Yarwell - Wansford and Old Sulehay Forest

Walk with Maureen from Yarwell Mill. Started at 1007. Grey skies to begin with, but the sun appeared around midday.  About five and a half miles.

We walked along the Nene Way north, past the fields with alpaca, and turned right along the road. We took the Nene Way footpath to the right at the bend in the road.

We followed the Nene Way as far as Wansford Bridge. We turned left away from the bridge, then left again at the church on to the road to Nassington.

We walked out of Wansford, past the Surgery complex. Just after Forest Lodge a footpath leaves the road on the right hand side. In a field were Hebridean sheep, grazing to improve the area for wildlife.

 This heads northwest for a short distance, then turns to the left. A straight path leads through Old Sulehay Forest. 

We followed the main path for almost a mile. Part way along we found a bench ideally placed for a break.

The path follows the northern edge of the quarry/nature reserve. When the path met the road we turned right and cut across the reserve following the footpath diagonally (southeast). 

We crossed the road and took the footpath between two fences, then continued southeast over several fields, until we reached the bridleway from Nassington. Here we turned left and walked northeast for about half a mile. We reached the Wansford to Nassington Road, crossed over to the footway along the verge, and walked a few hundred yards towards Yarwell. A footpath turns off to the right, and goes directly east behind a farm, an orchard and allotments, and eventually into the village. It reaches the road just opposite the Nene Way sign, and the path past the alpacas.

 It reaches the road just opposit the Nene Way sign, and the path past the alpacas.  We followed this back to Yarwell Mill, and once again had a sandwich at the little café kiosk.

Yarwell Mill - Wansford- Sutton- circular

Walk from Yarwell Mill 01 October 2018. Around 7 miles.

With Maureen, Norma, Eddie and Kate.

Bright, but chilly!

We followed the Nene Way footpath from Yarwell Mill country park. It leaves the road just before the car parking area, and heads north along the edge of a field, past enclosures with horses and alpaca. 

It then goes left up to the road in Yarwell village, where we turned right. The footpath goes off again to the right at a bend in the road. We followed the path as far as the bridge at Wansford. We turned left along the roadside, then right towards the A!. Just before the road we turned right again to walk under the A1, with the river Nene visible on our right. The path took us past a picnic spot, and then continued along the road way, past more construction work. We passed near a lot of litter and there was a lot of traffic noise. They are making the A 47 into dual carriageway, so the path can be a little awkward  to follow, especially just after picnic area. Take the road until you see the footpath sign, then head towards the river. All of this may become very unpleasant as the work proceeds.

Eddie walks round the pitch under the morning moon

This bus, labelled "Nene Valley People Rising" was on its way to the public meeting in Wansford
https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/a47-wansford-to-sutton-dualling/

We followed the Nene Way to Sutton , and turned left then right past the church.

Irresistible autumn colours

We walked along Lovers Lane, and then took the Nene Way  footpath to the right across fields and over the railway bridge to Wansford Station.

There were crowds waiting for the arrival of the Flying Scotsman, but we decided to continue walking.

We turned right at the station and very soon took a grassy footpath on the right, next to, but not across a ploughed field into Sibbington. once there, we walked along the road to the left, which brought us back to the road to Wansford Station. A little longer but a pleasant detour.  We turned right, the very soon left to the bridge over the A1. All of this road walking had either a proper footway, or a very wide verge.  We followed this road west until it joined the B671. A left turn here and before long we saw the bridleway sign on the right.

We took the bridleway slightly downhill and clearly marked, with a fishing area and lake on our right. At the junction, there are large boulders and to the right the entrance to the fishing lake. However, the bridleway continues ahead. Ignore the fishing lake gate.

Soon after this the bridleway as a "No entry" sign. This is for vehicles. The bridleway sign is nestled secretively on a post to the left!  It continues behind Yarwell Junction and on to rejoin the Nene Way, just after a bridge.   Here we turned right to return to Yarwell Mill.

We stopped there for a decent and reasonably priced sandwich and drink before going home. 

The first crossing of the A1 is an underpass, the second a bridge.

Nassington-Yarwell-Wansford- Sutton

No route descriptions here - it needs working on.
With Maureen - 8.5 miles.

So a fine day, and a few photographs!

