Little Harrowden and Hardwick Walk

Nice to be able to get a midweek walk in, the joys of being self employed, and I intend to make the most of it. It's a bit fresh but sunny interludes are promised so I've gone 'mid range' with the gear, but still the obligatory four layers. It is early March after all.

The starting point is the village of Little Harrowden. I did a walk from here in November 2020 that took in; Orlingbury,Pytchley and Isham. The walk today will be going in a different direction towards Hardwick. The village is in one of the longest and narrowest parishes in Northamptonshire and is built around the Church of St Mary the Virgin, which dates back to circa 1190.

This walk will be very similar to the one in Northamptonshire Walks (141). I say similar as I never seem to follow their routes very accurately. Not a bad thing really, as I like to stray and follow points of interest (to me at least). It is a bit annoying as the walk is right on the border of Ordnance Survey Map (141) and goes into OS Map(152). I'm going to rely on instinct today and have left both at home.

We start off down Chapel Lane, through the narrow hedge lined walkway and into open fields. On reaching the Wellingborough Road we take the Bridleway and can see Wellingborough in the distance. Probably not for too much longer though. There is a massive housing development in progress. Early stages but already fenced off and excavations have scarred the landscape.

It's a sad scene really, the need for more houses at the expense of the environment. Reminded me of the awful HS2 destruction I saw last year at South Cubbington Woods in Warwickshire.

It is always a balancing act of course but it can't go on forever. I wonder what the Skylarks make of it? They are in great voice today, hovering overhead with occasional drop to the ground. As ground nesting birds they are going to struggle more than most.In the UK, Eurasian skylark numbers have declined over the last 30 years. There are now only 10% of the numbers that were present 30 years ago. Hopefully they will move on and find a bit of green space that lies undisturbed.

The collective noun for a group of Skylarks is an "exaltation". There's something you probably didn't know.

The entrance to a small wooded area provides the opportunity for a nice picture. Or at least it did after I removed a pair of pink mens Boxer Shorts and a couple of 'doggy bags' from the branches. It does make you wonder sometimes?

Sadly the lane is cluttered with various other items of rubbish. Particularly beer cans to the rear of Wellingborough Old Grammarians sports field. Back on the road we walk towards 'Moonshine Gap'. A right turn and we are back in the fields again heading towards Hardwick. I'm pretty sure we didn't take the recommended route, unless it involved taking a run up and jumping across a fast flowing stream? Nevertheless one way or another we made it to Hardwick!

I notice a fence post badge I haven't seen before 'VIA BEATA'. A bit of research tells me it means 'a way of blessing'. It is a pilgrimage path from Lowestoft in the East, to St Davids on the west coast of Wales.

The Old School House is next to St Leonard's Church. There are some interesting gravestones in the Churchyard. I always like having a look round for people of interest or Commonwealth War Graves. Near the entrance is Emily Alderson was the last schoolmistress before they closed the school.

There is also 'Thomas William 'Pete' Pepper' grave. Of the Skittle making family. The skittle making company who go back over a 100 years and are still there in the village.

A black cross marks the grave of Charlotte Powell, who lived to be a 100 (1892- 1992). Moving in we leave the village passing Hardwick House which dates back to 1867. I know this because it is built into the gable brickwork . I would have taken a photo but it was obscured by a builders 'Portaloo'. It would have taken something away from the ambience I'm sure.

We take the footpath across several fields that are hopefully going to take us back to Little Harrowden. Rather worryingly we seem on course to go to the Church at Orlingbury. Thankfully after crossing a footbridge ( I do like a footbridge very much) the path veers to the right. This seems more like it. It is very quiet and peaceful as we follow the river toward the village. We actually follow a bit too far and can't get out the other end....We back track slightly and eventually get out of the field and back on Main st, where we started out.