Unearthing Local Treasures

Unearthing Local Treasures

I spent a while this week trying to decide on somewhere to take Finn for a walk. I’m always going to the parks nearest me, so I thought it might be a nice idea to try something different. Northampton is a small town, but there’s still parts of it I haven’t visited.

In the back of my mind I had a vague recollection of visiting Hunsbury Hill Country Park as a child. I’ve never been since, discounting it as just a park in the middle of a housing estate. However, after some brief research it suddenly seemed quite interesting, and as it’s only 3.5 miles away I thought it would make a nice setting for a midweek outing.

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My walking buddy for the morning

Firstly, it’s home to an Iron Age hill fort, which is now  a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

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(Top) The raised earth of the fort’s defences. (Bottom L-R) the sign shows how the fort would have looked, the entrance to the fort, sign indicating the importance of the park’s features and the trig point on the edge of the fort

The site was also used for ironstone extraction from the 1880’s and part of the railway used to transport the rocks is still there. In fact, it is now maintained by the Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust  who run trains at certain times throughout the year.

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Also, running through the park is part of the drover’s lane which was used by Welsh farmers bringing their sheep to Northampton Market. This path leads down to the canal if you fancy a longer stroll.

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The paths were a tad muddy-I’m very glad we opted for an off-road buggy!

As if all that history wasn’t enough, there is also a lovely little cafe, play area and, a rare treat these days, parking was free. Not bad for ‘just a park in the middle of a housing estate!’ Thanks has to go to the Friends of West Hunsbury Parks who have obviously done a sterling job maintaining these facilities.

I can’t believe I didn’t know all this was here!

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It was all too much for my walking buddy

I challenge you all to head out this weekend and find somewhere local that you’ve never visited before. I’d love to hear about the treasures you unearth so tag me on instagram, twitter or facebook and tell me all about it!

 

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

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Comments

  • Karen (@wouldliketobe) Karen (@wouldliketobe) January 16, at 09:41

    Looks like your little one had fun. I love it when you discover somewhere new#countrykids

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker January 18, at 11:19

      I know, it’s such a thrill to find somewhere interesting right under your nose! I am determined to find more fab places nearby now 🙂

      Reply
  • Coombe Mill Coombe Mill January 16, at 12:49

    A great looking park with so much going for it not just conventional swings and slides. This is definitely one for exploring and so many interest parts to it. No wonder your little buddy was fast asleep by the end! Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids

    Reply
  • Sarah - Craft Invaders Sarah - Craft Invaders January 17, at 15:17

    What a great place. it’s so easy to discount places on your doorstep, presuming that if its not somewhere you go, then its not of interest. Love the photo of the railway line – so beautiful!

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker January 18, at 11:18

      Thanks, that’s so true. I’m determined to find more new places now! I’m sure I’m missing out on so much right on my doorstep 🙂

      Reply
  • Claire at Tin Box Traveller Claire at Tin Box Traveller January 17, at 18:16

    I love this type of outing. We’ve been doing a fair bit of exporing local treasures this week. I think you’ll have to disqualify us from your challenge though as everywhere is new to us since moving to Devon 😉 #countrykids

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker January 18, at 11:19

      Hope you’re settling in ok, such a lovely part of the world. Bet you’re all having a lot of fun exploring new places. Can’t wait to read about it all 🙂

      Reply
  • islandliving365 islandliving365 January 18, at 22:33

    That looks a fab park to have fairly close by and free car parking and a warm cafe is always a bonus! #countrykids

    Reply
  • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker January 20, at 13:00

    Thanks! It wasn’t the most beautiful place, but it was so interesting, I was worried the photos wouldn’t do it justice!

    Reply
  • MummyTravels MummyTravels January 22, at 09:27

    How lovely to find that on your doorstep – amazing to have this kind of history on a city park.

    Reply
  • chloelifeunexpected chloelifeunexpected January 24, at 20:47

    I really need to do this more. We always go to the same old stomping grounds, yet there is so much of Cornwall we haven’t seen yet and probably loads of great things really close to us. You’ve got some adorable pictures here!! And it’s lovely you’ve found a new place to explore. Thank you for sharing your adventure on #whatevertheweather x

    Reply
  • Jenny Eaves Jenny Eaves January 27, at 12:59

    What a fantastic park! I love ancient history, Iron Age and older is so much more interesting to me than all the estate houses that around. I had considered becoming an archaeologist when I was younger. A great find, I’m guessing your going to be visiting there a lot now?
    Thanks so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x

    Reply
    • TheHelpfulHiker TheHelpfulHiker January 27, at 15:14

      It was really fascinating, it’s definitely going to become one of our regular haunts 🙂

      Reply
  • Annette, Four Acorns Annette, Four Acorns February 01, at 18:12

    We love old ring forts (thankfully you can’t go far in Ireland without finding one) and vintage railways!
    It’s funny how we also went somewhere close-ish last weekend, a woodland we’d always discounted as uninteresting. It turns out there’s a lot more to it than initially thought and we’ll have to go back.
    #outdoorbloggers

    Reply

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