ISE VALLEY VAGABONDS

PROBABLY THE BEST WALKING CLUB IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

 Kettering Permanent Trail  BWF App No PT57 

START & FINISH:  The George Hotel, Sheep Street, Kettering, Northants

OS map 141    GR 867784    Distance 14km

Fee £1.00    Patch £2.00

Route last updated on 1 November 2007

This route description is valid until 31 December 2008

This walk has been established by members of the Ise Valley Vagabonds Walking Club (BWF Club No 70) and is a qualifying event in the IVV award scheme. 

 It can be walked at any time.

 From the main entrance to The George Hotel, turn left.  Walk past the The Royal Hotel and straight ahead into the pedestrian area.  Stay in the pedestrian area as it bears to the right and passes Newlands Shopping Centre.  At the crossroads turn left into Newland Street.  At the traffic lights go straight on into Rockingham Road.  Take the fifth turning right into William Street.

 QUESTION 1.  WHAT IS ON THE PLAQUE ABOVE HOUSE Nos 2 & 4?

 At the end of the street, turn left to walk towards the entrance to the park.  Go into the park and turn immediately right and walk along the path with the railings on the right.  At the far side of the park, turn left onto the road and in 50 meters, turn right into Balfour Street.  At the end of the street, turn left.  Where the road goes round to the right, stay with it, turning right into North Park Drive.  Follow the road for 1km to the far end and turn left.  Stay on the footpath on the left hand side until you reach the village of Weekley.  Just on the bend there is a turning to the right marked ‘Village Only’.  Cross the road with extreme care and walk into the village.  Ignore the turning to the left and continue straight on.

QUESTION 2.  ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WHAT IS THE NAME OF HOUSE NUMBER 29?

 After house number 20 where the road bears round to the left, there is a metal gate in front of you.  Go through and follow the bridleway around to the right, heading for a gate in the far corner of the field.  Cross the stile and walk ahead to the road.  Turn left and cross the River Ise into Warkton.  Take the first turning right towards the church.  At the T junction, turn right. 

QUESTION 3.  WHAT ARE BRED AT FEDWELLS FARM? 

At Fedwells Farm turn right onto the bridleway to Kettering.  Go through the gate and follow the path to another gate.  Go through and turn right for a few meters, then bear left towards a metal gate.  Just beyond it, on its’ right, is a marker post and a small wooden gate.  Go through the gate and turn right to follow the bridleway, with a hedge on the right and a fence on the left.  After 100 meters there is a marker post.  Turn right to cross the plank bridge and stile.  Walk ahead through 2 fields, crossing the stile between them, always with the hedge on the left.  Cross the stile and turn left to walk with the River Ise on the right.  Follow the river, keeping it on the right at all times, for 2.2km passing under a road bridge on the way.  Go through the bollards and ahead to cross the barrier onto a tarmac road.  Turn right to cross the river again.  At the road, turn left.  Follow Eastleigh Road around to the right.  At the end of the road, turn left and walk to the traffic lights.  Cross straight over with care and bear left to go through the small gateway into Wicksteed Park.  Walk straight ahead and through the gates into the amusement park, heading towards the clock tower.  At the clock tower buildings, turn left and walk with the buildings on the right, to go through the gates.  Go straight ahead on the tarmac path, heading towards the miniature railway station.  Still on the tarmac path, cross the railway line and keep ahead towards the boating lakes and bird cages.  At the water chute, turn right and almost immediately left over the railway line.  Then bear right and follow the railway line clockwise around the large lake.  Take care on the red footbridges at the far end of the lake as the train approaches from behind and the bridges are quite narrow.  As you approach the amusements again, there is a small gravel track off to the left.  Turn left onto this track and follow it around the left hand bend.  Go through the gateway and straight up the hill.  Go through the large metal gates in front of you to leave Wicksteed Park.  Go straight ahead on the road.  This is Paradise Lane.  At the main road, turn left and walk to the pedestrian crossing.  Cross the road and walk along the footpath between house numbers 144 and 146.  At the end of the footpath turn left and follow the road up the hill past a childrens play area on the left.

 QUESTION 4.  WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE CHILDRENS PLAY AREA?

  At the top of the hill, turn left then immediately right onto a footpath between a shop and a pub.  Pass through the bollards and out onto the road and continue straight ahead.  Pass Slade Crescent to turn right just before Ostler’s Way.  Pass Bishop Stopford School & Sports Centre and the fire station.  Continue for 600 meters to turn right into Broadway.  Follow this road to the end and turn left.  Just before the traffic lights, turn left into The Grove.  Follow it round to the right.  At the end of this road, Kettering Borough Council offices are facing you.

 QUESTION 5.  KETTERING IS TWINNED WITH 2 TOWNS.  WHICH ARE THEY? 

Turn left and at the traffic lights turn right.  At the next set of traffic lights, go straight ahead to return to The George Hotel.

 We hope you have enjoyed the walk! 

The Ise Valley Vagabonds have established other Permanent Trails at Bedford (2), Chester, Daventry, Kempston, Kings Lynn, London (2),

Marston Moretaine (2), Oxford, Rugby, Stamford, Stratford upon Avon, Warwick and Wellingborough.

They are all qualifying events towards the IVV award scheme. 

Further information about these walks, the IVV, the club and all its activities can be found by visiting our Web Site www.vagabonds.org.uk

  THE ORGANISERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ACCIDENTS, THEFT, AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. 

 EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE BY THE ORGANISERS TO MAKE THIS A SAFE, ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE EVENT.

                                                 Please remember to enclose:
                                                    1) The Correct Fee.
                                                   2) A Stamped Addressed Envelope of a suitable size.
                                                     3) Your IVV Records books, or Insert Cards.

Insert Cards can be used instead of having to send your books away by post. they must be submitted
with a normal Record card when claiming an award.
( these cards are accepted by both the AVV and the CVF.)