Starting point for today's walk is the lovely village of Yardley Hastings. A different route from the one walked backed in June. This time taking in Castle Ashby rather than Easton Maudit. Route 130 on the Northamptonshire Walks site.
Just before leaving home the heavens opened and the skies were very dark. Thankfully it soon eased off and hopefully we were set fair for a good few hours walking?
Starting point is the village Primary school decked with poppies for Remembrance Day.
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| St Andrews Church |
There is a lovely brook that runs through the village. My goodness it's running fast and high today after al the recent rain.
We walk up to the church of St Andrew and take a little tour around the churchyard. We head out towards the Old Rectory dated 1701. We find the gate that leads out into open fields and beautiful countryside.
We pretty much follow the hedge line until we are into the Castle Ashby estate.I think we went slightly wrong at this point although it didn't make a whole lot of difference. Instead of crossing the long estate drive we followed it towards the house. It probably cut a tiny bit of the walk off but no harm done. It did allow for a nice picture of the house though.There is a lovely cricket pitch in front of the house, sadly we wont get close enough to see it today.
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| Castle Ashby House |
There are plenty of other beautiful sights to take in though with some lovely scenery around. We continue through the estate grounds over a couple of stiles heading towards the village of Castle Ashby. There are a few other walkers about as well , maybe doing the same route , or perhaps the same route in reverse?
Once over the final stile we turn right towards the rural shopping yard. We try and get a closer look at the house and gardens but it is very much private property. Continuing down the back of the shopping yard we come out by the restored 'Falcon Hotel'. This time we are going in a right direction.
Over to our left are the fishing lakes. There are three lakes altogether . Grendon, Scotland & Brickyard which all hold a good stock of fish. Scotland pond is a prolific lake (40 pegs 9 acres) with all species of fish: Carp,Tench, Bream, Crucian, Roach, Rudd, Gudgeon, Perch and also large Pike.
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| Castle Ashby Lakes |
There is also a nice view of the house from a different angle
The house, church, formal gardens and landscaped park are Grade I listed. It is one of the seats of the Marquess of Northampton.
It was begun in the 1570s, with three-story corner pavilions linked by two-story ranges. This was re-modelled in the late 16th century when the side ranges were raised to three storeys, and again between 1624 and 1634 when the east range was doubled in width and rearranged to create a new state apartment and screen across the entrance front.
Our journey continues on the road for a short way. The junction sign shows Grendon and Yardley Hastings. Our destination being the latter. We follow the road again before heading across a very muddy field. At the end of the path there are the remains of a car that has long seen better days. Strangely there is also an old office chair in the verge.
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| One careful owner ? |
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We have a little wander around the village before going back to the car. I notice that one of the gardens has a wishing well!
Perhaps given what a shocker of a year 2020 has been I should give it a go?
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