Attractions
Historical Building:
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.
Apethorpe Hall – English Heritage –
check for opening times.
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.
Walking and 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.
Oundle
Oundle Museum – Open April to September at weekends
Specialist Shops – From fine wines to bespoke clothes
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
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)
Gardens to Visit:
- Bulwick Gardens, Bulwick. The Hall, The Shamlbes and 19 Church
Lane.
- The Old Rectory, Sudborough – 3 acres of notable private
gardens.
- Prebendal Manor, Nassington – A recreated mediaeval garden.
- Titchmarsh House, Titchmarsh – 4 acres of gardens
- Drayton House Lowick.
- Cottesbrooke Hall, Northampton. Award winning gardens
Places of Interest:
- Rutland Water (bird watching, fishing and sailing near Oakham)
- Grafham Water (bird watching, fishing and sailing near Huntingdon)
- Duxford Imperial War Museum, (near Cambridge)
- Shuttleworth Collection (vintage aircraft at Old Warden)
- Burghley House (Stamford)
- Belvoir Castle (near Grantham)
- Woburn Abbey (near Dunstable)
- Rockingham Castle (Corby)
- 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)
- Barnsdale Gardens nr Oakham just off A606 (30 miles)
The History of Oundle Cottage Breaks
Oundle Cottage Breaks is owned and operated by Richard and Christine
Simmonds who acquired the properties in 1981. At that time the buildings
were mainly derelict and so followed a sympathetic restoration and
conversion of the unused brick and limestone outbuildings which
were formerly a Coach house, Stables, Groom’s Bothy and Joiners
Workshop.
The buildings lie within the curtilage of No’s 30 and 32
Market Place in Oundle and all are close to the centre of the pretty,
historic town. The self-contained holiday rental cottages are situated
at the rear of the main town house and are in fact very private
and secluded being enclosed in a high walled courtyard and gardens.
Records show that there was an ale house called “The Nags
Head” on part of the site in 1795. The property appears to
have been acquired by a butcher called Arnsby in 1828. It is believed
that he was responsible for the demolition and rebuilding of the
three storey front of the property to create a more impressive building
as befitted his status. It was acquired by an apothecary, Robert
Turner, in 1844 and there has been a chemist on the site ever since.
Although the gardens were derelict and have been redesigned there
are still traces of the apothecary’s original plant ingredients
found in various parts of the garden. Some of the plants used in
herbal and plant remedies can be found throughout. Rose, Deadly
Nightshade, Aconite, Foxglove, Feverfew, Lilies, Anenome, Ceanothus,
St John’s Wort, Chamomile, Crocus, Cyclamen, Daisy, Evening
Primrose, Flyagaric, Hellebore, Wild Hops, Hypericum, Jasmine, Lavender,
Mint, Nettles, Peony, Rhododendron, Thyme, Rosemary, Witch Hazel,
Yew, Liverwort, to name but a few!
Local Information
The historic town of Oundle lies just off the A605 about 6 miles
north of its junction with the A14 (A1 – M1) link road. Peterborough
is 10 miles to the east, Corby 10 miles to the west; Stamford (15
miles), Cambridge (30 miles) and Northampton (30 miles) are within
easy reach.
The town is situated in a loop of the River Nene and has many fine
buildings of architectural interest, many of them belonging to the
famous Public School whose pupils and premises are found throughout
the town.
Visitors can enjoy peace and tranquillity, driving, walking or
cycling through the picturesque villages, ancient woodlands or along
the banks of the river. Wildlife abounds at the country parks and
nature reserves. Country houses such as Burghley House, Deene Park,
Elton Hall, Southwick Hall, Kirby Hall, Lyveden New Bield are nearby,
also many beautiful churches including Fotheringhay with its connections
with Mary, Queen of Scots.
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