January

Sunday 8th
New Members Walk
Salcey Forest
John H

Sunday 15th
Local Walk Figure of 8
Cogenhoe
Vicki

January

Why not make good on that New Year's Resolution and come out for a walk with us?

This is a figure of 8 walk, a figure of 8 walk means that you have the option to do the morning walk only (4.5 miles), or the afternoon walk only (4.5 miles), or walk all day ( ~ 9 miles)! If you think you may want to walk all day, please bring a packed lunch with you.

Park in the main car park (Grid reference 795514, NN7 2HX) and meet outside the forest cafe at 10.30am. There is a car parking charge of £1.50 an hour, or £4 a day.

For the morning walk we will be heading north around the forest and into the fields taking in the tree top walkway along on the way. The distance is 4.4 miles.

After eating lunch at the car park, where we can either eat out sandwiches and /or coffee and cake at the cafe, the afternoon walk will start at 12.45pm (from the cafe). We will be walk through the south end of the forest for a 4.5 mile walk.

Map relative to start

This is a figure of 8 walk where we return to the start for our lunch stop, so you can join us for just the morning, just the afternoon or the whole thing. If you are walking all day, please bring a packed lunch with you, as there won't be time to order food in the pub.

Please meet outside the Royal Oak Pub, Whiston Road in Cogenhoe, NN7 1NJ. There is plenty of parking around the village and in the lane next to the pub.

The morning walk will leave at 10.30am. It is just over 5 miles. Leaving Cogenhoe we will walk towards Chadstone, looping around to Castle Ashby with a section of road walking then head back to the Royal Oak pub for a drink. We will find somewhere close to the pub to eat lunch. 

The afternoon walk will start from the pub at approximately 1.15pm. It is a shorter loop of 3 miles. Leaving the pub we will walk towards the River Nene following its path then cut across fields back to Cogenhoe.

Please contact us if you plan only to turn up for the afternoon walk so we know you will be joining us.

This is a circular walk of approximately 9 miles in total. Please bring a packed lunch with you, as there won't be time to order food at the pub at lunchtime.

Please park park considerately around the village and meet in front of the Spencer Arms pub
(Northampton Road, Northampton,NN6 8AE) for a 10.30am start.

The first half of the walk will be around 4.5 miles heading towards Holdenby from there we will make our way to East Haddon. We will be stopping for a drink at the Red Lion in East Haddon. We should be able to eat our lunch outside the pub. However I will check if that is still possible on the day and if not then we will find a place nearby to eat our food.

The second half of the walk is of similar distance where we will be heading towards Ravensthorpe reservoir before making our way back to Chapel

of the start of the walk

The is a 10 mile circular walk leaving from Shelfley's car park on Ladybridge Drive, Northampton (NN4 9XG is postcode for nearby street  called Heronsford). Please bring a packed lunch with you as there won't be time to order food in the pub at lunchtime.

The walk starts from the car park at 10:30am. We will head through the park and cross the Blisworth road into East Hunsbury. Walking through several park areas and residential roads to reach the flyover to Wootton. From Wootton we will head over to Hardingstone, round the back of Delapre Abbey and through to Far Cotton. We will stop at the White Hart for a drink, and if we sit outside maybe a discreet lunch stop . We will then follow the canal north of Far Cotton and Briar Hill until we near Swan Valley when we will return to West Hunsbury and the car park.

Map of start of walk

Map relative to nearby towns

Comment added 7/2 The walk includes some off road tracks and one or two muddy paths/alleys. Please wear appropriate footwear !

Please see details below regarding a weekend away in February that Vicki B is looking to organise.  If you are interested in attending please can you confirm either directly to Vicki or by replying to the contacts email Asap so that accommodation can be booked.

February weekend: Friday 17th - Sunday 19th
Mersea island near Colchester, Essex
I'm looking to see who is interested in a weekend at the following place.

Http://www.visitessex.com/discover/maritime/mersea-island.aspx

Please follow the above link to see more about the island. Mersea is the Uk's most easterly inhabited island and gets cut off by the sea.

The accomodation will be luxury caravans on one of the islands holiday parks and an approximate cost will be £40 per person for accomodation with a £20 deposit required with the remainder to be paid nearer the time.

http://www.awayresorts.co.uk/mersea-island/

In terms of walks there is the option to walk around the island which is 13 miles & would take about 5 hours. With further walks on the mainland an option for the other days.

