Hannington Hike
Middle route
Start: Wellingborough Grammarians Memorial Sports Field GR: SP 856 690
A1: From rear of clubhouse AH up bank alongside of football pitch, AH to small pond. Pass to the right of pond, AH ditch on L, at end of ditch ½ L to trees, AH THRU trees to BW, TR on enclosed BW. AH with ditch/hedge on left for 450 Mts to reach road. (GR 859 697) X road to BW opposite, AH with hedge on L, when hedge ends AH between two fields for 330 Mts (GR 862 699)
A2: TL with ditch initially on L AH for 2 Km, to double metal farm gates, pass to L of gate, TL to road (GR 877 710) X road (with care), TL and in 40 Mts TR onto FP. Follow FP (CB 338) X field to X FB, THRU wooden gate AH with hedge on L/wire fence on R, pass THRU small wooden gate onto enclosed path, AH to gravel track, AH to Main Street in Little Harrowden. (GR 872 712).
A3: X road (with care) TL and in 30Mts TR into School Lane, THRU squeezer ST to L of metal gate, AH to wooden gate with school on R, pass THRU gate and with metal fence on both side AH to wooden gate. DO NOT go through gate but TR with school on your R, AH to wooden gate, THRU gate TL onto enclosed path to X wooden FB at bottom. (GR 870 721)
A4: X field (CB 330 (aiming for barns AH hidden to start), pass to the R of barns, X wooden FB to road. Bear R to X wooden FB, with hedge on your R AH for 430 Mts to WM, TR THRU gap in hedge, TL with hedge on your L AH 350 Mts to WM as hedge turns L, bear R (CB 346 aim for church hidden to start) X field to WM by trees, THRU trees, X stream AH uphill along enclosed TK to road. (GR 859 737).
A5: TR and walk on R side of road into Pytchley and in 800 Mts TL into Butcher’s Lane. Follow Butchers Lane to pass the school on R, at end of lane fork L onto High Street (no sign), follow High Street for 60 Mts, TR to NO THROUGH Sign AH up Top End. At barns THRU wooden gate bear R THRU farm yard to BW sign (Broughton 1½). (GR 856 748) TR to follow BW for 1KM to pass to L of metal gate and AH on distinct path (CB 320) to hedge line. BL, AH with hedge/trees on R, in 500 Mts ignore 1st gap on R to take 2nd gap into spinney, THRU trees X wooden FB, up bank to BW sign under powerlines. TL on BW, AH for 320 Mts to pylon, AH to road passing Pocket Park on your L, X RD to pass THRU yellow gate to Broughton Village Hall
BROUGHTON CHECKPOINT
6.3 MILES (10.21 Km) GR 838 758 OPEN 9.45 CLOSE 13.15
A6: Leave checkpoint via yellow gate, TR down Gate Lane (no road sign). At junction AH down Gate Lane.
SHORT ROUTE TURNS LEFT HERE DO NOT FOLLOW
LM7: At crossroads X road and AH up Cox’s Lane to end, TR and follow road/footpath downhill, under road bridge, then AH uphill to bus stop in Great Cransley. TL X road to follow Church Lane for 600 Mts to BW sign. (GR 826 765).
LM8: Bear L THRU metal gate, AH to metal gate, THRU gate AH on BW with wire fence on L/R, in 220 Mts THRU wooden gate AH with trees on right to gate, (GR 822 761) THRU gate X access track. AH with wire fence on L, follow BW as it meanders through fields for 1.4 Km ignoring all turns L and R. When main TK turns sharp R to WM post, ignore this and go straight AH on grass TK to the left. Pass to L of metal gate on to concrete track, (GR 814 752 ). AH on concrete track passing to R of metal gate to road, X road TL follow road (WITH CARE VERY BUSY ROAD) in 200 Mts as road bends locate metal gate on R opposite hidden BW sign on L (after metal chevron signs on right) (GR 815 749).
