Harleston, the Bringtons, Nobottle circular

Thu, 2014 Jul 3 9:55 AM BST.

with Maureen. Very warm, quite undulating. Just under 9 miles.

This walk covers much of the same ground as one I did in April 2013 with Barry, plus some of this one from Harlestone in May 2014.

We set off from SP 700 638 , at the parking spot at the start of the bridleway through woodland to Lower Harlestone. We followed this northeast until we reached the open ground, full of earthwork humps and hollows. We turned left and followed a side track near the school. This took us to the golf course with its lake and balustrade. 

Then we took the path to the right, before the "private" notice, crossed the car park and took the path to our left, past the church.

We continued past the war memorial and village hall, and continued straight on, following the path to the road. There is a choice of paths, and we took the right hand one, but the left hand one would have been fine too.

  We walked through this part of the village and took the quiet road signposted to Little Brington. This took us past the Dovecote and Laundry. After about half a mile we turned right at a junction, taking the road past Althorp House, and then the public footpath to Great Brington, through woods and fields.

At Great Brington we treated ourselves to a coffee in the pub - the Fox and Hounds, which has a lovely shaded courtyard.

We diverted from our route to have a look at the church - see previous post for more detail.  

Then we walked along the road to Little Brington, past the school and up to the crossroads. We walked along Carriage Road. Although it's a private road, there is a footpath, and before long we turned right across fields heading towards Nobottle. We crossed a minor road and two more fields, then walked along the busier road through Nobottle. Luckily this is a short section  and we soon turned left after Grove House, into fields, then alongside Nobottle Wood.  Once away from the road we thought we deserved another break. Today was a sticky day for walking! 

After a short section of woodland, and the only slightly muddy section of the walk, we reached the end of Nobottle Wood, and followed clearly laid out paths through fields, beside hedges and slightly uphill.

We emerged in Harlestone again, and turned right, taking the footpath just after the stream. This led us up, across a road and on again, coming out at the spot where we had parked earlier.



Map and details

Great Brington circular

Thu, 2013 Apr 18 10:05 AM Western European Time 

Led by Barry. Sun and showers - gentle rolling countryside - mostly dry underfoot. About 8 and a half miles. 466 feet of ascent.

Great Brington Church - on top of a hill, dominates the skyline as you approach by road

One of the churchwardens claims this could be the prototype for the US stars and stripes . . .

. . . after all George Washington's great-great-great-grandfather had this on his shield. 

We saw plenty of the curiosities in the church - including a seating plan from the seventeenth century  - not easy to escape attending church in those days, and this fine window by William Morris, a Libyan marble floor,  some 13th century stained glass.

The tombs of early Spencers from Althorp are in the church, in full decorative finery.

We walked through the village and on to Little Brington, over fields and quiet roads.

There's a shower on its way

The old Forge on Blacksmith's Lane.

There's a bench in memory of a woman who lived in the cottage all her life, until she died aged 79, in 2005.

Lo, we have blue skies

We managed to avoid this muddy water for once

Nobottle, and not a lot else either

Wood anenomes on the way to Harlestone - windflowers indeed, today.

Dovecot and Dovecot Laundry in Harlestone - it used to serve the local grand houses.

Althorp House from the road

Great Brington Old Rectory and church on the skyline

Woodland ride between Althorp and the church

Not cursed by interesting times

Spring brings aubrieta

Seven chimneys

Old Rectory

Looking across the countryside from the hill where G. Brington stands. 

Great Brington is well worth a google.


Map and details