Corby Kingswood to East Carlton Park

 Monday 18th September, with Norma and Maureen. Just over 7 and a half miles.

We chose this walk because the weather forecast was not good, and none of us had walked huge distances for the last week or so.

In th]e event the weather held out apart from a five minute hail shower just as we emerged from a tree lined path.

The usual route, through Kings Wood, then along Danesholme Road to the junction with the A6003. Crossing with care to reach the footpath sign on the west side of the road.

The first field has been ploughed and prepared for the next crop - hard dried soil makes for an unpleasant surface. We head north west to a wooden footbridge on the field boundary. This is in a shallow dip and can’t be seen from.the start of the path. 

We head for a small low concrete platform and leave it slightly to our left and aim for the trees ahead, until we catch sight of the bridge and adjust our route if necessary.

From there we have another similar field to cross, this time aiming for an oak tree on the right hand edge of a copse. We are still going north west.

The water towers on the 6003 are visible over to the east.

 

We walk through the corner of the copse, and turn slightly right to follow the field edge then follow the route of the path to cross over the farm track from Middleton Lodge Farm, continuing until we enter a somewhat overgrown tree covered section, where I attacked a few recalcitrant brambles.

This emerges on to a bridleway, where we turned right and then followed it round to the left until we reached the A427. The traffic along here can be fast.

We crossed and then followed the track, avoiding the left hand fork to the mushroom farm. This is another overgrown section and brings us to the old road from Corby to Harborough, now much quieter.

We crossed this , and negotiated three stiles to cross the fields and reach the back road into Middleton, we turn left when we reach the last stile, and head west to the main road.

Here we turn right, then take the footpath between two houses, which takes us to the bottom edge of East Carlton Park. We go into the park and walk uphill to the cafe.

For the return lag we use a slightly different route, down to the footpath below the park, then straight up the hill to the old Corby Road, joining our route out and returning.

18th November 2021 - Kingswood, Corby to Newton, return via Little and Great Oakley

 Thursday 18th November

Walked with Maureen to Newton and returned via Little and Great Oakley. Almost 8 miles. Grey, but sun broke through. 

Coffee break  in the porch of St. peter’s Church, Little Oakley.

The route

Kingswood to East Carlton and back. 11th November

 Thursday 11 November, with Maureen, almost eight miles. 250 feet of ascent.

A route we fall back on when inspiration fails - with a guaranteed cup of coffee at East Carlton Park. 

Kingswood Corby to East Carlton and back

 With Maureen, 7.5 miles, on a fine morning.

Monday 04 October, with Maureen and Harry.  8 miles.

A walk from Kingswood to Newton Dovecote Buttery and back, via Great Oakley.

Corby Kingswood to Wilbarston, return via East Carlton and Middleton.

 Thursday 12th August 2021 with Harry and Maureen - a whisker over ten miles and 230 feet of climbing on a fine sunny morning.

We crossed the A6003 close to the path near Brunswick gardens on Viking Way, and followed the path - over a stile and through fields, alongside Swinawe Wood. On occasions the path is a little indistinct and overgrown at this time of year. It emerges on the road between Pipewell and Wilbarston, where we turned right and followed the road going left at the junction to Wilbarston. The view begins to open out as the road descends to the A427.

It’s not bad crossing here, as there is a small island in the centre of the road. 

In Wilbarston we called at the Milking Parlour Café for coffee and scones, and a wee rest. Then we walked up to the village hall and took the path along the ridge towards East Carlton.  Along the way we saw lots of butterflies, including one painted lady, and noticed the haws are ripening too.

the haws are turning red

Flax/ linseed

Probably the best bit of the walk with good views over the Welland valley to the north west. 

We walked along the fenced footpath below East Carlton Park, turning right in Middleton, then left up School Hill, and soon right just before a gate. Through a field and across the old road to Harborough.  

The next section has grown luscious and vicious nettles and brambles since I was last here in June, and was quite tough walking. 

Over the A427 again, and along the bridleway. Just after it bends to the right there is a left turn. After this it was a little tricky to negotiate the next bit as the path on the ground doesn’t quite correspond to the path on the map.

The path comes out opposite Danesholme Road - another crossing of the A6003…through Kingswood Nature Reserve

and then back to the start.

Kingswood, Great Oakley, Little Oakley, Newton circular

Thursday 24th June.  Around 7 1/2 miles. With Maureen.