Brampton Valley Way

Brampton Valley Way - Market Harborough to Northampton

This weekend has been bloody hot and sunny which made the cycling I did on

Saturday all the more enjoyable.

The Brampton Valley Way cyle route (number 6) runs along the old railway track between Market Harborough and Northampton. We set off from the Market Harborough end with the aim of going throught the two tunnels (yes that's right, tunnels!) and then going on for a couple more miles before turning back.

As the track is on an old railway line, not only is it 100% traffic free, but there are no hills to speak of either so it is easy going for cyclists of all ages.

For those who either forgot to take their bicycle lights with them (or too chicken to cylcle through in the dark), their are paths that you can follow that will go around the 2 tunnels that you can cycle/walk through.

Cycliing through the old railway tunnels is a great experience and is one of the main features of this cycle route.

In total you can do 28 miles (14 miles each way). We decided to do a few miles past the tunnels and then turn back. In total we did exactly 16 miles which is pretty good going in the heat of the sun!

I'm not off cycling next weekend, instead I'm off out with some mates to the Seaside for a bag of chips and an ice-cream! So hopefully the weather will be nice.

Folklore of Northamptonshire

Took a walk round Foxton Locks at the weekend to see if any changes are occurring and they seem to be making headway on getting the inclined plane restored. www.fipt.org.uk

I've also started reading a book! It's about the folklore or Northamptonshire and is really good read. It's not heavy going like you would expect but there is enough information on each topic to wet your taste buds so to speak.

For example, did you know that Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay castle? All that remains nowadays is a small part of one of the walls.

Legend has it that her son who later became King of England had the castle knocked down in retribution over his mothers beheading. Or it could simply be that the castle simply became unused and the local people used the stone to build/repair houses and/or roads.

Needless to say, it is reported that there are several places in Northamptonshire that still to this day claim to be haunted by the Ghost of Mary Queen of Scots - I can feel a ghost hunt coming on...