Brixworth and Brampton Valley Way

Just over 6 miles. With Norma and Ken. Although the weather was grey and showers threatened we stayed dry, apart from a few fat raindrops just as we stopped for a break.

We set off from the Country Park car park, walking towards the causeway clockwise for a few hanundred yards before taking the footpath to our left and up towards the A508. We crossed the road, and then took the right hand fork of the footpath through the houses, (the Ashway and Iron Pikes) and along Holcot Road, Harborough Road, High Street and Church Street, eventually to Brixworth church. We walked through the churchyard and turned left through a gate down Station Road. When we reached Church Street we turned right along Saneco Lane and found our foortpath through the fields and down hill towards the Spratton Crossing on the Brampton Valley Way. 

We followed the old railway path south for about a mile and half, as far as Merry Tom Crossing, then took the bridleway past Merry Tom Farm and back up to the outskirts of Brixworth.  We turned right at Northampton Road , and followed the cycle route signs to the main A508 roundabout back to the car park.

Brixworth and Chapel Brampton take 2

Monday 6 February 2017.  With Maureen and Norma. Misty then sunny, then cloudy. Underfoot firm and frozen to begin with. Under 10 Miles.

We parked at Spratton Crossing on the Brampton Valley Way, but went back to the road and turned right towards Brixworth. Very soon a footpath goes off to the left, across fields and up towards Brixworth church.

I'm glad this was frozen!

Trees loom through the mist

We're on track

Look, there is sky

Parts of this church date from c750-850. 

 Brixworth has a village heritage trail, with blue plaques dotted around, so our progress was leisurely.

Piggy on the roof

 We walked right through the village on the Northampton Road, past the new housing estate, eventually taking the bridleway to our right downhill to Merry Tom crossing, on the Brampton Valley Way once more.

We now have a view

Horses lined up, behind a fence.

 At Merry Tom crossing we continue along the road, ignoring the muddy path uphill through the field on our left. We reach the junction with the A5199 and turn left. Today there is little traffic and no problems walking along it as far as the Red House, where we turn right and a little later left at the bridleway heading into Chapel Brampton. 
When we reach the village we turn right, and later left to cross the A 5199 again, and down Pitsford Road. This takes us to the Brampton Valley Way once more, and Pitsford and Brampton Station. We have a coffee break on a bench - I discover that my coffee is hot water only, but Maureen's scone more than compensates.

 All that remains is to walk the couple of miles along the old railway line and back to Spratton Crossing.

A very cropped photo of an obligingly stationary buzzard.

A squirrel against the light (exposure adjusted later).

Finally a sandwich and drink at the BreadLine bakery/cafe in Brixworth rounded off a satsifying walk.

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!

NR 9 - Brixworth Cp to Ch Brampton and back

Fri, 2014 May 30 10:11 AM  BST

With Marta. Grey but dry and quite warm for walking. 8 miles plus.

After a wet and dreary week I couldn't turn down the chance for a dry walk. We parked at Pitsford Water/Brixworth Country Park, and did four miles of the Northamptonshire Round, returning via a slightly different route, including a mile of the Brampton Valley Way.

We have to walk along the access road to the A508 roundabout and cross over to the Brixworth Road. Here we turn right and walk for a couple of hundred yards until we meet the bridleway - a wide track which goes up and down in its two miles to the Merry Tom Crossing of the Brampton Valley Way.

White campion and knapweed?

on track, and nearing the BVW

At the crossing

over the river - not inviting today

  After Merry Tom crossing and the bridge over the river, we follow the road for a short distance, then take a footpath off to the left - all pleasant walking up towards the road.

Wide clear paths lead to the A5199

We turn left at the road and then very soon take a small road to Brampton Hill . This becomes private and we take a path to our right until we reach the signpost in the photo below, where we pause for coffee, and to admire the views. 

A good viewpoint, and a good job we know which path to take

All this for coffee and cake?

 Then we turn left towards the farm. Another good wide track. At the farm road we go straight across and follow the footpath down.

Poppy season

The hedge is on our right at first, then on our left. We follow this path to the Holdenby Road from Church Brampton.  

more colour

 Here we turn left, and then take a footpath on our right, which brings us out on the main road, opposite the single track road to the golf course. (See our walk from May 20th)

Marta documenting the point where our route links to the last one

Now our route differs from the NR . We walk uphill alongside the Harlestone road out of Church Brampton, cross over Sandy Lane, and take a footpath on our left. This is fenced off from the nearby arable (muddy) field, and is more easy walking. Before long it brings us into Back Lane, Chapel Brampton - part of the village one way system. We turn right and follow the road back to the Harlestone Road, then left to the Northampton Road. We cross into Pitsford Road and follow this as far as the Brampton Valley Way - the station and pub.

Near the Pitsford and Brampton station - colour of a different kind

 We turn left and walk through various railway items, and for almost a mile alongside an unused, or rarely used railway track. 

signal box

mosaic

This part of the walk is well supplied with benches to sit on, and is used by cyclists and dog walkers, though we see very few today.

At Merry Tom crossing we rejoin our outward route, and turn right along the bridleway, back to Brixworth and the country park café for lunch. This is now a place with good friendly service - and big cups of coffee.

Map and details