Brampton Valley Way
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Brampton Valley Way is a 14 mile (22 km) linear park based on the former railway line between Northampton in Northamptonshire and Market Harborough in Leicestershire in England.
The railway line was closed in 1981 and the 13 mile (21 km) Northamptonshire section was purchased by Northamptonshire County Council with grant aid from the Countryside Commission in 1987, when work began on developing it as a linear park. The 1 mile (2 km) section north of the county boundary is owned by Leicestershire County Council although Northamptonshire County Council undertake the management of the complete route.
The Brampton Valley Way, from Boughton Crossing in Northampton to Little Bowden Crossing in Market Harborough, was opened in the spring of 1993 and provides recreational access for cyclists and walkers. Further developments to enhance access continue alongside everyday management of the site. The Way forms an offroad section of the Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 6.
There are two former railway tunnels on the route, Kelmarsh 322 yards (294 m) and Oxendon, 462 yards (422 m). The tunnels are unlit and so can be quite an experience to travel through, although alternative routes over the tunnels are provided.
A section of the Brampton Valley Way runs adjacent to the Northampton & Lamport Railway. The railway is separated from the linear park by a stout safety fence. As the railway extends, so the fence will be erected first to protect members of the public from the works.
