On a fine day, there is nothing quite like a drive to the country, followed by a leisurely walk and a hearty meal in a good local pub or café. With its beautiful scenery, country parks and ancient history, Northamptonshire provides perfect walking country. In this volume of 20 circular routes, there are walks to the ancient woodland of Badby, well known for its carpet of bluebells in spring; along the banks of the River Nene from the attractive village of Wadenhoe; through meadowland and hayfields near Sulgrave to Bronze Age Barrow Hill; and across the iron aqueduct at Cosgrove by the River Great Ouse. Other routes offer the walker the chance to visit Prebendal Manor and its medieval gardens at Nassington; observe a variety of birds and wildfowl on Sywell Reservoir from two bird hides; enjoy tea and home-made cakes at an olde worlde teashop in historic Thrapston; discover the history of the inland waterways at the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne; and gaze at stunning views over Pitsford Water from the Brixworth Country Park.

The walks vary in length between 3 and 5 miles and are all based upon good local pubs, cafes or tearooms. Information such as how to get to the start and where to park are given. There are also photographs illustrating points of interest along the way and numbered sketch maps, which correspond to the numbered paragraphs in the text so that walkers can see at a glance where they are.

The walk locations are: Nassington and Yanwell; Bulwick and Willow Brook; Oundle and Barnwell Country Park; the Nene Valley at Wadenhoe; Thrapston; Fermyn Woods and Rockingham Forest; Twywell Hills and Dales Nature Reserve; East Carlton Countryside Park; Kelmarsh, Brampton Valley Way and the Oxenden Tunnel; The Grand Union at Welford; Ringstead and Kinewell Lake; West Haddon and Winwick; Brixworth Country Park and Pitsford Water; Sywell Country Park; Summer Leys Nature Reserve and Great Doddington; Harpole; Fawsley and Badby; Stoke Bruerne; Sulgrave; Cosgrove and the River Great Ouse.

If you enjoy both walking and visiting country pubs, this book should appeal. All the inns are in Northamptonshire and surrounded by excellent walking country. Every walk begins and ends at a particular pub, where good food, as well as good ale, are served in traditional surroundings. The routes vary from 2 to 6.5 miles and each is described in detail with its own accompanying sketch map.

There are walks along riverbanks, lakesides and towpaths; through woods and valleys, over hills and watermeadows. Many of the county's prettiest villages and its most beautiful and secluded parkland are explored. There are also stretches of Northamptonshire's popular long distance footpaths including the Nene Way, the Knightley Way and the Grafton Way. All 30 pubs are described and details include opening times, speciality menus and their range of ales and lagers. Charles Whynne-Hammond has lived in Northamptonshire for many years. He lectures on local history and is the author of a number of books.

The walk locations are: Aynho; Chipping Warden; Sulgrave; Moreton Pinkney; Hellidon; Badby; Farthingstone; Weedon Bec; Eastcote; Potterspuby; Stoke Bruerne; Little Brington; Harlestone; Crick; Welford; Guilsborough; Brixworth; Lamport; Harrington; Great Cransley; Little Harrowden; Castle Ashby; Rushton; Brigstock; Woodford; Wadenhoe; Barnwell; Harringworth; Kings Cliffe; Yarwell.

If you are looking for a walk of between 3 and 5.5 miles in the superb countryside of Northamptonshire topped off by some good pub food, this is the book for you. Its handy size fits neatly into a pocket and it includes all the details you need. Contents include an introduction to each walk, details of distance and terrain, how to get to the start, recommended pub, food served and telephone number, numbered route directions, matching numbered route maps and details of places of interest nearby. There are also photographs to illustrate the pubs and some scenic views to be enjoyed.

The 15 walk locations are: Easton on the Hill; Nassington; Ashton; Wadenhoe; Lowick; Rushton; Little Harrowden; Lamport; Yardley Hastings; Little Brington; Welton; Stoke Bruerne; Charwelton; Sulgrave; King's Sutton.

One of a range of 'no frills' local walking guide booklets which admirably achieve their objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide describes ten varied and interesting circular walks within the Rockingham Forest Area. The walks are mainly between 5 and 8 miles in length.

The locations are: Brigstock and Fermyn Woods; Gretton and Kirby Hall; King's Cliffe and Blatherwycke Lake; Lower Benefield and Winning Foot Hill; Wakerley and Turtle Bridge; Deene and Deene Park; Brigstock and Geddington Chase; King's Cliffe; Apethorpe and Morehay Lawn; East Carlton and Wilbarston; Bulwick and Hostage Wood.

