Fotheringhay

 

Summary

This walk has sections across open fields, alongside waterways, through woodlands and on public roads. Throw in a good dose of history and you've just about got it all!

Statistics

Start: The Red Lion at Warmington PE8 6TN

Map: OS Explorer OL227: Peterborough

Parking: Road opposite The Red Lion

Distance: 10.8km (about 6.7 miles)

Refreshments:The Falcon at Fotheringhay or The Red Lion

The Walk

The Red Lion is actually in a hamlet called Eaglethope, just on the outskirt of Warmington. As you look at the pub there is a footpath to the left next to a new house. Walk down here and slightly left across the field towards some trees. Pass between the houses and the trees, through a gate and onto a small road. Turn left down the track which passes under the A605 bringing you out with an old water mill in front of you. Turn right before the mill and then left beside the river.The footpath heads off to the right and you need to walk diagonally across the field to a footbridge that may or may not cross water, depending on the time of year!. Once over the bridge head over the next field towards the lock in the river. After crossing this, bear left and head straight over the field until you reach a track. Take this track and head straight on; you can see Fotheringhay church in front of you. After a while you'll pass some barns on your left and then you'll see a grassy mound which is all that remains of Fotheringhay Castle. Spend a bit of time walking to the top of the mound where there are excellent views all around. This a good place to sit and have your sandwiches!

Get back on the track and head into the village of Fotheringhay. Pass the church on your left and Fotheringhay Road to your right (you could walk up here and rejoin the walk to cut about a kilometre off the walk). Continue past The Falcon on your left and take the footpath that is signposted on your right. The path crosses a field to a footbridge over the brook. Turn left after crossing the bridge and walk keeping the brook on your left until you get to a track. Turn right and walk about 400 metres where there will be a footpath to your right. Take this, passing some trees to you left and then past a farm house. The path brings you out on Fotheringhay Road. Take a right and the a quick left onto the signed footpath. 

This track is pretty straight for about 1.5km until you reach the River Nene. Cross the river using the bridge and the track leads into the village of Elton. The road bends into Middle Street but you need Chapel Lane on your right. The old chapel itself is on your left. Keep on this path now, with Elton church on your left and passing through the grounds of Elton Hall park.You'll cross a footbridge over a small stream and take a walk over the field slightly uphill towards the tree line. If you look left, Elton Hall might just be visible.

Climb over the stile and walk on the path through the trees. You will eventually come out on a track where you need to bear right. There was a small reservoir on the right but when we last visited this had been drained and there was clearly some development work going on. What will be there next time is anybody's guess! Follow the track for about 500 metres and you will rejoin the path you took when you first started out. It's now just a matter of retracing your route back to the car.

Notes and musings

The village of Warmington has a population of only around 1,000 inhabitants but is known for having 28 listed buildings including a dovecote and watermill. It should not be confused with the fictional village of Walmington-on-Sea of Dad's Army fame!

Fotheringhay Castle was a motte and bailey castle, probably first constructed around the year 1100. It is famous for two things: the birthplace of Richard III in 1452 and the place of execution of Mary Queen of Scots in 1587. Sadly the castle fell into disrepair in the late Elizabethan period and was dismantled in the 1630s, leaving only earthworks and a few pieces of masonry. It is a scheduled monument and has been given protection against unauthorised change.

 

Harrold and Odell

 

Summary

Harrold is a pleasant village in north Bedfordshire to which I have some connection, my grandmother's family on my father's side hailing from there. The country park is worth a visit and indeed a quick stroll around the lake may be enough to slake your thirst for a walk. We once saw an otter in its waters but despite several revisits, have yet to repeat the experience.

Statistics

Start:Harrold Country Park, Carlton Road MK43 7DS

Map: OS Explorer 208, Bedford and St Neots

Parking: Free at the country park - although donations are requested

Distance: 7.2km (about 4.5 miles)

Refreshments: The Bell at Odell 

The Walk

Leave the country park by the main exit and turn left towards Carlton. Cross the old bridge that is Grade II listed and still has some of its original medieval structure and continue for a short way until you see the footpath sign on your left. Take this and cross the field, which begins to go uphill and past the old church of St Nicholas, which is now The Chellington Centre, a residential centre for young people. Go through the old church yard and onto the track that leaves the centre and joins Felmersham Road. Turn left here and walk a couple of hundred metres past some houses and right at the footpath sign soon after the end of the stone wall. 

It's a pretty straight walk for the next kilometre or so. You'll pass some woods on your right and a ruin of a stone barn on your left. At a T junction of footpaths, turn left and again keep walking straight on for about 400 metres, passing some trees on your left. As the trees end you need to make a left on the footpath and follow the hedgerow on your right hand side. Keep going all the way until you find yourself back on Felmersham Road with a large house to your right.

Turn right on the road and follow this for a couple of hundred metres. There's a footpath sign on the left hand side of the road which you need to follow. keeping the hedgerow to your right, make your way along the field boundary to a small wood. Walk through here and across the bridge spanning the Great Ouse. Bear right and then left into Mill Lane. This passes the Bell Inn into Horsefair Lane. Walk all the way along here and into Harrold Country Park which is where you started. 

Notes and Musings

The village of Harrold is mentioned in the Domesday Book and archeology has produced finds from over 4,500 years ago. The village itself has one or two curiosities, including a lock-up on its green that was once used to detain drunks and other miscreants. Legend has it that Paul McCartney premiered "Hey Jude" at the Oakley Arms pub in June 1968, inviting the locals to sing along. Na na na nana na na...!

Odell is a small village with a population of only a few hundred but, like Harrold, has an interesting connection to the world of rock music. In 1981, an up and coming band called U2 played a few songs in an afternoon slot at the Greenbelt festival that was held at the farm opposite The Bell. Although I was at that festival, I missed their show, preferring to spend my time at the pub instead! I wonder what ever became of them? Speaking of The Bell, it was once owned by a character named Gordon Bennett which amused me as a youngster. Odell used to have another pub called The Mad Dog, now a private residence, and I remember it having a merry-go-round in the garden which would doubtless now fall foul of health and safety regulations.