Brixworth Country Park

Park

Explorer Tom

Brixworth Country Park gives Northamptonshire walkers three neat trails beside Pitsford Water, plus the temptation of a much longer circuit around the reservoir. I set off on the shortest walk and announced a heroic expedition. The kestrels declined to provide a brass band for my return. West Northamptonshire Council runs the park off Northampton Road, near Brixworth village. Its marked walking routes are named for kestrel, lapwing and skylark, with the shortest about half a mile and the longest a little over a mile. The paths are hard surfaced, with regular seats and resting places, making a relaxed visit possible without committing to the full reservoir loop. The park is free to enter and open throughout the day, though its car park and facilities keep separate times. For a longer outing, the council describes a seven-and-a-half-mile circuit of Pitsford Water for walkers and cyclists. Take the broad water and open sky as the reward, and share the path courteously; cyclists are asked to slow and give way to people on foot. The bird names on the short trails are an invitation to look and listen, not a promise that a skylark will sing to order. Mine submitted its performance request in invisible ink. There are toilets, a café and a play area, but check their current availability before building a whole day around them. Dogs can have different rules in the country park and on the land around the reservoir; the council asks for leads around Pitsford Water to protect wildlife. Bring your litter home. Pick the route that suits your energy, then let the reservoir persuade you to stay a little longer.