 The Children Play Area
East Carlton to Middleton and Cottingham
Recommendation added: 25/07/2006 13:03
By: jeeze (YSUK rating +21)jeeze has been thanked 13 times for this contribution
"East Carlton Park, near Corby
Fantastic walks and views
In-between Market Harborough and Corby, you have East Carlton Country park. We visit regularly for a bit of chill out time and fresh air. I'd like to recommend one of my favorite country walks. You'll gather from this that I'm not a hard-core walker, more and this little outing is more about the views and the ales.
East Carlton itself is on the edge of the Welland Valley. This views from the park itself are beautiful with rolling hills as far as the eye can see. You have a heritage centre and a small coffee shop open all the year around. There is plenty of car parking. You will find a great little children's playground that will keep the young 'uns amused for a good while. This is also a great place to walk the dog and really give it some exercise in the huge, wide-open spaces!
There are toilets, and picnic benches and also some lovely walks through the woods.
Not too far from East Carlton, thorough the woods and over the fields you will find two villages, Middleton and Cottingham. The villages actually join into each other so it's difficult to know where one ends and the other starts. The walk through the woods involves going through some tight cattle gates, so make sure you've got someone to lift your pushchair if you take one.
Walking from the park to the villages takes about 15-20 minutes in a gently stroll and the final destination is worth it.
Between the two villages you will find the following pubs I would recommend.
The Red Lion, Middleton,
The Spread Eagle, Cottingham,
The Hunnting Lodge, Cottingham.
The Red Lion is the closest, where you will find a lovely beer garden along with children's swings. The garden is enclosed so is ideal for toddlers. Food is nice, though we only had a baguette (tasty!).
Both villages are worth a walk around. Where you will find some lovely thatched cottages. When you've seen enough, you can take the stroll back to the park whilst burning off your well earned lunch!
Off A427, four miles west of Corby
Telephone: (01536) 770977"
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| Comment | Author | Date | We recently visited East Carton Park. It is a great place. The views were spendid and the walks enjoyable and mostly well pathed allowing access for all. But, the cafe was dreadful! Probably the worst coffee I have ever tasted in the UK. The selection of snacks lacked imagination and were by and large uninviting. The room next door was a staggeringly waste of what could be a really profitable
space. Really, just what is the thinking behind using it to sell nothing only 2ndhand paperback books! Are you mad? That space has has astonishing possibilities.
Have a look at some of the National Trust shops. Many of them have far less space,but I bet they make vastly more money than your paperbacks!
What's happening with the stream train. I guess there can be very few of them still around. But you seem quite happy to let yours rust away for the want of a bit of paint. Shame on you!
And all the outdoor stuff from the S&L steel works.Are you happy to let that rot as well?
| Bill Smith | 09/08/2007 | To an extent I agree with the comments made by Bill Smith. However, the actual park is beautiful. The walks are delightful, the views all around are breathtaking and to top it all the place is free!
Yes, the steam train etc., do need to be repainted and the coffee shop and second hand book area COULD do with jazzing up a bit....however, if this is done, then I expect the general public will have to help pay for this. Sometimes, it's nice to visit somewhere that isn't too commercialised... Perhaps, the Council could ask for volunteers to do the repainting of the steam train? Maybe, they could request for volunteers to come and repaint the steam train. They could also look at turning the book area into an information/learning centre for school kids, telling them all about the park, the actual house on the grounds and the parks wildlife...then encourage schools to visit the park! | C Johnson | 27/09/2008 |
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