54.83 mile clockwise to Mini Meadows at Welford

Clockwise south-west via Little Harrowden – Sywell – Church Brampton onto Holdenby – to loop north west via Guildsborough ­– Cold Ashby – across to Stanford on Avon and South Kilworth before heading back via Welford to stop to refuel ­– then back via Kelmarsh – Harrington – Loddington back to Kettering.

3,214ft of climbing.

Starting at Sainsbury’s Kettering

Leave Kettering out south past the Macdonalds and onto Pytchley Lane to Pytchley.  Over the cross roads (left, then right) to continue out of the village up to the t-junction and left and the climb into Orlingbury. Following the road through the village and tight bends and onto Little Harrowden and up to the roundabout taking the third exit (right) and out of the village.

Continuing and taking the third left (Highfield Rd) to Mears Ashby and onto the t-junction in the village, turn right and continue up the hill and round the sharp left bend and just as your leaving the village, take the right onto the Sywell Rd. Continue until you come to the t-junction in the village of Sywell, turn left and over the small roundabout and continue up the hill and through the village of Overstone and heading to the A43, Taking the second exit off the roundabout into Moulton.

Through Moulton, onto the one way High Street and turn left at the coop onto West Street. Taking a left turn on the tight right bend and continue out of the village to Boughton. On entering the village of Boughton, look out for the left turn (Howard Lane) that brings you out on the Vyse Road, turn left and onto the roundabout, going straight on, to the next and continue over and down to the t-junction at the end of Brampton Lane. Turn right.

Take the next left to Church Brampton and up to the cross roads, continue over, onto Holdenby. On entering the village take the first right and continue to Teeton, and taking the lane to Guilsborough. At the t-junction turn right and then second left and keeping right when the road forks in the village centre. With a right and then left and onto Cold Ashby.

Over the A14 and onto Stanford on Avon and then north up to South Kilworth, then turning southwards to head for Welford, through the village and onto the Naseby Road. Taking the left to Mini Meadows Farm for the refuel at the Café.

After a refuel we turn left out of the café back onto the Naseby Road, and continue eastward, under the A14 to Naseby, through the village and out northwards, passing under the A14 once again signposted Clipston,  taking the first right, single track road that goes under the A14 again, and then again, coming to a t-junction to bear right and head eastwards to the Harborough Road at Kelmarsh. Cross straight over and onto Harrington.

Here we take a right and detour upto Foxhall before continuing westward to Loddington, past Thorpe Malsor and back over the A14 to the t-junction at Gipsy Lane, turning left up to the A4300 to turn right and head back past the hospital, over the roundabout and under the railway bridge over the next roundabout and back up to the bus stop at Sainsburys, the starting point.

Profile:

Coffee stop: Mini Meadows Farm. Naseby Road, Welford, Northampton NN6 6HZ

TCX is compatible with most modern GPS units. Provides turn by turn directions.