East Carlton to Stoke Albany and return

We hadn’t managed a walk on the Jurassic Way since early June and it was good to get back to the lovely rolling Northamptonshire countryside and its attractive Cotswold-esque buildings. Today’s walk was pleasant enough, but it was somewhat too warm for walking, and Richard wasn’t feeling very well, so we restricted ourselves to a relatively short walk. We drove by way of Olney and Wellingborough to the East Carlton Country Park, which we had reached last time we were here. Note that parking in the Country Park is free, but vehicular access is from SP832894 in the village of East Carlton near the Church, despite the fact that Google Maps seems determined to use a different route.

We left the Country Park by the entrance we had driven in,  and turned right then left past the Church. The official route of the Jurassic Way goes slightly to the north of the Country Park, on a path which soon crosses the road we were on – so in the direction we were walking, we turned left here. We crossed some paddocks and then climbed through a field of linseed, with its pretty blue flowers.  It's not shown on the map, but pleasingly, given the temperature, the approach to Wilbarston was through attractive undulating woodland, and we emerged onto the village's playing field where a children's football watch was in progress, watched by enthusiastic parents. We reached the road and turned right. The official route soon turned right onto a track which (perhaps!) cuts off a corner. However, there appeared to be a “private” sign on the path that, according to the OS map, is the route of the Jurassic Way – and admittedly this path did look as if it was in someone’s garden. There was a track slightly further on which led to a small housing development and so out onto the modern houses and so out onto “Lower Road”. [On the return route we just followed the road to the centre of Wilbarston, in my opinion a better route].

I photographed the pretty Wilbarston Church, but for some reason didn’t attempt to go inside, despite the fact that a sign indicated that the next service isn’t until the end of the month. [On our return leg, various people were leaving the church with what looked like musical instruments, so I’d probably have interrupted a rehearsal of some sort had I gone inside, so it was good I didn't.]. We continued along Lower Road, heading towards Stoke Albany Church. This section was lovely, along a peaceful lane, and we soon emerged by the war memorial in Stoke Albany, with a conveniently-placed bench nearby.

Richard sat on the bench to recover while I went to photograph the church, a short distance to the right. There were signs everywhere directing us to a wedding, with parking and toilets at the village hall. I guess the wedding was probably yesterday. The arch into the churchyard was also decorated for the wedding (which I guess was probably yesterday) and I spent some time trying to get a good photograph. Richard wasn't feeling well enough to continue, but I went to explore up the centre of the village, where there were lots of attractive buildings, including a Manor House. There is plenty of on street parking space on the wide street through the village, so we should be able to continue from here. Meanwhile, I returned to Richard who was feeling a bit better for the return leg to the car.