way back along the Nene Way path to the car park.

Sunlight and blue sky