Please note the island is quite remote and gets cut off at high tide from the mainland so once the tide times for next year have been published we will be able to confirm when you would need to get there in order to be able to access the island and the holiday park.

Below is a link to a article from the Guardian website about the island.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/jul/28/holidays-on-mersea-island-essex

This is 5 mile walk with the option of tea and cake / breakfast /lunch afterwards in the Buttery cafe at Castle Ashby stables. Please meet in the large car park at the back of the stables court yard, ready to walk at 10.30am.

The walk will head out of Castle Ashby by the Lakes to Grendon. We will then head for Eastern Maudit, returning to Castle Ashby via the fields and quiet roads.

If you have a spare morning why not join us?

A 10 mile walk from Stoke Bruerne, a picturesque village by the Grand Union Canal.

Meet at 10.30am in the museum car park (signposted once you reach the village), which costs £3 to park all day. There is no parking in the village as it is all double yellow lines. (Grid reference SP 743 497)

The walk starts with a gentle stroll along the canal, watching the boats navigate the flight of locks. We then walk through fields to Ashton & Grafton Regis where sadly the snowdrop strewn bank near the church is likely to be gone by the time of the walk.

We will stop at the White Hart in Grafton Regis for a drink, eating our packed lunch nearby.

The highlight of the afternoon are some bumps and lumps in a field that are the remains of a Norman Castle in Alderton. From here we will head back to Stoke Bruerne for a well deserved ice cream, cake, or lager shandy depending on what is open ( and the weather!).

Please bring a packed lunch.

Map of the start of the walk

The 8 mile walk starts in the Mill Yard Car Park, just off Post Street, Godmanchester, PE29 2AQ (parking is free) at 10.30am. This walk leaves the car park & goes through the recreation ground where we will go past the Chinese bridge, which is a much photographed local landmark. From there we will go over to the locks & across Port Holme to Huntingdon. Port Holme is said to be the UK's largest meadow of its kind. From Huntingdon we will walk back into Godmanchester over the river bridge underneath the A14 and out into the Godmanchester Nature Reserve where there is loads of wildlife to be seen.

We will stop in the nature reserve to eat our packed lunches before heading across to Houghton Mill which is a National Trust property. The Mill won't be open on the day we are walking but there may be time for a drink in the National Trust tea rooms. From there we will head back out through Hemmingford Abbots following the old disused railway line and then back into Godmanchester returning to the Mill Yard car park.

This is a 9.5mile walk visiting the two lakes of Milton Keynes. Its a figure of 8 walk, meaning that we will return to the cars at lunchtime, allowing you to walk only the morning, only the afternoon or all day. The morning walk is on hard paths, suitable to push young children in buggies.

If you are walking all day, please bring a packed lunch with you as there won't be time to order food in the pub at lunch time.

The morning loop will start at 10.30am from the Ouzel Valley car park north of Woughton on the Green (on Newport Road, see map below). It is an approximately 4.5 mile walk which is buggy-friendly. We will walk along the river Ouzel, past some mediaeval fish ponds (now dried up!) up to Willen Lake. After circuiting the lake, its a short walk through a residential area back to the cars.

For those walking all day, we will eat our sandwiches on the picnic tables near the car park then walk up to the Olde Swan pub in Woughton on the Green for a drink. The afternoon loop will start from the pub.

The afternoon loop is a 5 mile walk starting from the Olde Swan pub in Woughton on the Green at approximately 1pm. (The pub is on the junction of Newport Road and The Green). There is ample on-road parking on the road between the pub and the car park. From Woughton on the Green we will walk across open fields until reaching the Grand Union Canal. We will walk south along the canal to Simpson, and from there cut across to Caldecotte Lake. The towpath maybe muddy in places. We will walk a loop around the pretty northern part of the lake before heading back up the river to the car park. (The section from Simpson onwards is also buggy friendly, but the section along the canal is not!).

Map of the morning starting place

Map of the afternoon starting place

This is a 4.5 mile evening walk starting from Great Doddington. Please meet at Kale Lane, Great Doddington NN29 7TT at 7.30pm. (Kale Lane is between numbers 47 and 49 The Ridge). Please park sensibly either in the lane or along the road.

