A cold and frosty start to the run beginning at Brixworth Country Park Visitor Centre. I set off at 8.00am on an anti-clockwise attempt of the round. I certainly needed my gloves and buff!
After an hour I arrived into the village of Harlestone by the School at about 9.00am. (6.25 miles/ 10km).
From here through the village and out across open fields to small hamlet of Nobottle. On leaving this village there’s a good steep climb up a couple of fields before a very pleasant drop down into Harpole.
Having left the village a large field brings you down to the busy A45 dual-carriageway. After this some more fields (with angry graffiti covering the gates!) and passing under the M1. I then got to Bugbrooke Mill and joined the River Nene. Following this briefly for a couple of fields it was then a climb up a hill through a field with young calves and their mothers, so gave them a reasonably wide berth!
Then along a track and onto Bugbrooke. Into the village and thru the Churchyard onto a road and then alleyway/ footpath and out past cricket fields and up to the Grand Union Canal. This was then followed for a couple of miles before a steep climb up a couple of fields with excellent vistas and onto Gayton.
The winds were certainly stronger than the gentle breezes predicted and certainly cold. My gilet zip was constantly up and down throughout the day and I kept my gloves on all the time too!
From Gayton it was quiet country road past a few houses and then turning off down a narrow footpath and over a disused railway. Out onto some open fields and a sharp right led to a country road. From here over the busy A43 bridge and across some fields for a pleasant drop into Blisworth at about 11.00am. (18.75miles/30km ). This was the first of my 2 planned provision stops using Blisworth Post Office. It did require an extra 0.25 mile up the road and back but well worth it! The sun was out by now but stopping outside the Post Office for 10 minutes I was frozen with the wind! A good few minutes to get the legs moving again and then up past the canal tunnel and then a succession of fields which, thanks to the previous couple of dry weeks, were dry but very divety from having cows in them. Eventually after a couple of miles it was onto a country lane and into the pleasant village of Shutlanger.
I took a picture by the bridge going out of here with one of the many Northamptonshire Round signs and then a small climb up to the outskirts of Stoke Bruene. Quite a few people about here, walking along and around the canal and locks. About a mile outside the village there is bridge crossing to the other side of the canal and then a flattish mile along the sides of fields to Ashton. A climb up and down into the village and then the first of many small paddocks with plenty of ponies and horse around. This was much drier than when I was reccie-ing here previously but lots of divets from hoofprints especially around the gate areas. A whole diversity of different methods for keeping gates shut from latches to ropes to metal chains! The last paddock had 5 youngish lambs come running up to me. I think they thought my drink bottle was milk for them! By this point I was struggling for water and knew it’d be a good hour to the next shop. I wouldn’t make the same mistake next time!
Through the village past the school, under the railway bridge and a few lanes before coming to a very hidden narrow path that brought me out again to open fields. This was thankfully much drier than previously and well- marked out by the farmer. Eventually I skirted by a farm and then along to the Hartwell to Long Street road. I had worked out that this was roughly halfway of the round and I got there about 12.45. I was pretty sure that the second half was going to take longer! From here it’s about a mile of rough permissive path passing some enclosed crops all fenced off. Got nicely caught up on rough brambles on the narrow section here! Then onto a couple of houses and some stiles. On crossing the next field there is a gate with the message ‘Shut the gate mate’ with ‘Thanks’ on the other side. This was an excellent marker as there is a really hidden left turn here thru a hedge onto a field track which led towards the edge of Salcey Forest and the M1. Normally, a tunnel here leads into the forest, but due to major motorway roadworks they are closed for quite a while. As a result of this it is a 1 mile diversion round the side of a field and into a new housing estate in Hartwell. On leaving the village you cross over a motorway road bridge and then almost immediately into the woods. After about 0.25 mile, I picked up the normal route and followed a bridleway thru the woods to a busy road. Turning right onto this it was about 0.25 mile and then a very hidden and tiny turning into the woods. I knew from previous runs this is easy to miss! This was then the wettest and muddiest bit of the whole route despite the recent weather! After 0.25 mile it was then onto a hard bridleway for a couple of miles and into the village of Piddleton. A good hard and stony bridleway across the fields and I was going alright before my foot caught a big stone and I went flying! It was quite a thump on the hard ground but at least no one saw me! Quickly after this it was onto Horton and then a good stretch of tarmac and track which helped to get my legs moving. Was really looking forward to getting to the next village and shop by now as I was getting thirsty!
A few fields and tracks along the edges now followed and then a large farm with a country road leading to the village of Yardley Hastings. I arrived here at 2.35pm and this was about 38miles/60km. A really nice cake shop here and friendly service was really welcome! Water, chocolate, crisps and best of all a can of Lilt were really appreciated! Sat down (always a mistake) on the handy benches outside and I phoned my Wife and son to say how it was going. Again, I soon got cold from sitting about and it was very hard to get the legs moving again. The sun was at least still out at this point. From here it was across some fields and up to the impressive Castle Ashby estate. Bumped into a runner around here and briefly on the same route until he went right and I went left up to small country road. Then down to the tiny hamlet of Chadstone and then followed by a couple of miles of undulating fields and woodland before dropping down to Cogenhoe. A good steep climb up the road into the village and turning off at the pub to the marina. This was recently all flooded and I was wading up to my knees. Nice and dry this time and followed bridleway up to A45 flyover and onto Ecton. Arrived here about 4.00pm (42 miles/70km). Walked up a couple of the hills around this area, trying to get some energy in. On leaving Ecton it was onto the Sywell Country Park. A sign of ‘Bull in field’ was disconcerting at this point, but luckily, he wasn’t in today! Past the Country Park and then suddenly realized the next 3 fields, which you go straight across, had recently been ploughed up. Not so bad at least with the dry weather. Then 1.5 miles along road to get the legs moving. Sun was going in by this point and it was noticeably colder. Off the main road near the airfield and then it was flat and dry grassland with the woods providing good cover from the wind. On getting to the busy A43 layby I knew it was about 9.5 miles/ 9km to go. The legs were working better and I realised there might be a chance to go under 10 hours! Decided to get another layer on and just go for it. Made good pace to Holcot and then about 4 miles to go. Nice bit of tarmac on the approach to the reservoir causeway and then full-on headwind across the reservoir. This was the strongest wind of the day but at least it wasn’t for too long! Then it was a case of following the reservoir shoreline to the finish. The body wanted some of that Mars bar in my pocket. Decided to go for it and I think it worked a treat as I was now running as quick as any point of the day! Finally got to the Visitor Centre just before 6.00pm and I had managed to complete the round solo in 9 hours 54 minutes. Been planning on doing this for 4/5 years and couldn't believe I'd finally done it! A tough run, but a great way to see some of the great variety this County's countryside has to offer.