Places to visit
Harringworth Viaduct in the Welland Valley
Places to visit in Rockingham Forest
The area has nature reserves, publicly accessible woodland and parkland, historic buildings and landmarks - the hidden gems of the forest. On this page we have picked out a few of our favourite places to visit.
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See these places on Google maps
You can find details of other parks and open spaces on this page of North Northamptonshire Council's website
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Collyweston Quarries - the Deeps
Parking at OS TF005036. what3words///backtrack.static.snippets
This 20-acre reserve lies between Easton on the Hill and Collyweston and can be easily accessed from the A43. Managed by the Wildlife Trust BCN, it comes into its own in high summer when the lime-rich soils that have developed on the old quarry workings are aglow with a variety of flowers including the local rarity, Dyer's Greenweed. It is a great place to see many of our grassland butterflies too.
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The view across the area on a fine day in early October
One of the speciality plants of the reserve. It can be found in flower from June to October
The reserve is grazed by cattle or sheep during the winter months
This is a mating pair - male on the left and female on the right
This was found in flower in October. Earlier in the summer the are plenty of banks where the Wild Thyme blows!
Another of the rather special flowers that can be found in bloom in late summer
Railway Path, King's Cliffe
Parking at OS TL007977. what3words///pokers.wharfs.choppers
Until 1966 a single track railway ran through this part of Rockingham Forest with stations at Wansford, Nassington, Kings Cliffe and Wakerley. Now a 2-mile section of the track has been opened up for walkers thanks to the efforts of Wildplaces, a part of King's Cliffe Transition. Starting at King's Cliffe Active, you can walk west through a cutting as far as Wood Lane with access then to Fineshade Wood. Otherwise head east enjoying the views towards Apethorpe, Jacks Green and beyond.
This is the way onto the western section of the path from Kings Cliffe Active
All the access ramps and steps were constructed by Wildplaces volunteers
Here the path is in a railway cutting
Looking towards Apethorpe. The path is on an embankment here
Beneath is Park Road, the road leading north out of the village
Showing the full length of the path with the various access places
Walkway around Cook's Hole
Parking at TL051990, odd spaces beside Roman Road. what3words///bulldozer.whom.moth
The series of quarries west of Wansford and south of the A47 contribute to Rockingham Forest's landscapes and wildlife. (See here). Footpaths have often been diverted while quarries are worked, but there is an interesting walkway between two of the quarries, from which you can compare different stages of restoration. It's just under a mile to walk the route from the south end of Bedford Purlieus up to the A47 road - and another mile back. The path is shown as a Right of Way on the current OS maps and, in 2023, is in a good state of repair.
Walk north along the path on the east side of Bedford Purlieus and, after 200 metres, a footpath sign directs you across a grassy field
This area was formerly owned by Mick George and now partly as a landfill site operated by Augean
The quarry's restoration plan suggests that this area will be restored to a field.
The house is Grade II listed, as a rare example of a substantially unmodernised house of this age, constructed of local materials. Lots of details here
Growing beside the path is Atropa belladonna. We found Wild Basil and Yellow Wort too
This very large open space appears to be re-wilding itself very nicely.
Lyveden New Bield
Parking at SP981860 what3words///spoke.cost.inclines
The Elizabethan lodge and manor house are now owned by the National Trust. The lodge, constructed for Thomas Tresham around 1604 was never finished, but is an interesting place to wander and wonder about. There is a restored orchard, moated gardens with viewing mounds and a labyrinth laid out in the grass. The garden and lodge is surrounded by restored hay meadows.
Details and opening times here.
You can go inside the walls and see the religious symbols carved on the stonework
The moat, part of the former gardens, is fed by springs
The new trees are on the site of the former orchard
Inside are displays about the history of the site, a tea room and toilets
There are several foortpaths and Rights of Way leading from the site into the wider countryside
A programme of events, leaflets and an audio guide are available
Sudborough Green Lodge Meadows
Parking at SP9658598, opposite the gliding club what3words///outraged.enjoys.fluid
This little-known and rarely visited area has the richest grassland biodiversity in Northamptonshire. It is a SSSI, owned and very sensitively managed by the Forestry Commission, so there is Open Access across the two ancient meadows. In one the ridge-and-furrow can still be seen and from May to late July it is awash with flowers and insects.