One of a range of 'no frills' local walking guide booklets which admirably achieve their objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide describes ten varied and interesting circular walks close to Pitsford Water near Northampton. The walks are mainly between 4 and 8 miles in length.

The locations are: Maidwell; Broughton and Pitsford; Hanging Houghton; Draughton; Pitsford Water (south); Pitsford Water (north); Old and Scaldwell; Faxton Corner; Hannington and Hardwick Wood; Pitsford and Moulton.

One of a range of 'no frills' local walking guide booklets which admirably achieve their objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide focuses on the Nene near Northampton with nine walks, mainly about 6 miles in length.

The walk locations are: Sywell Wood and Mears Ashby; Duston Mill, Northampton; Three Watermills, Harpole and Kislingbury; Harlestone Heath and Chapel Brampton; Roade, Stoke Bruerne and Blisworth; Clifford Hill and Brafield-on-the-Green; Hardingstone Dyke and Great Houghton; Commander's Spinney and Earls Barton; Blisworth Junction.

One of a range of 'no frills' local walking guide booklets which admirably achieve their objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide focuses on the Nene near Wellingborough, with nine walks averaging about 6 miles in length.

The walk locations are: Nene Navigation, Irthlingborough; Victoria Mills, Wellingborough; Dungee corner, Bozeat and Wollaston; Grendon Quarter Pond; Irchester Country Park; Rushden Boundary and Little Wymington; Forty Foot Lane, Wymington and Podington; Hardwater Crossing and great Doddington; Appleby Gate and Little Harrowden.

One of a range of 'no frills' local walking guide booklets which admirably achieve their objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide describes eleven varied and interesting circular walks in the countryside around Daventry in Northamptonshire. The walks are between 4 and 8 miles in length.

The locations are: Badby and Arbury Hill; Welton, Ashby St Ledgers and Watford Gap; Flore, Nether Heyford and Heyford Wharf; Barby and Kilsby; Everdon and Big Waters; Badby, Newnham and Badby Down; Braunston and Miry Bridge; Braunston and Wolfhampcote; Hellidon and Leam Pool; Napton on the Hill and Shuckburgh Hills.

One of a range of 'no frills' local walking guide booklets which admirably achieve their objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide focuses on the Nene near Thrapston with nine varied and interesting circular walks, mainly about 6 miles in length.

The walk locations are: Ridge Road and Titchmarsh; Brancey Brook, Titchmarsh Nature Reserve and Thorpe Waterville; Three Hills, Kinewell Nature Reserve and Great Addington; Kinewell Lake, Woodford and Denford; Woodford Shrubbery and Thrapston; The Linches and Wadenhoe; Bullicks Wood and Lowick; Skulking Dudley Copse and Clopton; Titchmarsh Lake Reserve; Mallows Cotton, Kinewell Nature Reserve and Ringstead.

One of a range of 'no frills' local walking guide booklets which admirably achieve their objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide focuses on the River Ise near Kettering with nine varied and interesting circular walks, mainly about 6 miles in length.

The walk locations are: Cransley Reservoir and Great Cransley; Ise Triangle - Rothwell, Rushton and Pipewell; Burton Wold, Burton Latimer and Cranford St Andrew; Round House, Great Addington and Little Addington; Clay Dick, Geddington and Brigstock; Furnace Lane, Pytchley and Little Harrowden; Lime tree Avenue, Warkton and Grafton Underwood; Twywell Hills and Dales; Badsaddle Wood, Broughton and Pytchley.

One of a range of 'no frills' local walking guide booklets which admirably achieve their objective of getting you out in the countryside amongst beautiful scenery on carefully chosen routes full of interest. The directions are clear and precise and the pencil drawn sketch maps are particularly attractive as well as practical. This guide focuses on the Nene at Oundle with nine varied and interesting circular walks, mainly about 6 miles in length.

The walk locations are: Watermeadows at Oundle; Ashton Mill, Oundle; Fotheringhay; Colsters and Southwick; Bull Nose Coppice, Polebrook and Barnwell; Willow Brook, Fotheringhay and Woodnewton; Clopton Bridge and Thurning; Barnwell Park, Oundle; Broadway Corner, Polebrook and Hemington.

