Great Gidding circular via Luddington in the Brook

Thu, 2014 Mar 27 9:44 AM GMT

Led by Barry, with me and Gordon. Mostly flattish bridleways. Horse country. Almost 9 miles. Weather fine, though there was a lightning flash and clap of thunder shortly before we finished walking. Underfoot not too bad - mud avoidable.

Not a day for great vistas or blue skies today. 

Village sign - I chopped the top of the tower off in my hurry!

 We begin by walking through some of the village, past the church where lots of daffodil-narcissus are flowering.

 We follow the road towards Luddington in the Brook, turning left down the drive towards Brook Farm, just opposite Ash Tree Cottage. When the drive bends to the right, we turn left along the footpath. This leads past fields of horses . . .

and sheep . . .

 and on to a lane which leads to St Margaret's church, which is closed but has a fine selection of gargoyles and grotesques.

We pass this statue among more daffodils, in a rather magnificent garden. 

We take the bridleway west for a couple of miles towards North Lodge Farm, along the stream at first, and then heading off to our left. We turn southwest and cross a field just before the farm and meet the Barnwell to Thurning road near the farm drive.  Now the path heads south. After a good half mile near some woodland we turn to our left, still following a bridleway. This is not far from South Lodge Farm.

We are now going southwest, between two areas of woodland, and meet the road from Clopton to Thurning.  We turn left and walk along it for a couple of hundred yards before turning right along a bridleway by the edge of more woodland.  Another mile or so and we come to a T-junction of bridleways, and a footpath sign beyond as well. We take the left turn north east along Gibbet Lane, which is a wide grassy track.

Along Gibbet Lane.

 We cross the road between Winwick and Thurning, and walk along the drive towards Luddington Hall, which is a bridleway too.

Another elegant sculpture

When the road bends to the left we carry straight on and follow the bridleway, well marked with hoof-prints in the mud.  As we approach Great Gidding the sky grows darker, and I feel a couple of heavy drops of rain. Waterproof back on just as there's a flash of lightning, followed closely by a thunderclap. We have about half a mile left to walk - the rain isn't too heavy, and there's no more electrical activity. Good timing for today's walk - the afternoon has been pretty wet.

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Map and details

Lutton and Great Gidding (mainly on minor roads)

Thu, 2014 Mar 13 9:48 AM GMT

Led by Barry, with Gordon, Maureen and me. Flattish, mainly roads, though fields are drying now. Mist gave way to sunny, warm  weather - (down to teeshirts for a while). Wide views. 9.5 miles approx.

We set off west from Lutton,  and when the main road bends to the left we carry on straight ahead, pretty well northwest by now.  Near the road to Papley Farm we turn left, and walk southeast along a road next to a large estate with a drive protected by security gates,  and woodlands. We cross the Lutton to Polebrook Road, and shortly afterwards come to the USAF memorial to the 351st Bombardment Group which was stationed here 1943-1945.

Our road continues southeast, and just past Hemington House, with its high double hedge, our route becomes a track, rutted by farm traffic and still muddy, but passable. On the map it's called Stamford Lane!  We come out at Rectory Farm, where we are greeted by dogs, loud, but luckily friendly. From here a road takes us into Great Gidding. We find time for a coffee break before the village.

 The first landmark we see is Townsend Pond. At the T-junction we turn right.

 Lots of information about the pond and the village on this board.  We carry on and turn left into Mill Road, which climbs gently out of the village.

It would be a brave person . . .

 At the top of the hill is Great Gidding Mill, which is being renovated. A fine dwelling with a view all round from the top!

A slightly ravilious view, I thought.

We walk along Milking Slade Road, and follow it round to our left after we've gone downhill and up again. At the corner the road becomes Bullock Road (on the map) and there's a sign to the track of the same name. The road goes gently downhill for a couple of miles.  We are getting a little footsore, so a second break tempts us.  

Eventually we reach a T-junction, and turn right, then follow the road round to our left and back into Lutton. We call in at the church, which has a small memorial to the 19 aircrew lost returning from a bombing mission, who crashed with another plane near Polebrook Airfield.

After visiting the church we stroll back to the car. Spring is in the air and on the trees . . .

 . . .and by the water.

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Map and details