The meadows are well away from any roads - the shortest route is just over a mile from the parking place and starts by following the hard track through Fermyn Woods .
This is a well-known site for Purple Emperor butterflies.
At SP974846 turn right off the hard track along a grassy ride
After 300m the larger of the two meadows opens up, inviting you to wander across and explore.
Flowers are abundant and varied in the meadows. Here there are Hoary Ragwort and Lady's Bedstraw
Thousands of these can be seen in June. There are Green-winged and Pyramid Orchids too
Near an old pond are two exceptional trees with many holes and crevices in their trunks. They seem to be using their branches to prop themselves up,
Old Sulehay Forest
Various parking including TL068988 what3words///indicates.look.husbands
This remnant of the former forest is part of a much larger Nature Reserve owned and managed by the local Wildlife Trust. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest with a mixture of broadleaved tree species, woodland flowers and unusual butterflies. It is typical of an old coppiced woodland and is dominated by Hazel coppice with some Ash, Oak, Field Maple, and Small-leaved Lime.
The woodland is well worth a visit at any time of the year, even in winter when many of these pictures were taken.
A Horse Chestnut tree
The Old Sulehay Forest Site of Specail Scientific Interest is the area of green shown top right.
This coppiced oak must be one of the oldest trees in the forest. Look at the width of the coppice stool!
Small-leaved Lime is rare species in Northants with a very restricted distribution.
This has been widened recently to reduce the shade cast on the ride and to produce a more graduated zone between the path and the woodland. The plan is to mow it every two years.
The reserve is notable for the profuse flowers in springtime, particularly Bluebells, Wood Anemones and Ransoms. The rides also have Nettle-leaved bellflowers and Greater Butterfly Orchids.
King's Cliffe Heritage Centre
Parking in Bridge Street (TF009970) what3words///hits.whistling.dragons
King’s Cliffe Heritage researches, gathers and records information relating to the history of the village and its residents. Much of the information is available via the (soon to be improved!) website but a visit to the Heritage Centre is a fascinating experience. Located at 27 Bridge Street in an old charity boys' school room, the Centre is open from 2-5pm on the 4th Sunday of every month from February to October and on Bank Holiday Mondays. Entry is free to everyone and knowledgeable volunteer stewards are on hand to help.
It's amazing that this tiny building houses such a treasure trove of resources
The village was the centre of the wood-turning industry of the forest
In the display cases you can see many pieces of turned wood-ware for which the village was renowned for centuries
Volunteers are always on hand to help. This is Syd and Jenny Morris offering a warm welcome on a cold February afternoon.
Here you will find useful printed materials to inform your visit.
This sign indicates the entrance from Bridge Street. There are steps from the street with an alternative (signed) disabled access from the rear. No toilet facilities on site - sorry!
Wothorpe Groves and Towers
Parking at OS TF021053 what3words///smile string.burn
At the northern tip of the the former Rockingham Forest lie two small sections of mature woodland named Wothorpe Groves and Pit Holes on the OS maps. Part of the Burghley Estate, the woodland is open for all to access and provides magnificent walks at all times of the year. Close by is the old manor house, rebuilt in the late 16th century and remodelled as a dramatic towered lodge by the Cecil family. This is not currently open to the public. The woodland is connected to various rights of way from Stamford and Easton-on-the-Hill
Quite unusually for Rockingham Forest, the dominant tree is the Sycamore.
It is also unusual to find private woodland with welcoming signs like this. Thank you Burghley!
Many fine views of the ruined Towers are possible from the footpaths. The Cecil's used to decamp here when the main house was being cleaned!
