Places to Visit
Places of Interest & Things To Do near Oundle
Historic Buildings
Lyveden New Bield – Four miles south west of Oundle, off the A427 on a minor road to Brigstock. Follow the brown & white signs. National Trust Property. Open all year. See the Tresham Trail leaflet.
Kirby Hall – 4 miles north east of Corby off the A43 on the minor road to Deene & Gretton. Follow Brown & White signs. English Heritage property open April – September.
Southwick Hall / Elton Hall / Deene Park – Country houses still in private occupation – check for opening times
River Nene
Walking, Fishing, Boating & Bird Watching – The river Nene meanders from SW to NE right through the area, navigable from the sea. Excellent coarse fishing, bird watching and walking on the Nene Way. Fly Fishing at Elinor & Ringstead trout fisheries and Rutland & Grafham Water.
Unspoilt Villages
Ashton – Pretty Edwardian ‘Model Village’ – thatched cottages around the Green – Chequered Skipper.
Kings Cliffe – large stone and colleyweston village, with many fine houses.
Wansford – ancient bridge over the River Nene – the famous Haycock Hotel at’ Wansford in England’
Wadenhoe – Unspoilt village – Kings Head Pub runs down to the Nene
Pilton – Secluded hamlet –13C St. Marys Church. 16C Manor House and buildings(private) formerly owned by the Tresham family.
Duddington – gem of a stone and colleyweston village beside the River Welland – good pub – The Rose and Crown.
Bulwick – Tiny village just off the A43 – unspoilt pub – the Queen’s Head – mixture of thatched and colleyweston roofs
World War II Airfields
Polebrook – USAAF 97th & 351st Bomb Groups memorial off side road at end of old runway.
Deenethorpe – USAAF 401st Bomb Group memorial on the Oundle – Corby road – A427.
Kings Cliffe – USAAF 20th Fighter Group memorial on Kingscliffe – Wansford Road
Spanhoe – USAAF 315th Troop Carrier Group memorial on Laxton – Harringworth road off A43
Grafton Underwood – USAAF 97th and 384th (heavy) Bomb Groups memorial at end of former runway on Geddington road.
Harrington – USAAF 801st Bomb Group and Office of Strategic Services (Carpetbaggers) flew special missions from here. Memorial and museum off the Harrington – Lamport road
Historic Churches
Oundle – tallest spire in Northamptonshire
Brigstock – Saxon church
Fotheringhay – Mary, Queen of Scots fame
Wadenhoe – isolated hilltop church
Deene – tomb of 7th Earl of Cardigan (Charge of the Light Brigade)
Aldwincle – John Dryden born in house opposite
Achurch – tomb of Crusader Knight with his horse (allegedly)
Oundle
Oundle Museum – Open April to September at weekends
Specialist Shops – From fine wines to bespoke clothes
Heritage Trail – Map of heritage points to find in the town
Markets – Market Day every Thursday and a Farmers Market on the second Saturday of each month
Historic Buildings – A large number of historic Georgian limestone buildings
Walking & Cycling
Rockingham Forest – An area of almost 200 sq miles originally designated Royal Hunting Forest by William the Conqueror, stretching between Stamford and Kettering – look out for Red Kites in the northern areas.
Fineshade Woods – Walking, Birdwatching, Horse Riding and Mountain Bike Trails based from Top Lodge at Fineshade Wood.
The Nene Way – A route along the Nene Valley passing through Northampton, Wellingborough, Oundle, Peterborough and Wisbech.
Petrolheads
Silverstone – Home of F.1. British Grand Prix on the A43 Oxford road
Santa Pod – Home of F.1.A. European Drag Racing at Podington off A6 near Rushden
Gardens to Visit
Bulwick Gardens, Bulwick. The Hall, The Shamlbes and 19 Church Lane. NN17 3DZ
The Old Rectory, Sudborough. NN14 3BX – 3 acres of notable private gardens. Tel: 01832 733247
Prebendal Manor, Nassington. PE8 6QG – A recreated mediaeval garden. Tel: 01780 782575
Titchmarsh House, Titchmarsh. NN14 3DA – 4 acres of gardens
Drayton House Lowick. NN14 3BB
Cottesbrooke Hall, Northampton. NN6 8PE. Award winning gardens
Barnsdale Gardens nr Oakham just off A606 (30 miles)
Towns & Cities
Peterborough (10miles)
Stamford (15 miles)
Uppingham (15 miles)
Oakham (30 miles)
Cambridge (35 miles)
Ely (35 miles)
Wisbech (35 miles)
Kings Lynn (45 miles)
Places of Interest
Rutland Water (bird watching, fishing and sailing near Oakham)
Duxford Imperial War Museum, (near Cambridge)
Shuttleworth Collection (vintage aircraft at Old Warden)
Burghley House (Stamford)
Belvoir Castle (near Grantham)
Woburn Abbey (near Dunstable)
Rockingham Castle (Corby)
Althorp Hall (burial place of Princess Diana near Northampton)
Sulgrave Manor (near Banbury)
Wimpole Hall (near Cambridge)
Sandringham (near Kings Lynn)
Wrest Park Gardens, Silsoe between Bedford and Luton (40 miles)
Audley End House & Gardens, near Saffron Walden just off the M11 (50 miles)
Anglesey Abbey, Lode, 6 miles NE of Cambridge on B1102 (40 miles)
Peckover House & Gardens, Wisbech on A47 (35 miles)
