Rotary Walk

Rotary Walk

Thursday 15 February 2018

Leave from “The Sun Inn”

9 High St, Hardingstone, Northampton NN4 7BT

01604 700007

A circular walk, starting at the Sun in Hardingstone with a pitstop at Delapre Abbey cafe.  We should meet in time for a 10.30 start and to pre-order our food.

It is approximately 3 miles and a little muddy in places.

Please note the Sun doesn’t have a car park, so car sharing would be sensible wherever possible.

David Allitt

A Sunny Day in Hardingstone

We might have guessed that the sun would shine on the day we met at The Sun Inn, Hardingstone, for our monthly walk.  David Allitt obviously chose well as, in amongst days of cold winds, icy temperatures and damp gloom, we had blue skies and sunshine.   Thank you David for organising this.

For a change, our health and safety briefing took place indoors, namely in the pub’s entrance lobby where bench seating was thoughtfully provided for those who wanted to linger on the cusp of the hostelry.  Once Walkmeister David deemed it safe to venture outside, 14 of us set off in crocodile fashion along the main street.  David had warned us that sections of our perambulation would be muddy and sure enough, as we left the village streets and headed out into the green spaces, we came across our first mudslide.  Yes, the mud went downhill!  Two different strategies were adopted at this point: the more cautious among us opted for slow but steady progress in small steps, while the bolder types went for longer quicker strides.  Thankfully, we all got to the bottom without ending up on our derrières.

Shortly after the slope, we entered the manicured fairways of Delapre Golf Club but, luckily, our way at this point was along a firm path.  It didn’t take long before we found ourselves amongst the leafy gardens edging the Abbey.  Here, amongst the snowdrops and tree roots, we encountered a jolly group of (mainly) young gardeners valiantly gathering up the leaves from the paths and flower beds.  David allowed us a quick look into the walled garden with its topiary and pretty statue but we were not allowed to linger. Instead, we had to get to the café for a welcome beverage.  Not having been to this place before, several of us were impressed by the bright modern interior of the café which also has a lovely sun terrace which some of us enjoyed.

After suitable refuelling with coffees, teas and hot chocolate, we set off for the homeward leg of our walk, back over the golf course.  Here we found a few players so went warily over the fairway.  This took us to a small wooden bridge, no doubt intended for golfers to get from hole to hole.  A bridge, on our walks, always means a photo.  Philip was engrossed in ‘bribing’ Charlie, the canine member of our group, to look at the camera.  Far more effective, however, was photographer John’s authoritative command ‘Charlie’ which got the dog posing beautifully (as the photos show).

Another photo opportunity presented itself not long after this as we headed back through the woods towards Hardingstone.  Here, inevitably, the path rose steadily uphill but we were able to rest half way along it to be snapped under a natural arch made by a collapsed tree.  Some of us were short enough to stand right underneath the arch.  Reaching the top of the hill, we then had to run the acoustic gauntlet of crossing the A45 on one of its footpath bridges.  Ear defenders would have been useful at this point.  Thankfully, calmer fields around the village beckoned and we were soon back at our starting point.  We were joined by several other members for lunch and were pleased to applaud Walker of the Month, Sarah Clarke, who had joined our party for only the second time.

Elspeth May