We will walk through the fields to Earls Barton to visit the new Micro Pub

http://www.ukmicropubs.co.uk/the-saxon-tavern-micropub-now-open-in-earls-barton/

We will return to Earls Barton along the road as it will be dark so there is no trouble walking back to the cars in the dark.

An opportunity to visit another new micro pub in our county.

Map of the start of the walk

The walk will be approx 6-7.5 miles and includes a plan to eat at a tapas bar in Birmingham afterwards. If you are interested in joining us to eat, please let us know by 22 March, thank you.

We will travel by train from Northampton getting the 09.36 train to Birmingham New Street. After meeting others joining from different places, we will meander our way through Birmingham city Centre taking in a few sights such as the Bull Ring, Library, Museum and Art Gallery. We may have time for coffee/ tea at the gallery before making our way out to the canal network.

After a walk around the canals we will returning to the city c via the Mail Box for some tapas at Bar Estilo http://www.barestilo.co.uk/ . We will then return to Northampton by early evening.

(If the weather is bad there are some lovely pubs to visit too !)

There is a parking fee at Northampton train station and the approx price of a return to Birmingham is £15, this fare will be checked nearer the time.

Meet outside the front of the Rose and Crown pub in Yardley Hastings at 7.30pm (NN7 1EX).  Please park carefully around the village or at the pub if stopping for a drink afterwards.

We will walk around the Castle Ashby Estate, through Castle Ashby village and back to Yardley Hastings along the stream.

We should be back at the pub for a drink around 9pm.

Please note there is no phone signal at the start of the walk.

Map of the start of the walk

! Location change due to path closures !

This is a circular walk, please bring a packed lunch with you, as there
won't be time to order food at the pub at lunchtime. We will start the
walk from Harpole at 10.30am. Please park considerately around the
village and meet outside All Saint's church.  We will head out to Nether
Hayford (via Harpole Mill / Bugbrooke Mill). From there we will walk to
Flore along the Nene Way. We'll eat our lunch at Flore (possibly
stopping at a pub or tea shop here too).

The afternoon section of the walk takes us from Flore to Nobottle along
MacMillan Way and then from Nobottle back to Harpole along part of the
Northamptonshire round. The total distance is just over 9 miles
approximately.

Sunday 16 July, local walk from Ringstead, walk leader Aimee

We will meet in the Kinewell Lake car park on Station Road in Ringstead, ready to walk for 10.30am. This is a circular walk of approx 9 miles in length.

We will head across the fields to the village of Little Addington then down the footpath to walk alongside the river Nene. Crossing the lock we will stop for lunch at the Stanwick Lakes Visitor Centre. We will then walk through part of Stanwick Lakes to join a bridleway that connects to the old railway line. We will be passing Woodford Mill Tearoom and possibly stopping for cake before cutting through Kinewell Lake back to the car park. There is an optional 3 minute walk to The Axe And Compass pub.

Please note we will be walking through fields with sheep and possibly cattle but the walk is suitable for dogs, unfortunately not good for pushchairs.

Sunday 30 July, circular walk to Woburn Back woods, walk leaders Tim and Belinda

We will meet at the car park on Monellan Crescent, on the Caldicotte Lake South at the later than usual time of 11am (as its our post AGM BBQ walk!). This is an approximately 8 mile circular walk.

We will walk through the local park to the edge of the Old Farm Park estate. From here we will walk across a few fields before entering some woods. Our route takes us through several more woods (separate names but arguably the same wood?!) and alongside several golf courses. Eventually we'll emerge from the last woods to the village of Bow Brickhill. We're hoping to stop at the Wheatsheaf Pub for a drink. From here we'll walk through a couple of fields to return us back to the edge of Caldicotte Lake.

Evening Walk & Pub meet, Emberton, Walk leader Dave

Meet outside the Bell and Bear pub on the High Street in Emberton (http://www.bellandbear.net/ ) for 7.30 start.

The walk will be approximately 3.5 miles and take in the area around the village along with going through the country park for a large part of the walk and return to the village for a drink at the pub.

Walk will start at Long Buckby train station, at approximately 10.40 – 10.45am.

This is a walk with a difference with not one but three pub stops planned, to hopefully take advantage of some nice summer weather!

To overcome the problem of getting home after visiting all these pubs, the walk starts and ends at Long Buckby station. The theory was that you could get the train from Northampton, but unfortunately it turns out there is a replacement bus service that day! However it only takes 20 minutes from Northampton.

