Rushton to Prologis Park, and back via Barford Meadow.

 Monday 28th November

With Norma and Maureen. A grey and misty start, with the sun making a feeble attempt to shine later.

We parked in Rushton and followed the bridleway past Holme Field Farm, with lamas on our right, then the railway line on our left. At the five bar gate we continued straight on and walked alongside, slightly above the railway to the point where it crosses Glendon Road. We crossed the road bridge and turned right to the path through Prologis Park.  Keeping right we walked the perimeter of the park, past various warehouses until we reached an exit to the big roundabout.  We followed the path and the road round to the Fox and Peony.

The cafe was displaying a closed sign, and we were about to tuck into Maureen’s scones outside, when someone arrived, tired the door and found that it was open. Quick change of plan, particularly welcome since I had forgotten my wee jar of instant coffee and hot water just doesn’t cut it.

Our return to the car was along the footpath from Glendon Road (the road with Iron Mountain on it). A short detour via Barford Meadows and through the woodland.

Then it was across the railway bridge and a field path to rejoin the track into Rushton . 5.3 miles.

Prologis Park, Kettering to Rushton via Barford Meadow (variation)

 Friday 11th February 2022, with Marta. Almost 7 miles. Brilliant sunshine, but quite cold later.

A late start today, after early morning dental check-up and then coffee and teacake at the Fox and Peony.

Catkins a-plenty

We took the path round the edge of the park, parallel with the new A43,

The underpass to/from the houses over the A43

The view over to Kettering town centre

Slade Brook

then had a wander through the grassed area with picnic tables, before continuing uphill to the car park. Changed out of ‘town shoes’ into walking boots before taking the path towards Barford Meadows Nature Reserve. 

We walked the perimeter of the reserve more or less, with a brief glance at the A6003. 

Then into Rushton village,

and a pause for lunch - a very decent sandwich - at the Thornhill Arms. 

The view from the pub garden.

A quick look at the churchyard, then a coffee on a bench nearby, close to banks of snowdrops.

We returned to Kettering along the bridleway close to the railway line.

Prologis Park, to Rushton via Barford Meadow

 Monday 7th February 2022, with Norma, Maureen and Kate. 5.75 miles. Fine early on, then clouded over.  Cold.

We set off from the car park near Entrance 6 on the plan below.

The linear paths we walked last Thursday join up with the housing estates on the southeast of the A43 via an underpass, close to Entrance 4 on the map.

For some reason the map here is oriented with south upwards…

Returning to our start point at Entrance 6 we crossed the road and headed toward Rushton and Barford Meadow Nature reserve.

Not a lot of wildlife in evidence, though we saw a couple of red kites later.

We took the main path then turned left at the gate to walk back along the edge of the woodland.

Over the railway bridge, and along the path crossing the River Ise, which was looking muddier today

past Holmefield Health Spa, the llamas…

and the horse 

and through Rushton village 

to the church

 a short pause for a snack (thank you, Maureen!).

We returned taking the direct route.

Another llama, just because.

Rushton to Fox and Peony, via Barford Meadows and Prologis Park

 Thursday 3rd February 2022. Just over 6 miles, with Maureen. Dull day, not cold.

From Rushton we walked down Manor Road, then turned left and followed the bridleway southwest past Holmefield Grange Wellness Retreat, with the busy railway line on our left. We crossed the River Ise, and after a gate we turned left under the railway bridge. Our route continued fairly close to the railway line (on our right now) through fields, slightly uphill towards a bridge over a branch of the railway. with many a

warning about live wires. 

The path heads into the Barford Meadows Nature reserve, which we explored a little, though there was not a lot to see at this time of year. Gorse was flowering, and there were plenty of catkins and a few birds twittering. But it was a pleasant walk through meadow and woodland.

We headed back to the path leading almost south toward Kettering and followed it past a couple of Kettering FC pitches, still close to the railway, though this is in a cutting here.

We crossed Glendon Road, and turned left along the footpath, with the John Lowther Centre and the Scouts Centre close by over to our left. We passed the car park, and at the roundabout crossed Hipwell Road and took the road to Glendon Lodge Farm and the Fox and Peony. 

After refreshing ourselves we returned to the Prologis Park and walked the Linear Park path downhill and round what looks like a lake on the map, but isn’t very obvious in real life. Plenty of picnic areas and field space nearby though, so it should be worth a visit when it has settled in more.

Then we returned to Rushton along the path we walked earlier but with no diversions this time.