River Nene

Near Yarwell Mill

An early coffee break - too tempting

alpaca

Wansford Bridge

This notice has been here a while

I had just said - pity there aren't more seats!

St Michael and all Angels, Sutton

We've been here before

Sky divers

Convenient seat again!

Fotheringhay, Elton and the River Nene

With Maureen, Norma, Kate and Eddie. The same walk as last Thursday, with no false turns this time! Around 6 miles.

Walking past Elton Park

A glimpse of Elton Hall

Brightening skies as we return to Fotheringhay.

Elton circular

Friday 14 September - another almost 7 miles. With Marta.

As we approached Elton we noticed a garden centre close to Elton Hall. We're usually quite ready to be distracted by a cuppa and a snack before a walk, so we investigated. We shared a large slice of rather good banana and chocolate cake, to accompany our drinks.

The people in the café were quite happy for us to leave the car in their car park while we walked.

 The walk into Elton village is getting on for a mile, past trees

a slightly threadbare thatched duck and ducklings

 some picturesque tiles

 a war memorial with a difference

 the church

 a crab apple tree

a couple of pubs and a village shop

Near to the chapel we found the gate and public footpath which leads past the old mill to the lock gates, where we crossed the River Nene.

looking back to Elton Mill

Just after the lock we turned right, and crossed a footbridge. Then the path turned left across fields, then alongside a hedge and over the dismantled railway line. between Wansford and Oundle. 

We ignored th path which goes off diagonally to the left, and continued along the track with a blackberry-laden hedgerow on our right.

We crossed the minor road and went over the stile on the opposite side, across the field and through the farmyard of Park Lodge. We had to walk over the two recently ploughed fields, but they were not wet or sticky. At the other side, through the trees of Park Spinney, we joined the Nene Way. We turned right and continued to the point where four paths cross. Here we turned slightly to our right, as the Nene Way headed off straight ahead.

Before long we met another road, at a junction.  Large tree trunks provided a good place to sit and indulge in another short break.

We crossed over and took the small road leading directly east.  It runs south and then east again and after a mile or so reaches Elton Bridge.

Autumn berries

autumn leaves

and us, looking slightly bemused.

We followed the road back into Elton and on to the garden centre, though we could have taken a footpath by the river.

Soup and bread at the garden centre café made a very satisfying end to the walk.  

Fotheringhay, Elton and the Nene.

With Maureen.  This is a walk we found in Market Harborough Living magazine. Advertised as 5 miles, but my measuring apps put it nearer 6.

A very pleasant walk, almost entirely flat, with very few stiles. Fotheringhay is the birthplace of Richard III, and the site of Mary Queen of Scots execution.

We parked in Fotheringhay, and walked away from the church, past the pub to a footpath just before a red phone box. The path goes to the Willow Brook.

 At this bridge you turn left and follow the brook until you reach the Nene Way.

Turn right along the Nene Way, ignore the footpath to the left, and take a path to the right shortly afterwards, through some trees and across a field. Aim for the right hand edge of the coppice ahead.  There is a small pond, though it was dry when we walked the route. Head towards Park Lodge farm, across a smaller field, and go through the farm yard.

Go past an overgrown orchard, and over a stile into a field. The farm drive turns slightly to the right at this point.  At the other side of the field go over the stile and cross the road.
Follow the track on the other side of the road - this continues to the River Nene.
Cross the bridge with the locks.
At this point we had a break, on the steps by the river.

There were a few boats around, one waiting to go through the lock.

We went past the disused Elton Mill, and through a gate into the village. We turned right and then right down Chapel Lane, past the Methodist Chapel.

In Elton we saw a fair number of martins wheeling around. I guess their bags are packed and they're checking in for the flight south.

We ignored the first footpath on Chapel Lane, continuing along the bridleway, with Elton Park on the left.

After a mile or so, you approach the A605. We saw this little creature on the blackberries . . .

The path continues on this side, and goes past Warmington Gravel Pit, and on to Warmington Mill. 

Turn right just before the mill building, then left and rejoin the Nene Way. This takes you all the way back to Fotheringhay, over a footbridge and Warmington Lock.

Fotheringhay Church in the distance, with the Castle Mound to the left

After the lock aim for the gap in the hedge to the left of the church. On the way into the village you pass the Castle Mound.

We had lunch at Barnwell Country Park, near Oundle.