What to see and do
Northamptonshire's rolling landscapes and endless countryside views have been a source of inspiration for centuries, most notably to former literary residents Charles Dickens and HE Bates, and there are a wealth of activities to provide enjoyment to all who live here or visit.
The M1 motorway runs directly through the county and within 15 minutes of the cottages, so you can easily reach London or Birmingham. Alternatively, you can roam further a field to explore heritage cities like Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick and Stratford.
Whatever you want to do when you visit, Northamptonshire has everything you need to do it.
Down on the farm
East Haddon Grange is a working farm with South Devon cows that are incredibly tame and love being petted by kids and adults alike! The whole family can enjoy the seclusion of the farm and walk the network of footpaths through our 100 acres of land to nearby villages. If you're lucky, you may spot badgers, buzzards and barn owls along the way.
In the area - historic houses and gardens
Althorp House and Grounds
Less than half a mile away from the farm is Althorp House, home to the Spencer family for over 500 years and final resting place of Princess Diana.
www.althorp.comCoton Manor House and Gardens
Regularly used by leading garden photographers and recommended for a visit in Gardener's World ‘Garden Lovers Guide to Britain’.
www.cotonmanor.co.uk78 Derngate
This is a fabulous example of the Art Noveau architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who remodelled the house in 1916.
www.78derngate.org.ukHoldenby House, Gardens and NEW Falconry Centre
Built for entertaining Elizabeth I, Holdenby became the palace of James I and eventually the prison for his son Charles I.
www.holdenby.comCottesbrooke Hall and Gardens:
www.cottesbrookehall.co.ukLamport Hall and Gardens:
www.lamporthall.co.ukCastle Ashby:
www.castleashby.co.ukWalks and countryside
Pack up a picnic, grab a paperback and spend the day relaxing in some of these wonderful parks
- Brixworth Country Park
- Salcey Forest
- Sywell Country Park
- Irchester Country Park
- The Nene Way and The Jurassic Way
Sport and leisure
When it comes to sport and leisure activities you're definitely spoilt for choice. In addition to horse racing at Towcester Race, car and bike races at Silverstone and Rockingham, rugby at the Northampton Saints ground, and cricket at the County Grounds there's also:
- Brampton and Harlestone for golf
- Stoke Bruerne for canal boating excursions
- Pitsford lake for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, raft building and bell boating
- Indoor Karting in Northampton and outdoor at Whilton Locks and Silverstone
- Indoor skydiving at Milton Keynes and Brackley
- Indoor skiing and snowboarding at Xscape in Milton Keynes
- Fishing in numerous reservoirs, lakes and canals
- Cycling and mountain biking
Shopping and further afield
For those who like to wile away a few enjoyable hours shopping, Northamptonshire is full of rural market towns and centres to browse around, including the traditional Victorian-style Heart of the Shires Shopping Village and The Old Dairy Country Shopping and Craft Centre. And if you have a passion for shoes that rivals Imelda Marcos, Northampton has some of the best footwear manufacturers in the world, a fact that the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery pays tribute to with its Life and Sole exhibition of historic footwear.
If you're happy to travel further afield during your stay, why not also try a few of the following:
- Milton Keynes shopping centre and theatre
- London's West End for shopping and shows
- One-day and weekend exhibitions at The NEC, Birmingham and Xcel, London
- The Cotsworlds, Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick and Stratford. Start out early enough and you can take in churches, steam railways, model villages, craft and antique shops, and museums covering local history, Roman Britain, cars, toys and steam trains
For more information and to book a self-catering country cottage, please call us on 07979 661122 or +44 (0) 1604 770368 or email us at enquiries@easthaddongrange.co.uk