LM9: Pass to R of gate onto scrubland. Follow BW through scrubland to enclosed BW, AH on enclosed BW, in 600 Mts X farm TK, ROUTE DIVERSION DUE TO BLOCKED FIELD PATHS: AH for 900 Mts to concrete driveway. TL to main RD (A43). X RD WITH CARE and TR on pavement. After 400 Mts, TR (sp Walgrave) and re-cross RD at crossing point, WITH GREAT CARE then TR then TL onto minor RD. AH for appox 1.3 Km, to dip (FP sign on your R) AH for 100 Mts TL, to FP sign, X ST (GR 813 728). X field (CB 190) X FB half way across field. Pass under metal bar, X ST to right of metal farm gate, X field (CB 200) aiming for tree. (If there is no path across field, TR and go around 3 edges of field to reach lone tree on far side).
LM10: Over ST X field to gate/FB/gate, X field to ST L of metal gates. Over ST AH on farm track to road (GR 807 717), X RD to ST opposite, X ST, AH with hedge on R, at end of hedge X field (CB 230) on faint path In 70 Mts at faint X track TL (CB 112) AH to ST (aim for left hand of 4 trees).
LM11: Over ST, X byway, over ST, AH to ST, over ST AH to ST in L hand field corner. Over ST, TL on enclosed FT, AH to X ST to road. TR, AH on road to T-junction, TR AH for 30 Mts TR (signed Village Hall) up School, Lane to Checkpoint...
HANNINGTON CHECKPOINT
12.5 MILES (20.0 Km) GR 810 710 OPEN 11.30 CLOSE 16.30
LM20: retrace steps down School Lane, at end of lane TL along Main Street. AH along Main Street for 200 Mts, TR X RD into Bridle Road, in 250 Mts pass to L of metal gate onto BW (GR 815 709). AH for 1.2 Km with hedge of L, bending L then R, at end of hedge AH between fields to bear R to metal farm gate (GR 822 702) pass to L of farm gate.
LM21: X road (WITH CARE) THRU trees to reach lay-by, TL along lay-by for 150 Mts TR on TK. AH to BW sign by double farm gate ignore single gate ahead. Pass THRU single gate to L of double gates, bear L for 200 Mts around field edge to TK, TR onto TK (GR 824 704). In 800 Mts TR with TK and 100 Mts at WM TL to go THRU metal farm gate. ( Do not follow TK around to the L)
LM22: AH down right-hand field edge for 150 Mts to treeline, THRU gap, TL, AH with trees on L for100 Mts to field corner, TR for 100 Mts to end of hedge bear L (CB 105). AH to go THRU wooden farm gate, AH (CB 40) ignoring large wooden gate on L, in 130 Mts pass THRU single wooden gate to gravel TK, AH on gravel TK to pass THRU metal farm gate, AH to small triangle green at road (GR 838 702).
LM23: Fork L, in 30 Mts TR THRU gap (tree stump on R concrete block on L). AH X field (CB 022), around left side of trees. At far side TL (CB 014) X field to gap in hedge. AH THRU gap. In 150 Mts at FP signpost. TR.
SHORT ROUTE JOINS HERE
A24: X field (CB 083) to tree line. At WM AH with hedge on your R to pass THRU gap in field corner, AH with hedge on R, after 540Mts THRU gap in hedge, AH for another 450 Mts to WM, TR X wooden FB, X field (CB 180) to X wooden FB in field, TR for 30 Mts then TL THRU crop on tractor tracks (initially hard to see/find, X field (CB 192). At WM X field to double metal at RD in Hardwick (GR 852 701). THRU gates bear R on RD to village green, fork R along RD, in 30 Mts TL into lane, pass NO THROUGH sign AH to gate, AH THRU single metal gate to R of large metal gate.
A25: At FP sign, go AH for a few Mts then TR to pass behind rusty railway goods wagon, TL to X field, X wooden FB, AH X next field. to X ST in corner, TL follow field edge to double metal farm gates on L. THRU single gate AH of you and with hedge on your L AH for 2 fields to road.
A26; TL, WITH GREAT CARE X to other side when safe to do so, in 120 Mts at BW sign (just before corner). TR onto enclosed path and in 50 Mts X ST on R to enter sports field. Bear L to pass in front of green portable cabins (cricket pavilions) to join gravel drive. Follow drive around sports field pass cricket square, then a rugby pitch on your R. AH following drive as it bends L to pass tennis courts on your R, at end of tennis courts TR, follow to end of tennis courts TR to pass in front of portable cabins, at end on cabins TL, AH to TR to finish.
18.5 MILES