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.