Geo-Trips :: Following the M1
Northampton
A drive from Luton, Sun, 9 Oct 2022 by David Howard
As the days get shorter I found a patch between Bedford and Northampton I hadn't covered, so planned one route there and a parallel route back. Firstly the motorway exit for Toddington is signed in advance, which simply sends you directly to the services. Luckily it was not only a spot I hadn't got but had two squares either side of them so a useful misdirection. The road from Bedford to Warrington was impossible to reach from the area and meant ending up in Milton Keynes to join the A509 instead, which still covered new territory between the two points, sending me to Cranfield as the signs to Newport Pagnell fizzled out and turned out reappeared a junction beyond the one for Cranfield. I only waste my time with a GPS if I literally don't know where I am, otherwise I work it out and allow for corrections.
Once I reached Northampton I had plenty of time to cover as much of the east as possible before returning on the planned route back to Bedford and returned on the A6.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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Cranfield Road, Salford
This is the first time I have seen a teardrop shaped island.
Junction on Cranfield Road
On the southern edge of the airport.
Houses on Broughton Road, Salford
Bedford Road East at the End of Yardley Road
Watersmeet at the junction of Rushmere Road
The waters are the River Nene running nearby.
Closed public toilets in Abington Park, Northampton
Electricity transformers in Abington Park, Northampton
Ecton Brook Road at the junction of Great Billing Way
The entrance to Great Billing Sewage Works
There is a group on Flickr for these if anyone wants to add some.
View across Whiston
St Mary's Church from Whiston Road.
M1 Toddington northbound services
The sign saying keep left for J12 for Flitwick actually points you here. It... more
M1 Toddington northbound services
M1 Toddington northbound services
Yardley Road at the end of Winterbottom Way
The estate on the left was a field until fairly recently.
Industrial unit on Yardley Road, Olney
Houses on Booth Lane South, Northampton
Community hall on Booth Lane South, Northampton
Birchfield Road East at the junction of Hervey Close
Briton Road at the junction of Wellingborough Road
Briton Road looking towards Norman Road
Houses on Norman Road, Northampton
Birchfield Road East, Northampton
New houses on Birchfield Road East, Northampton
These were built by Bellway in 2012
Fishponds Road, Little Billing
Ecton Brook Road, Great Billing
The end of Ecton Brook Road, Great Billing
The Brook is at the end.
Central Stores, Turvey
Notice they still have their original three figure phone number on the sign.
Field entrance by Bedford Road, Turvey
Bedford Road between Turvey and Bromham
Parking area on Bedford Road between Turvey and Bromham
New houses under construction on Broughton Road, Milton Keynes
The area is expanding into this field in the last year.
Broughton Road, Milton Keynes
The field appears ready for more housing. Looking towards Walton High School.
New houses on Broughton Road, Milton Keynes
They are almost finished. They look quite nice but could do with front gardens,... more
New houses on Fen Street, Broughton
These have just been finished and at least have some front gardens.
New houses on Fen Street, Broughton
The entrance to Olney Green Burial Park
Westoria Court, Westoning
Here is an earlier visit. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5060166
Sampshill Road, Westoning
From Park Road
Houses on Sandhill Close, Millbrook
Rushmere Road, Northampton
Looking towards the sports field.
Rushmere Road at the junction of Billing Road East
Willow tree on Cranfield Road, Salford
Roundabout at the entrance to Cranfield University
The Ridgmont Bypass
Running alongside the M1
Bungalow on Salford Road, Hulcote
Broughton Road leaving Salford
Heading to Broughton and Milton Keynes
Bedford Road, Brafield-on-the-Green
Brafield-on-the-Green Working Mens Club
Bedford Road, Brafield-on-the-Green
Parking area on Bedford Road, Great Houghton
Parking area on Bedford Road, Great Houghton
Great Billing Road, Northampton
Wellingborough Road, Northampton
Power lines on Brafield Road, Lower End
Brafield Road entering Cogenhoe
Brafield Road, Cogenhoe
The village hall is on the right.
Cogenhoe and Whiston Village Hall
Houses on Whiston Road, Cogenhoe
Field and woods by Whiston Road, Cogenhoe
Field and woods by Whiston Road, Cogenhoe
Pylon by Station Road, Grendon
Houses off Manor Road, Grendon
Junction on Easton Way, Easton Maudit
Layby on Northampton Road, Lavendon
St Michael's Church, Lavendon
Dedicated to the patron saint of clothing, possibly.
Sheep pasture in Cold Brayfield
Sheep pasture by the River Great Ouse, Cold Brayfield
The river is on the right behind the trees.
Field by Bridge Road, Cold Brayfield
The bridge is just on the left, crossing the Great Ouse into Turvey.
Layby on Bridge Road, Cold Brayfield
Turvey Bridge crossing the Great Ouse can be seen at the end.
Conifers on Northampton Road, Bromham
Houses on Northampton Road, Bromham
New Bedford Road, Luton
The backs of the houses are on Austin Road.
Houses on New Bedford Road, Luton
I've been here before. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6675865 They have been... more
Steppingley Road, Flitwick
Flitwick Day Nursery is on the left.
Houses on Dunstable Road, Flitwick
The fence panels have just been added, replacing railings.
Woburn Road, Millbrook
Millbrook Golf Club is on the right.
Woods by Center Parc, Millbrook
Little Billing Way, Northampton
Manorfield Road, Little Billing
Manorfield Road, Little Billing
Woodland by Easton Way, Grendon
The trees are by Grendon Brook which the road is crossing.
St Mary's Church, Easton Maudit
Cul-de-sac in Easton Maudit
This is off the main road and probably has the same postal name for Easton Way.
The entrance to The Piggery, Easton Maudit
The Piggery is now a small industrial site.
Easton Lane crossing the A509 Bozeat bypass
London Road, Bozeat
At the junction of Hensmans Lane.
All images © David Howard and available under a Creative Commons licence .