Lower Benefield and Lyveden New Build Walk

A friend of mine recently told me that she would like to see the church at Lower Benefield. She also mentioned that she would love to see Lyveden New build too. Throw in a wander through Fermyn Woods and we have a walk on our hands. Of course we won't be walking on our hands , that would be just ridiculous, not to mention exhausting. We will make do with the conventional method. An appropriate time to mention that my new walking boots are making their long awaited debut.I can put it off no longer, they have served their apprenticeship pounding the lounge carpet. Now for a stiffer test. 

There is a Lower and Upper Benefield. Both part of the civil parish of Benefield. Lower Benefield is a village on the A427in the North of our County, close to Oundle.

St Mary the Virgin Church

We park by the lane that leads up to the beautiful church of St Mary the Virgin. This Tractarian church was erected in 1848 and covers both villages. Sadly the church is all locked up securely so we can't have a look inside. We have a wander around the gravestones instead and admire the excellent collection of Gargoyles carved all round the church.

There is a lot of flexibility with the route today.We start off in an anti-clockwise direction along the road. It is a long straight walk down the Byway and footpath to the road. We actually emerge almost opposite the Lyveden Car Park.The odd Glider circles overhead standing out in the blue skies overhead. We continue past the Glider Club to the entrance to Fermyn Woods. 

I like Fermyn Woods and always enjoy a walk here. This is the place I search, usually in vain for the Elusive Purple Emperor Butterfly. I follow the same route as on a previous blog that follows the 'Lyveden Way' footpath all the way to the ' new Build'.   

I've taken numerous photos previously of this beautiful unfinished Elizabethan Summer house. So will limit myself this time , a few of the interiors instead I think. As well as some very old graffiti engraved into the brickwork. 

I'm interested in the mounds in the garden of lyveden Manor. Sir Thomas Tresham designed the garden at Lyveden as a journey of discovery. Starting in the valley bottom at Lyveden Manor House (the Old Bield), guests would have made the half-mile walk up through the garden, culminating on the ridge at the garden lodge (the New Bield). Lyveden's garden is among the oldest in the country. You can climb the spiral mounds, stroll the banks of the moat and visit the orchard.

A slight change of plan as we head back through Bearshank Wood. In the shade of the wood are some great examples of Funghi thriving in the damp and humid conditions. We cross back over the road and pick up the Byway on the other side. The tree lined avenue makes it's way uphill until views of Lower Benefield can be seen in the distance. 

We cross over a footbridge, the first of the walk I do believe? It wouldn't be the same without one. The footpath is nicely marked out back to the church. After a little detour around a rather large field. We walk back through the churchyard and the circle is complete. Although it isn't really a circle, more of a figure of eight that is falling over.  A really enjoyable and easy walk coming in at a touch over 9 miles. It didn't really feel like that though as so much to see. The boots were great too, no blisters or wet feet either.