Jurassic Way 3 - Charwelton - Braunston

With Marta. About 9 miles in all. Fine, sunny, coolish wind, muddy underfoot in places. Good food and friendly welcome at the Admiral Nelson in Braunston.

We set off from Charwelton, crossing the road from the packhorse bridge. The path starts on a driveway, but soon turns right across a field, and heads north towards a minor road.

At the minor road, do not take the footpath directly opposite, but turn left and walk for a few yards to another footpath across a cultivated field. You don't go over the disused railway embankment!

The path is clearly marked for most of the way, over cultivated fields and grassland.  Just as we arrived at a hedge a large deer leapt out in front of us and dashed away downhill out of sight.  A little further on we met a track and needed to run right - this may have been because we followed the field edge instead of cutting through diagonally.  A bit of map reading needed there.  Keep the radio masts well to the left.  We had to walk to the right of the dome showing through the trees - part of Windmill Farm.

The path brought us to the village of Hellidon, source of the River Leam,  an attractive out-of-the-way place.  We turned left at the Red Lion, then along Stockwell Lane (signposted 'Village Only'.

The church is to the left of the road, and accessed by some steep steps.
We followed the lane through the village, until it became a gated road to Lower Catesby.

After the houses signposting disappeared again. We had to turn right across a field and then follow the boundary over several fields with stiles, but no way marks. Today these fields were some of the muddiest and smelliest I've walked through for some time! We could see Catesby Viaduct, which confirmed that we were pretty well on track.

Our route across the disused railway line led through a gap where once stood a bridge, and at last the ground underfoot was firm enough for us to stop for a quick banana and coffee break.

From here the path was clearly marked through rapeseed and wheat fields, over a few streams via wooden bridges,

uphill to Bates farm building and down into the village of Staverton., over the A425.  We took the street to the right of the pub, then past The Green , where there is a Jurassic Way marker, showing the distance to Banbury - 22M, and to Stamford - 66M.  At the moment we're averaging perhaps 9 miles per walk! Staverton is one quarter of the way along.
From The Green we went along Oakham Lane, turned right then left into Braunston Lane, which we followed as it became a bridleway.  We walked along the bridleway until it turned sharply to the right. At this corner the path led slightly to the left through a field and was easy to follow - over the A45, through more fields, across another dismantled railway line by a bridge and down to the Grand Union Canal, and the Admiral Nelson Inn, where we stopped for lunch before making our way to car number 2.

Top Lock, Braunston through the pub window. Narrowboats were going through in pairs to minimise water use.

Map and details

A stroll to the Welland

Just under 3 miles - down to the river and back round the village. The Welland is still in some sort of spate, though nothing like it was last Friday.
I heard the cuckoo again, a little fainter than yesterday. I saw goldfinches flitting about in the hedge,  and two hares crossed the road about ten yards in front of me, took a good look, and legged it. By the time I reached the gate to the field they had disappeared. The closest view I've had for some time. Unfortunately, no camera shot!

This may be slightly fuller than yesterday.

BBC Open Country Northants programme

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gvtj0

Includes nightingales in Glapthorn Cow Pasture,  with musician Nick Penny, and a poet - David Garrett - in Short Wood, plus artist Claire Morris Wright from Laxton.

Aldwincle - Islip - Aldwincle

Almost exactly the reverse of this walk from January 23rd.  About 6 miles. Led by Gordon. Sunny, though some of the route was flooded, so we took the high road.  Barrie E, Barry O, Terry, Eddie, Norma, Kate and me.

A little bit of fence climbing round the submerged path

Map and details  ignore anything after the 6 mile mark!

Hambleton peninsula - Rutland Water

We drove out to Hambleton and parked by the road out of the village - ok on a quiet rainy Thursday in April - probably impossible on a sunny Sunday in July or August!  Just over six and a half miles, with Maureen, Barry and Gordon.  Fine, with one brief shower.

As well as the scenery we were treated to some great birdsong - I think the most tuneful was a great tit, but the chaffinch was a close second.

A fine specimen - stone cockerel - in welly boots?

We walked back through the village and turned right along a muddy footpath downhill between fences, and then across a field (wet on this occasion) joining the main cycle track at a corner.

Waterside woodland carvings

Then we followed the path through some woodland until we met the road. We decided to go down to the spot where it disappears under water, and there is now a convenient bench.
After this we returned to the main route, which took us through more bluebell woods, not yet quite at their peak and round to the road to Hambledon Old Hall.

Not a bad spot to live?

At this point the first real rain of the morning started, so we donned waterproofs, and continued on the track across the road.  The wind was strong enough to blow the shower away rapidly.

Be prepared!

A stone figure in need of some waterproofs?

When we reached the main road we decided against a walk to Egleton - too much walking at the side of the road.  So back to the car, following the cycle track until we met the path we'd come down earlier.

Back to the car . . . and a slice of birthday cake - thank you, Maureen, and I agree, birthdays should be extended over at least three weeks. Happy Birthday to Maureen as well!

The rain held off,  and the drive home was dry and clear.

Now, as I write this I can hear the rain hammering on nearby conservatory roofs.


map and details

For more fanciful accounts see this post and the preceding one on my alithoughts blog.

Kinder Scout mass trespass

A reminder of the action of those men and women from Manchester and Sheffield who challenged the gamekeepers and landowners of the grouse moors on  24 April 1932, eighty years ago.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/23/peak-district-mass-trespass-planning-laws


Thank you.

Fineshade Woods

A walk round the woods - about 3 miles or so in an hour.  We saw an orange tip butterfly, and heard a few birds, but mostly just enjoyed the air.