Permanent Trails

The Ise Valley Vagabonds organise 21 permanent trails, predominantly in Northamptonshire and surrounding counties. Click here to find your nearest Permanent Trail

Permanent trails are self guided walks, that can be walked at any time to obtain IVV credit. Just download the route description, enjoy the walk answering the questions as you go and then complete the entry form with your answers and send them (along with you walk fee, your IVV books/insert cards and a self addressed envelope) to our Permanent Trail Co-ordinator.

The Walk fees for each walk is £1 (cheque’s payable to “Ise Valley Vagabonds”), some trails also have awards that can be purchased separately, see trail for details. “Overseas walkers – we will accept payment in Euros (cash) for our trails.
Walk €2,00 Award (where applicable) €4,00”

Any questions about any of or permanent Trails or to claim your IVV credit contact our Permanent Trail Co-ordinator – Carol Jones,  138 Rushden Road, Wymington, Rushden, Northants NN10 9LE Tel: 01933 314134 E-mail: caroljones138@btinternet.com

Name	Distance	Grade	Description
Daventry Permanent Trail	11Km	2	Explore the town, climb up to the old broadcasting station and enjoy the panoramic views. Visit the country park and then return to town via a disused railway line and cycleway.
Kettering Permanent Trail	15Km	2	A stroll through town leads to the pretty villages of Weekley and Warkton, returning alongside the River Ise brings you to Wicksteed Park, then back into town.
Northampton Armistice Trail New for 2018	14Km	1	A tour of the town visiting the sites of two of the town’s WW1 sporting heroes and many other sites associated with the Great War. Free on-street parking in Park Avenue South.
Rushden & Higham Ferrers Historical Trail	11Km	1	Explore the sites of historical interest in the two towns and visit locations mentioned in ‘Love For Lydia’, by Rushden`s most famous son, the author H. E. Bates
Wellingborough Country Park & Town Permanent Trail	12Km	1	A circuit around Irchester Country Park followed by a tour of ‘Waendel’ town incorporating areas not utilised in previous versions of the trail.

Name	Distance	Grade	Description
Bedford Country Park & Town Trail	10Km	1	This trail takes in the Priory Country Park and riverside walks not visited by the Bedford River Walk, the historic Castle Motte and interesting parts of the modern centre of the town, whose Charter was first granted in 1166.
Bedford River Walk	11Km	1	A pleasant stroll visiting the village of Elstow, birthplace of Bedford’s most famous son, John Bunyan. Returning along the banks of the magnificent River Ouse.
Kempston (King William IV) Permanent Trail	13Km	2	Starting at a 17th century inn, the walk crosses farmland along the River Great Ouse, traverses two golf courses and passes through small villages and woods. The final stretch by the river is along an avenue of lime trees.
Marston Vale Jubilee Walk	11Km	2	From Marston Vale Country Park, through surrounding countryside to Hunger Hill and Rectory Wood, returning via the ancient woodland of Marston Thrift.
Marston Vale Millennium Country Park Trail	10Km	1	Within the Marston Vale Forest Park, this circular route goes around the Park, set up under the ‘Forests for Communities’ scheme. The walk takes you around a former clay pit from the brick industry, a local example of environmental regeneration at work.
Marston Vale Timberland Trail	21Km	3 (3+ in Winter)	This fully waymarked trail starts at the Forest Centre, crosses farmland then rises to take in the wooded landscape of the Greensand Ridge. This, with the town of Ampthill and its historic parkland, make for an interesting, if strenuous, walk.

Name	Distance	Grade	Description
City of Leicester Heritage Trail	11Km	1	An easy hard-surface route between two of the city`s largest Victorian parks via numerous historic buildings and heritage sites including King Richard III and Thomas Cook. Also a long stretch of Grand Union Canal towpath unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Plenty of refreshment facilities, toilets and historic information panels.

Name	Distance	Grade	Description
Stamford Permanent Trail	10Km	1	From the grounds of Burghley House, visit the picturesque stone-built town of Stamford, dating from Roman times. Return via the grounds of Burghley House (not open when the Horse Trials are taking place – early September every year).

Name	Distance	Grade	Description
Hampstead Permanent Trail	12Km	1+	Visit Hampstead Heath, with excellent views over London, pass fine residences of famous citizens and the site of Ruth Ellis’s crime, before passing Kenwood House and then through Golders Hill Park with its deer enclosure and aviary. Toilets and cafes.
London (Hogarth) Permanent Trail	18Km	1	One for the tourist. It passes Chelsea Royal Hospital, Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Buckingham Palace, the Serpentine, Albert Memorial, Royal Albert Hall, Natural History and Science museums. Lots to see.

Name	Distance	Grade	Description
King’s Lynn Permanent Trail	11Km	1	The route explores the River Great Ouse, the connections between King’s Lynn and the Hanseatic League of northern Europe and the town itself.

Name	Distance	Grade	Description
Oxford Permanent Trail	13Km	1	Explore the world of Inspector Morse. Walk into Oxford along the canal and then pass all the main tourist sites and colleges before following the canal and River Thames to Port Meadow and the Trout Inn.
Woodstock & Blenheim Park Permanent Trail	11Km	1	A short tour of quaint Woodstock, before taking a circular walk through the extensive grounds of Blenheim Park, with good views of Blenheim Palace.

Name	Distance	Grade	Description
Rugby Permanent Trail	10Km	2	This is where the game of rugby began. Tour the town, see the Rugby Football Museum, pass Rugby School and imagine William Webb Ellis picking up the football!
Stratford-Upon-Avon Permanent Trail	10Km	1	Take time to explore the town where William Shakespeare was born. Don’t miss the must-see sights connected with him, including Anne Hathaway’s cottage and the modern Shakespeare Theatre.
Warwick Permanent Trail	12Km	2	The route starts just outside Warwick. Takes in canals, riverside, parkland, Warwick Castle and old Warwick and then crosses the racecourse and on through fields. Plenty to see. Please see route description for Warwick race days – the route is closed on those days.