The handgate offers access from easy parking. Look for the sign to Wothorpe-on-the-Hill from the A43
Lots of evidence of former stone quarrying here
A network of paths offer easy walking throughout the year
Glapthorn Cow Pasture
Parking at OS TL006903. what3words///validated.shielding.belong
This Wildlife Trust reserve is great to visit at any time of year. The woodland today stands isolated in a landscape of farmland. Until the early 20th century, it was pasture with scattered trees and used for grazing cattle, probably surrounded by woodland. In spring the reserve is known for its colony of Black Hairstreak butterflies and, until recently, Nightingales bred there too. There is a network of Rights of Way leading from the reserve making it easy to incorporate into a longer walk.
The local Wildlife Trust care for this reserve and there is an excellent network of rides
This rare butterfly breeds in Glapthorne Cow Pastures. Adults take nectar from bramble flowers while the caterpillars feed on the leaves of Blackthorn
The managed rides are a delight at all times of the year, especially in autumn
There are a few mature Oaks that must date back to the time this was wood pasture
This is the reserve viewed from an attractive green lane to the west.
A notebook is provided to record sightings: Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher in 2022, but sadly no Nightingales this year.
Glenn Miller memorial, Jacks Green
Parking at OS TL042966. what3words///pigs.thrusters.report
The World War II airbase at Kings Cliffe hosted the last hanger concert of Glenn Miller and his band in 1944, an event commemorated by an engraved metal plaque. It is now adjacent to the new Rockingham Forest Park but can still be accessed from various Rights of Way. The bridleway through Great and Little Morton Sales from the Apethorpe-Nassington Road is on hard tracks and probably suitable for those with wheels.
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The memorial stands on the concrete base of the former hangar
Some weeks after the last concert Miller boarded a plane to fly to Paris in foggy weather. The plane did not reach France and was never found
There are panels giving information about the airfield which was used by the RAF flying Spitfires and later by the USAF once concrete runways had been built.
There are 2 or 3 parking places beside the road and the bridleway leads beside this lovely piece of Ancient Woodland
Look out for this Ash and try to work out how it comes to have near-right-angled bends in its trunk.
The bridleway continues into another block of Ancient Woodland and a remant of Rockingham Forest. Both woods are part of Rockingham Forest Park
Parking at OS SP988886 what3words///design.wage.seriously
Lower Benefield - village and footpaths
This attractive stone village is on the A427 between Oundle and Corby. Turn off the main road and park near the entrance to the churchyard to explore the network of footpaths, particularly those leading south. There are at least two routes to Lyvedon New Bield, one passing through Banhaw Wood and the other through Forestry England's Bearshank Wood. The well-kept church yard is close to the site of a 13th century castle.
The church of St Mary the Virgin has medieval origins but was largely rebuilt in 1848
This is the way from the road to the churchyard and the countryside beyond
There is a Right of Way through here and through the churchyard beyond
The footpath passes through the yew trees on the left
Managed by Forestry England, this is open access land under the CRoW Act
This attractive fragment of the former forest appears to be private, well-managed Ancient Woodland, with a public footpath through the middle.
Parking at OS SP932979 what3words///confirms.remover.resurgent
Turtle Bridge - the Welland Valley
The name of this Grade-II-listed bridge refers, not to a reptile, but to Ralph Turcle, an inhabitant of Harringworth in the 13th century. Today it carries the Jurassic Way across the Welland and is a popular place for local children and dogs to paddle and cool off. In winter it can be very different! Floods often fill the valley making it popular with wintering wildfowl. The views on the walk down to the bridge are spectacular at any time of year.
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There is access to the river bank in both directions
Jurassic Way follows rhe river bank from Harringworth to the bridge - a lovely walk!
All around are water meadows - deliberately flooded after heavy rain to avoid damage to towns and villages downstream.
Two of the original arches have been lined with circular corrugated steel. As well as allowing easy access for flood water, they can provide shelter
The bridge is built of local stone and local brick. Parts of the present structure probably date back to 1793
Under the northernmost arch there are a number of ancient carved inscriptions.