Ramble through 8 miles of tracks and planted headland
The local walks are too many and various to mention individually, save that the Nene Way passes through the farm so you can access it immediately. There are about 8 miles of tracks and planted headland on the farm on which to walk. Not that we suggest it, but the Nene Way links to the Grand Union Canal Walk, the Macmillan Way and the Midshires Way so you could walk to us from London, Barnstaple or Stockport without leaving designated walks.
The energetic can walk to Lyveden New Bield from the cottages or drive to be a little closer. The less energetic can walk along the old railway line, under the bridge at the end of the cutting and go for a meal and/or a pint at The Fox, Thorpe Waterville. It’s just long enough to make you feel you deserve the drink and obviates the poor driver needing to stick to just the one.
Or you can walk to Oundle Warf for a meal at the Tap and Kitchen. The route meanders along the river after passing the Montagu Arms in Barnwell where you can stop for a drink.
A copy of ‘Pub Walks for Motorists In Northamptonshire’ (not kidding) and another on walks in Oundle itself are left in each unit.
Old Sulehay Forest
In a recent article in The Times, there was one of those de rigueur journalist lists of the best twelve wildernesses in the UK and the National Trust’s excellent Old Sulehay Forest featured alongside the Inner Hebrides, Cape Wrath and the forts at Whitstable. ‘This ancient woodland above the Nene Valley is a mosaic of habitats. In its oak, ash and maple coppice, nuthatches push hazelnuts into cracks in the trees to hold them steady while they split them open, Under the trees the ground is a carpet of oak and hazel leaves, scattered in autumn with enough crab apples to make a lifetime’s WI jelly.’
Salcey Forest is a remnant of a medieval hunting forest known for its oaks and beeches. A series of trailside sculptures has been installed and there is an elevated walkway that allows you to walk for 500 yards 65 ft up in the canopy. You can even take a wheelchair up there.The main walk is about 6 miles long which will take 3-4 hours. You can also take bikes and there is a play area for children. The Times, in yet another tiresome list of ‘ten best everything’ rates this lovely place in the top ten for forest walks and separately for availability of wildlife due to the abundance of woodpeckers.