Wadenhoe, Aldwincle, Pilton, Achurch

Monday 13 February 2017, 9.45. Maureen, Steph, Norma, Tommy and me. Fine sunny morning after the wet weekend. Same route as last Thursday, though we took the road from Lilford bridge to Achurch instead of the Nene Way through the woods.  Not too muddy underfoot.

Swan on the Nene near Wadenhoe

Is this alder??

Aldwincle church

The track from Cross Street

The bridleway was probably the worst section for walking

Another buzzard, too distant to get a decent photo

Pilton church

A break in the sun!

Snowdrops

Back down to Wadenhoe

The mill with blue sky.

Ignore anything after the 7 mile point! 

Wadenhoe, Aldwincle, Pilton, Achurch

Thursday 09 February 2017.  With Maureen.  The reverse of Tuesday's walk, with a little extra.  7 miles in all. Muddy in patches.

We parked near Wadenhoe village hall, and walked along the Nene Way path, below the church towards Aldwincle.

 On the way we passed this fire-pit, perhaps for scout camps?

 We followed the path into Aldwincle, emerging near the church, where we turned right and shortly afterwards left along Cross Street. This becomes a farm track - with puddles, but easy enough to walk along. We turn right when we meet the bridleway (once the Thrapston to Oundle Road . . .). When we meet the metalled road we turn right again on a footpath  beside the hedge. this leads to the road between Aldwincle and Wadenhoe.
A short section of road walking and we arrive at Wadenhoe War Memorial. We make good use of the bench!

We followed the road past the houses on the way out of the village, and at the bend took the footpath signed to the right. There are two paths, and we took the one through a gate and fence, then across the field to the opposite corner, where the path goes into a short section of woodland before rejoining the road towards Pilton. 

Carvings on the Bede House

We went through Pilton, past the Bede House, and to the church, before turning south across fields.  One gate and a stile and we reached the road heading to Lilford and Titchmarsh. We turned left over the two bridges across the Nene, then picked up the Nene Way footpath through the Linches. There are a few muddy patches here.

Up through the Linches

Almost an owl

Just as we reached the road to the church at Achurch, there were snowdrops everywhere.

The Nene Way goes through the churchyard, then downhill over a grass field, crosses a branch of the river and another field before arriving back in Wadenhoe near the Mill car park.

On the way we saw a red kite. As always it was too quick for me to get a decent snap!

And finally a few exotic chickens.

Wadenhoe, Achurch, Pilton, Aldwincle

Tuesday 07 February 2017.  With Marta. Dull weather, but dry.

We parked near the village hall and began by walking trough the village to the mill, then across the river, following the Nene Way over another bridge and up towards St John the Baptist church at Achurch.  Just over six miles.

The Nene is quite high

Looking up from the car park to Wadenhoe church

This looks like Mr Toad - or a friend

We parked near the village hall and began by walking through the village to the mill, then across the river, following the Nene Way over another bridge and up towards St John the Baptist church at Achurch.  Just over six miles.

Towards Achurch St John the Baptist

Ferns in the churchyard

From the churchyard we made our way through the Linches woodland, emerging just before the road junction, where we turned left and downhill towards the road bridges over the Nene.

Snowdrops in the woods

By the road to Lilford bridge

Soon after the traffic lights we turned right over a stile in the hedge to take the path to Pilton. From there we could see Lilford Hall.

Lilford Hall on the other side of the river

We followed the path and made a short diversion to the church, which has connections to the Tresham family, and possibly the Gunpowder Plot.  We were able to look inside, as one of the key holders was near by.  We had a pause for coffee and cake too, and the sun came out.

Then we walked back through the village, and along the road towards Wadenhoe, taking the footpath to our left through some trees and then across a field with a few Jacob's sheep. We aimed for the gate between two sheds and came out on the road near Wadenhoe War Memorial, where there's another bench. 

Noisy rooks

Curious sheep

At this point we decided to break for lunch at the Old Barn, before deciding on further plans. 

We agreed to go up to the church and "see how we felt". We were energetic enough to walk along the road to Aldwincle, which isn't bad as it has a pretty wide grass verge and not a lot of traffic. We made our way back along the Nene Way path to the car park.

Sunlight and blue sky

Brixworth and Chapel Brampton take 2

Monday 6 February 2017.  With Maureen and Norma. Misty then sunny, then cloudy. Underfoot firm and frozen to begin with. Under 10 Miles.

We parked at Spratton Crossing on the Brampton Valley Way, but went back to the road and turned right towards Brixworth. Very soon a footpath goes off to the left, across fields and up towards Brixworth church.

I'm glad this was frozen!

Trees loom through the mist

We're on track

Look, there is sky

Parts of this church date from c750-850. 

 Brixworth has a village heritage trail, with blue plaques dotted around, so our progress was leisurely.

Piggy on the roof

 We walked right through the village on the Northampton Road, past the new housing estate, eventually taking the bridleway to our right downhill to Merry Tom crossing, on the Brampton Valley Way once more.

We now have a view

Horses lined up, behind a fence.

 At Merry Tom crossing we continue along the road, ignoring the muddy path uphill through the field on our left. We reach the junction with the A5199 and turn left. Today there is little traffic and no problems walking along it as far as the Red House, where we turn right and a little later left at the bridleway heading into Chapel Brampton. 
When we reach the village we turn right, and later left to cross the A 5199 again, and down Pitsford Road. This takes us to the Brampton Valley Way once more, and Pitsford and Brampton Station. We have a coffee break on a bench - I discover that my coffee is hot water only, but Maureen's scone more than compensates.

 All that remains is to walk the couple of miles along the old railway line and back to Spratton Crossing.

A very cropped photo of an obligingly stationary buzzard.

A squirrel against the light (exposure adjusted later).

Finally a sandwich and drink at the BreadLine bakery/cafe in Brixworth rounded off a satsifying walk.

Brixworth and Chapel Brampton

Thursday 02 February 2017, 10.15 am. With Maureen. Another grey day, but apart from some drizzle we stayed dry.  I chose this route because much of it does not involve agricultural mud-skating.  One muddy path over fields. Just over six and a half miles, with around 350 feet of climbing.

We parked at Spratton crossing on the Brampton Valley Way, and set off south along the old railway line towards Merry Tom Crossing. We reached this after walking for a mile and a half. At the crossing we took the road leading off to our right. 

We decided to brave the field path leading off to the left and slightly uphill. We tackled the two fields, rather than follow the road.  The path was pretty muddy, though easy to follow, and we were glad to be done with it.

We met the road and turned left towards The Red House, and right immediately afterwards. When a bridleway crossed the road we turned left towards Chapel Brampton, then through the village, and turned left to meet the A 5199. We crossed this and walked downhill and over the river. Not far after that is the Brampton Halt pub, in the old station master's house, and then  Pitsford and Brampton station on the Northampton and Lamport steam railway.  

We found a bench where we could refresh ourselves after the rigours of the morning so far.

We followed the Brampton Valley Way north now, back to Merry Tom Crossing, and this time we turned right again along the well-surfaced bridleway back up to the village of Brixworth.  We now had a mile or so to walk through the village, turning left along Spratton Lane and walking downhill to Spratton Crossing. The road here has no footway, and a couple of bends - we had to keep our ears and eyes open, as there was quite a bit of traffic.
There is an alternative route via field paths, so maybe next time, if the weather has been drier!