Walk 69: Hellidon Circular: The ‘Peaks’ of our stunning County…

The ‘Needs to Know’

Distance: 3.75 miles (6.04km)

Time to walk: It’s quite hilly so allow a good couple of hours

Difficulty: Mainly off road. It’s a hilly walk & some paths are across fields so they could get muddy

Parking: On street in Hellidon. The walk starts from the green at the bottom of the hill, although you could start it from The Red Lion at the top

Public toilets: None en-route

Map of the route: @Footpaths for Fitness

We know we say it a lot, but this really is another cracking walk amongst the highest points of Northamptonshire with fabulous views all the way, Although not particularly high in terms of mountains, the highest part of the County, Arbury Hill lies just to the east of Hellidon

The Domesday Book doesn’t have any record of Hellidon. In the 12th century a manor of four hides at “Eliden” (Hellidon) was recorded & from the 13th century the village had two manors: Baskervilles & Giffords. The present manor house at the northwest end of the village is on the site of the former Baskervilles Manor (listen for the Hound!). Giffords Manor was on the northeast side of the village. The house had been abandoned by the 18th century

Also have a look at the Church. After World War II a beehive was found in the belfry & a hundredweight of honey kept the population going for a year

The best time to walk this one’s in summer as we can imagine that the fields we cross will get muddy in wet weather

So boots on & crampons at the ready…

Let’s Walk!

1. This walk starts at the village green in lower Hellidon, a beautiful village in lovely countryside…

We parked outside a farm barn & there were some very cheeky squirrels about…

2. The Green has an interesting stone pillar box…

The walk starts down the lane away from the pillar box above known as Catesby End. This is a really historical area of Northamptonshire as the Catesby family name includes Robert Catesby who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot with Guy Fawkes

3. The locals are very friendly & wish us well on our journey…

So we say hi & head straight up the End passing through the gate onto an ‘old friend’ The Jurassic Way…

..& then let’s climb…

4. The next half mile or so along this road is stunning walking with views all around &, today, beautiful flowers…

Oh..Hello!!

4. How good are the views along here…

5. Just after the bend there’s a fingerpost pointing into the field on the right…

…but unfortunately the gate’s been locked so just walk round…

6. Head down the field to the right of the red-brick barn & through the gate…

…& on reaching the large oak turn sharp left across the field towards a stile…

7. Now head diagonally right towards the magnificent Catesby House…

Catesby House, a Jacobethan property, was built in 1863 & enlarged in 1894

8. Go through the gate & up the lane for about 100 yards…

Friendly locals

…& then climb over the stile on the right & climb steeply up the hill

Above there was a crow really chasing a common buzzard away…

9. There’s some magnificent views from here…

For some reason the farmer’s set the next couple of stiles very high. If you were a person of short legs you’d struggle here! Cross the first one & turn sharp left following the tree line over the next one – even we could climb this one so went through the gate

10. Carry on straight ahead hugging the tree line & exit over the next stile…

…before climbing again, this time diagonally right to the gate in the corner

11. Through the gate & we’re on the farm road so turn left towards the road…

We’re walking across Catesby Tunnel now

Catesby Tunnel is a disused railway tunnel on the route of the former Great Central Main Line. It passes about 250 yards west of Upper Catesby & about 100 yards east of Catesby House

The Great Central Railway intended its Southern Extension to pass through Catesby parish in a cutting. However, the owner of Catesby House, Henry Attenborough, owned much of the land in the parish & insisted that the line pass beneath it in a tunnel. The first Great Central services to use the tunnel were coal trains, which started running on 25 July 1898. The line opened fully on 15 March 1899

British Railways closed the Great Central Main Line through the tunnel on 5 September 1966 & the track was lifted shortly thereafter. In recent years the tunnel has featured in numerous reopening proposals, one of which was as a possible, though rejected, route for HS2. Chiltern Railways have expressed an interest in reopening the route as far as Rugby or even Leicester

Really rural around here

12. Be careful, but cross the road & follow another well marked path across the next field…

…& at the hedge, dodging the nettles, cross the bridge into the small paddock…

13. Exit through the gate & straight opposite enter the next field which was full of sheep & lambs…

…walking towards the exit in the far right corner…

14. Go through the gate & say hi to the couple of nervous observers…

Follow the path through the private piece of land & through the gate…

Across to the right’s one of the ventilation towers for the Catesby Tunnel…

15. After passing through the gate turn left & walk up the hard track…

Across to the left’s the comms tower…

16. At the top of the track be brave & walk through the gate into what’s obviously a private property…

…& exit onto the road again…

17. Turn right & walk carefully along the road for another 100 yards, looking for a left turn into the field…

We honestly think that at this time of the year the next mile or so through the corn fields is probably one of the most beautiful we’ve ever walked in Northamptonshire

It’s a steep climb, but at the top we’re rewarded with some amazing views & the descent’s pretty spectacular too..

18. At the bottom of the field pass through the kissing gate into the next one…

We’re now approaching another stunning spot – the ponds of Hellidon

19. Turn right across the bridge…

…but stand & admire the view for a while…

20. After crossing the bridge head top the slope & turn left following the hedge line…

…looking for some steps down on the left…

Through the gate at the bottom

21. We’re now the end of our walk now so why not just sit & admire this lovely pond, with the cygnets & the somewhat sizeable carp cruising around…