Trip 3: March 2025
Waterloo Farm campsite,Market Harborough, Leics.
We checked in and were given a choice of pitches to choose from. We drove around and settled on the pitch I had booked. It appeared to be fairly level so we parked up and the van was 1° off level which is not noticeable so we stayed put.
After setting up and having a bite to eat it was 14.30 so we got dressed and went for a walk. The idea was to walk around the lakes but we headed for the Brampton Valley Way which is the old railway line.
We were told there was a new footpath which crosses the Brampton Valley Way and takes you to Braybrooke.
We found the original footpath which went across a field but then there was a new bridge over a stream and the new cinder path constructed. It followed the field edges and led to a ‘T’ junction. We could go left to the Beer Company Brewery or right to the village of Braybrooke.
The village was the choice, besides it has a pub so not all bad news. The path made easy walking and we were soon in the village. We found The Swan Inn but it was closed despite the website saying it was open. We headed into the village to have a look at the church but it was closed. We looked around the grave stones and some were dated in the 1700s.
We headed back home which seemed to go fairly quickly. Sue’s watch confirmed that we were slowing down because it was taking longer to walk a mile. We got back to Iona and we had walked just over 5 miles.
We set up the TVs and we are in a good signal area so no problems tonight, however there is no ‘3’ wi-fi signal so we will have to use our phones to download emails etc.
For supper tonight we are having Lidl’s version of KFC which is always a winner.
Tomorrow we head out again along the Brampton V way but this time towards Kelmarsh and the tunnels.
Day 2
Today we took a packed lunch and walked along the Brampton Valley Way towards Northampton. The first tunnel we came to was the Oxendon Tunnel which is 418m long and the floor is quite uneven and full of puddles from water dripping through the brickwork.
We passed the bench where we had lunch some 4 years ago. It is named Nannas Knee, 1939-2010. We continued onto The Kelmarsh Tunnel which is 480 meters long.
Like the first tunnel there is another tunnel next to it but separated by 30 meters. The railway line was first built as single track but it was expanded to an up line and a down line.
However because the tunnels were built at different times the second tunnel was built some way from the first tunnel for safety reasons. You can see where the lines separate and split as they approach the tunnels.
We walked halfway through Kelmarsh tunnel and then turned around to walk back.
Near the first tunnel we followed a path that took us over the tunnel to the village of Great Oxendon where we found The George Inn so we had to call in fora drink. It is quite smart but there was an entrance for dogs and walkers so we were soon settled in with a drink.
Once we were back at the campsite we had walked 8.3 miles. The sun was out and we settled down reading in the sunshine.
Our meal tonight is going to be a chicken, Keralan Coconut Curry. A new recipe to try.
Day 3:
Today we walked into Market Harborough along the Brampton Valley Way. We wandered around and Sue did some shopping before we went to the Wetherspoons pub. We had a couple of drinks and Sue had a Panini. We had a laugh with a couple of ladies at the next table.
We then went to the Museum which was very good and housed in an old Corset factory, however the interior was very new and modern.
We had to walk near Lidl so we called in for a loaf of bread and a cake. We then made our way home. I suggested we go to the campsite cafe but it was closed so we went back to Iona for tea. Our legs are aching but we had done 7.7 miles today and just over 20 miles during the three days.
Iona’s Travels 