Walk distances in Km Irthlingborough to Little Addington 4.7 km to Islip 0.6 km Little Addington to Woodford 5.3 km Islip to 4 km Woodford to Denford 3.0 km Aldwincle to 2.0 km Denford to Thrapston 2.1 km Wadenhoe to Barnwell 7.3 km All distances are approximate

Key of Services

Pub Telephone Towns and Villages

Church Toilets Rivers and Forests and Streams Woodland

Post Office Places of Roads Lakes and Historical Interest Reservoirs National Cycle Chemist Park Motorways Network Route 6 Nene Way Shopping Parking A ‘A’ Roads Regional Route 71

This Information can be provided in other languages and formats upon Irthlingborough to Barnwell request, such as large Print, Braille and CD. Contact 01604 236236 29kms/18miles Transport & Highways, County Council, Riverside House, Bedford Road, NN1 5NX. Telephone: 01604 236236. Email: [email protected] For more information on where to stay and sightseeing please visit www.letyourselfgrow.com This leaflet was part funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, for more information please visit www.naturalengland.org.uk Thanks to RNRP for use of photography www.riverneneregionalpark.org All photographs copyright © of Northamptonshire County Council unless stated. Published March 2010

his is the longest section of the Nene Way in Northamptonshire and you may wish which are rich in heritage and wildlife and Tto stop overnight in Thrapston, as the half way point. offer the perfect scenic walking routes near . At Wadenhoe, the path takes you Following the route on from Irthlingborough you come to the village of Great past a beautifully restored mill and provides Addington, pass the All Saints Church, which is the oldest building in the village an opportunity to ramble through woods and follow the Woodford road out of the village. The route towards Denford above the lock on the river. Situated in the passes Ringstead and Woodford. These villages are surrounded by quiet, peaceful heart of the village and along the Nene Way countryside and cross the meadow land on the outskirts of the village. While passing is The Kings Head, a 17th century traditional Denford, make a detour from the Nene Way and walk over the two bridges into this English pub, with excellent cuisine in an idyllic picturesque village, perhaps stopping at The Cock Inn to quench your thirst and setting overlooking the lock. grab a bite to eat. Following on from Wadenhoe Mill, you pass , Lilford and before For elegant and comfortable accommodation, The Bridge Hotel in Thrapston is the ending this section in Barnwell village for some well needed refreshment. perfect place to relax for the night before setting off towards Islip. The village of Islip has a few quiet and secluded moorings, perfect for a picnic overlooking the fine In some locations, the ironstone deposits have been strip mined, resulting in deep views of the Northamptonshire countryside. linear quarries known as ‘gullets’, surrounded by extensive areas of spoil. Some of these former workings have been returned to agriculture, but others (e.g. Twywell Titchmarsh Nature Reserve, is another Wildlife Trust site www.wildlifebcpn.org where Gullet, near ) support limestone grassland rich in plant species such as there are many opportunities to access this haven for wildlife. Skylarks are found in orchids. Grid Reference: SP 945776 spring and summer as well as many dragonflies, damsels and butterflies. Winter is the best time to see large numbers of wildfowl here; in particular, goosander, wigeon If you enjoyed this section why not download our other popular local circular routes and gadwall reach nationally important numbers. for Aldwincle & Wadenhoe and nearby Brigstock & Fermyn Woods. From the nature reserve, head towards the villages of Aldwincle and Wadenhoe, Stanwick Lakes Stanwick Lakes (01933 625527) is a unique and popular countryside attraction in the heart of the Nene Valley. It is a site which really does offer something for everyone: leisure opportunities, access to attractive countryside and abundant wildlife can all be found here. In 1980 archaeological excavations made several important discoveries, which included the early prehistoric ceremonial complexes at West Cotton, the extensive and complex Iron Age and Roman settlement at Stanwick, the Roman settlement at Mallows Cotton and the late Saxon long range at West Cotton. The site and surroundings also have an interesting industrial heritage, and are a good example of the changing land uses within this region; having been the site of a tannery, a sewage farm and a number of railway stations and sidings. The lakes site was first opened as a quarry in 1985, with mineral extraction beginning in an area to the northern end of the site. These initial areas were restored, primarily to lakes and surrounding meadow land, with some areas of planting that are now reaching maturity. Now designated a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and surveys carried out suggest that species such as oystercatcher, lapwing, and great crested grebe have been breeding here. It is also known to have significant dragonfly populations and otters have also been sighted. The lakes are managed by Trust on behalf of Council. For more information visit www.stanwicklakes.org.uk and www.rockingham-forest-trust.org.uk Thornhaugh

A47

A47 Wansford

Ailsworth A1 Stibbington Old Sulehay Forest Castor Stibbington House Nene Valley Railway

Yarwell Wansford Railway Station

Yarwell Mill

Yarwell Junction Station

Nassington

Newton

Elton

Elton Hall Elton Park A605

Castle

Eaglethorpe

Tansor Warmington

Cotterstock

Tansor Grange A605

Roman Road

OUNDLE

Ashton

A427

Manor House Weir Weir Barnwell Polebrook Country Park Hall

Irthlingborough to Barnwell

Barnwell

Manor House A605 Pilton

Hall Norman Road The Linches Barnwell Lodge Farm Wadenhoe Mill

Achurch

Sudborough

Aldwincle

Marina

Titchmarsh A6116 LNR

Harpers Brook A605

Titchmarsh

Mill

Slipton Islip THRAPSTON

Twywell

A14

A14 Woodwell

Woodford Weir A45 Denford

Keyston

Great Addington Ringstead

© RNRP Countryside Code

Kinewell The Countryside is a living, working environment, Lake so please respect, protect and enjoy the countryside by: • Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs • Leave gates and property as you find them • Protect plants and animals, and take your litter Little A45 Addington home • Keep dogs under close control • Consider other people

Hill Farm www.naturalengland.org.uk for more information Estate

RAUNDS

Stanwick Lakes

A6

A45 Stanwick

IRTHLINGBOROUGH

A6

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office Crown © RNRP Ditchford Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to Bridge prosecution or civil proceedings. Northamptonshire County Council No. LA100019331 14 Arches Weir Viaduct

A45 Wellingborough Embankment

Mears Ashby Town End ROUTE Farm SPLITS Chester A45 House Little Irchester Irchester Country Park Wilby A46

A45 Little Great Hard Water Wymington Doddington Mill Irchester

A509 Wymington Summer Leys LNR

Bridge

Ecton Earls Barton

A45 Wollaston Podington A45

Weir Abington Hinwick

NORTHAMPTON Riverside Retail Park Billing Castle Aquadrome Ashby Newnham A508 Whiston Hall A45 M1 Cogenhoe Mill A45 Dodford Harpole Clifford Holiday Park Hill A45 The Washlands Newnham Upton Carlberg Flood Storage Reservoir Lodge Brewery Flore A45 Beckett’s Little Newnham House Weedon Park Houghton Bec Broad Meadow Upper Duston Mill Weir Newnham Reservoir Heyford A428 Newnham LowerWeedon Lodge Great A508 Bugbrooke Far Hotel Houghton Upper Weedon Nether Mill M1 Cotton Hall Heyford A5 Brackmills

Badby Wood

Little A45 Everdon Hardingstone Church G r Stowe a n d

U Everdon n Wootton io n Bugbrooke

C a n a l

Upper Stowe