Purchase this set of three 'Walking Close to' series guides and save on postage costs. The set comprises:

Walking Close to Oundle

Walking close to Kettering

Walking Close to Thrapston

Purchase this set of four 'Walking Close to' series guides and save on postage costs. The set comprises:

Walking Close to Northampton

Walking close to Wellingborough

Walking Close to Daventry

Walking Close to Bedford

The thirty walks in this all-colour guide combine some of the most beautiful scenery in Northamptonshire with the opportunity to enjoy a meal and a drink in a good local pub. All the strolls are 4 miles or under in length and are suitable for families and all age groups. There is information about how to get to the start, where to park and places of interest to visit nearby. In addition there are photographs of the pubs and sights along the way, and maps with numbering to match the text for greater clarity.

The book offers a wealth of local places to explore: There is Easton-on-the-Hill with its old limestone houses - more than 40 of them are listed buildings; Twywell, with its recently opened Hills and Dales Country Park; Stoke Bruerne, the best example of a canalside village in the country; Weedon Lois, where there is a bronze plaque memorial to Dame Edith Sitwell depicting intertwined hands of Youth and Age by Henry Moore; Chapel Brampton, once a major staging post for the Irish Mail and whose pub contains Spencer family memorabilia; and Marston Trussell, close to Naseby's battlefield and the scene of a skirmish when retreating Royalists were trapped by Roundheads.

The full walk location list is: Easton-on-the-Hill; Yarwell; Apethorpe; Ashton; Wadenhoe; Twywell; Ringstead; Great Doddington; Mears Ashby; Yardley Hastings; Stoke Bruerne; Cosgrove; Eastcote; Abthorpe; Weston; Aynho; Chacombe; Upper Boddington; Hellidon; Badby; Braunston; Bugbrooke; Great Brington; Chapel Brampton; West Haddon; Lamport; Marston Trussell; Arthingworth; Stoke Albany; Wakerley.

What better way to spend a leisurely few hours than to drive to the countryside, stretch your legs and then visit a good pub for some fine food. The 40 circular routes in this book show how this can be done and take the walker through some of the most beautiful scenery in England.

In Northamptonshire there are walks from Bulwick, with its honey-coloured stone houses and thatched cottages; Stoke Bruerne, along an attractive stretch of the Grand Union Canal; and Walgrave, where the gently rolling landscape is dotted with woods, farms and streams.

Walks in Cambridgeshire include ones at Stilton, which passes the site of an ancient fort and that of an Anglo-Saxon village; Sutton Gault, along the New Bedford River; and Great Chishill, with sweeping views towards Cambridge and beyond.

Leicestershire boasts routes from Croxton Kerrial, over farmland peppered with copses and streams; the picturesque village of Hallaton, which is steeped in ancient tradition; and Dadlington, along a pretty stretch of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch canal. Rutland offers routes from the peaceful hamlet of Exton, which features two beautiful lakes; and from Upper Hambleton, around a circuit of the peninsula jutting out into Rutland Water.

The full walk locations are: Northamptonshire - Sulgrave; Welton; Great Brington; Eastcote; Stoke Bruerne; Sibbertoft; Sutton Bassett; Walgrave; Grendon; Woodford; Wadenhoe; Bulwick. Cambridgeshire - Barnack; Stilton; Leighton Bromswold; Kimbolton; Upwood; Boxworth; Barrington; Great Chishill; Hildersham; Fen Ditton; Reach; Sutton Gault; Guyhirn. Leicestershire and Rutland - Exton; Upper Hambleton; Wymondham; Croxton Kerrial; Redmile; Somerby; Hallaton; Grimston; Saddington; Cossington; Swinford; Dadlington; Long Whatton; Shackerstone; Donisthorpe.

If you've ever wondered where to walk, or what to see, while walking in Northamptonshire with children, this is the book for you. Go on the walks in this book and you'll find giant rabbit warrens; baby pelicans; a golden cockerel; wattle and daub walls; apricot trees; a house from 'The Wind in The Willows' and much more. The 20 short walks are each presented in the form of a treasure hunt and observation game with questions to be answered and points to be scored on the history, fine scenery and excellent walking to be found in the area. Each walk starts from a playing field or recreation area and has suggestions for refreshment stops to keep the whole family going. There are clear route instructions for the grown-ups and loads of info for everybody.

The walk locations are: Oundle; Brigstock; Great Addington; Castle Ashby; Stoke Bruerne; Pattishall; Silverstone; Aynho; Middleton Cheney; Boddington; Fawsley; Flore; Brixworth; West Haddon; Barby; Welford; Arthingworth; East Carlton; Wakerley; Yarwell.

Judy Smith has five children of her own and has lived in Northamptonshire for many years. She is the Parish Path Warden for Great Addington and an active member of the Ramblers' Association.