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)

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)

Oundle Cottage Breaks
Mews Cottage
30 Market Place
Oundle
Northamptonshire
PE8 4BE