The bus leaves Northampton at 10.21 and is due to arrive at 10.41. We will wait for this bus before setting off. If coming by car you will need to arrive in time for this. Please note that parking is free in the small car park adjacent to the station but you have to pay to park in the larger, privately owned car park next this!

The walk is 10 miles and takes us from Long Buckby to the outskirts of Watford via the canal and then to Ashby St Ledgers where after a brief lunch stop (so bring your sandwiches!) we will call at our first pub, the Old Coach House.

From there we head through rolling countryside to the pretty village of Welton and the second pub, the excellent White Horse!

Then it's on across more rolling countryside and the canal to Long Buckby Wharf where we will stop at the New Inn for our final pub stop at this lovely canalside pub, before heading back to Long Buckby.

There is the option of a meal at the New Inn as well (http://thenewinnbuckbywharf.co.uk/ ), which does a very good Sunday lunch – if anyone fancies this option it will need to be booked. If you are interested please contact Andy (or the site contact email) by the end of July. If there are enough people we will make a booking (those not eating will be directed back to Long Buckby, which is quite a short walk).

Some of you may think you recognise this walk, and with good reason – this was the Santa Hat Walk in December 16 but is returning as a Summer “Pub Crawl Walk” by popular demand - and with Santa's permission!!

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Evening Walk, Kislingbury, Charlotte

The walk of just under 4 miles will start at the Sun Inn, Kislingbury at 7.30pm. Please park considerately around the village.

We'll walk along the Nene Way through farmland to Upton Mill and then back into the village, passing Stanwick Fishing lakes on the way. When I reccied it, there were a few overgrown fields so trousers are recommended.

Circular walk from Eastcote, walk leader Dave

Meet outside the Eastcote Arms on Gayton Road (NN12 8NG) in Eastcote for a 10.30am start. The walk will be a circular walk of 10.5 miles.

Please park considerately around the village. Please bring a packed lunch with you.

We will start walking east out of the village and quickly pass through Pattishall and Grimscote. Then across the fields to Upper Stowe before starting to head back. We will cross the canal before having lunch near Bugbrooke around 12.30pm.

Circular walk from Wendover, walk leader Tim

A 10 mile walk through the beech woods along the Chiltern Hills. Meet at 10:30am at Wendover car park , just off the High Street by the library. The car park is free on Sundays.(https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/map-wendover-car-park )

Pub Meet,  Wig and Pen, Northampton

If you're thinking of getting back into walking after the summer holidays, or if you haven't done much walking before, come along to our pub meet to say Hello and find out what we're about.

We're meeting at the real ale pub on Giles Street in the centre of Northampton from 7pm for a drink and possible some food too. If you're new, look out for our 'walking boot' sign on the table to know you've got the right people!

Circular walk from Mears Ashby, walk leader Tracey

Meet at the bus stop on the junction of Wellingborough Road and North Street (NN6 0EG) in Mears Ashby for a 10.30am start after parking considerately around the village.  Please bring a packed lunch with you as there will not be time to get lunch at the pub.

This is a 9 mile walk heading out of Mears Ashby across fields to Hardwick and then onto Orlingbury where we will eat our packed lunches on the village green before going to the Queens Head for a drink.

Please park considerately around the village and please remember to bring a packed lunch with you.

This is a 9 mile walk and in the morning we will leave Braunston and head out along the Oxford Canal and then through fields to Willoughby after which we will rejoin the Oxford Canal and make our way to Barby where we will have our packed lunch and a drink at the pub.

Sunday 15th October, Eight mile, figure of 8 walk from Akeley, walk leader John A

A figure of eight walk is walk where will return to the starting place at lunchtime, giving people the option to walk either in the morning or the afternoon section, or just to meet for a drink. If you are walking all day, please bring a packed lunch with you, as there won't be time to order food in the pub at lunchtime.

Please park considerately in the village and meet outside the Bull and Butcher pub ( http://www.bullandbutcherakeley.co.uk/ ), The Square, Akeley at 10.30am. The morning section is approximately 4.5 miles including a footpath, B-road and bridleway section. Walking boots are essential!

We will aim to return to the pub for around 12.15pm. We'll eat our lunch nearby and then go inside for a drink.

Sunday 29 October, 9 mile circular walk from Wadenhoe, walk leader

Meet at the village hall (car park open to all) at the end of Church Street for a 10:30 start. Please bring a packed lunch.