| 1. Route starts off in Corby on a shared use path to the Morrison's store, then passes through Great Oakley, Geddington, Grafton, Slipton to Islip on minor roads. Steady climb from Geddington to Grafton onto the ridge then more up and down from Slipton to Thrapston. No need to go into Thrapston unless you want to but worth it to cross the bridge. From Islip, climb Chapel hill, take the turn at Mill road - this is a RUPP and avoids the very busy main road to Corby. The surfaced road stops at a car park after a mile or so, you then need to cross a large grassy field at a fishing site and pass through a small car park at the far end to rejoin the lane to Aldwincle. On to Stoke Doyle and Oundle. Leave Oundle on Glapthorn Lane. Route then passes to GLapthorn and then onto toward Benefield. This section is steady climb, just before Upper Benefield, turn right into a deep valley and head toward Deenethorpe. Downhill into Deenethorpe, take the first right toward Deene along a minor road that joins the A43 after about a mile, short hop on this busy road (be very careful traffic is fast and can be reckless here) and turn into Deene. Return to Corby along the lane |
many historic houses and villages. Great Oakley village (pretty), Eleanor Cross and Boughton House (Geddington); memorial for flyers at the old Grafton airfield; Grafton Underwood Village -bridges and stream parallel to road, bridge across the Nene and Thrapston, old Ironworks,Islip; Oundle (most of it)- "Beans" Coffee shop is handily placed as a rest point where you turn into Glapthorn Lane; Deene Hall, Lake and model village; Kirby Hall; Rockingham Racetrack; Garden suburb area of Corby (designed in 1930's as workers homes for new steelworks)
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