Northamptonshire offers more than enough to fill a long weekend, writes Clare Smith

Being nestled between several other rather pretty counties like Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, Northamptonshire is often overlooked and underappreciated as a retreat destination.

A sniff of warm weather sees a migration of urbanites to the south coast to enjoy some downtime by the sea, or to the villages of the aforementioned Shires. It is a difficult impulse to ignore, but breaking these holidaying habits and heading further northwards to Northamptonshire instead can offer a different sort of tranquility.

The kidney shaped county is a large area of green, landlocked lowlands, situated almost exactly in the centre of England.

The scenery, for that is its predominant draw, is charming in a manner distinct from the Cotswolds. It is quiet, unpretentious, working countryside noticeably lacking in crowds of tourists and overpriced interior design shops. To say it lacks style though would be to do it a disservice.

Fermynwood Contemporary Art Gallery near Kettering is a fine example of chic local enterprise. Established in 1998, it is a not-for-profit organisation housed within an old water tower that has been lovingly restored into a fantastic exhibition space.

Owners and artists Rosalind Stoddart and Patrick Duerden offer a variety of art courses for adults, such as Lino Printing on September 12 and 13, should you wish to indulge your creativity on a weekend break. If not, the rotation of exhibits here will certainly provide fodder for discussion and thought.

Concerned with engaging gallery-goers with the natural environment, a recent project entitled Tree Listening by Alex Metcalf enabled those curious enough to hear the movement of water within trees in a close-by copse.

Some of the art displayed at the gallery is admittedly difficult for the uninitiated, but this shouldn’t put you off a visit. The garden is spacious and dotted with sculpture that is easy to appreciate. A photo canvas of frosted trees slotted into the surrounding hedge is particularly mesmerising to look at on a warm day.

Also in this area is Fermyn Woods Hall, neighbour of the art gallery and just as picturesque but rather more grand. Of interest perhaps to gastro and sporting tourists, it is a private home situated in 350 acres of parkland and is most famous as the location of the Brigstock horse trials.

The Country House Cookery classes on offer in the kitchens of the hall throughout the year are headed by professional chefs and use local produce and organic lamb and beef reared on the estate.

It is possible to build a long weekend around nothing but peace and quiet in this part of Britain. There are no hills as such to climb, no great city around which to sightsee, no shoreline where you can paddle. It is a landscape that induces rest and contemplation.

Fineshade Woods, which is part of Rockingham Forest near Corby, offers an interesting opportunity to truly test your inner countryside spirit and pass the night in the forest.

The local Forestry Commission, being well ahead of the latest festival trends, has long been offering glamping (or glamourous camping) in Far Markham’s area of the woodland. Based on a Danish design and built by local craftsmen, you may stumble across a cluster of timber sleeping shelters on your amble through the forest.

Able to sleep between five and eight people with sleeping bags, the roofed but open sided shelters enable you to truly experience the forest at night. The camping area is equipped with tables, a fire site and compost toilet to make for easy living. Due to their popularity with youth groups and schools, advance booking for the shelters is essential.

If you cast your eyes to the sky you may even catch site of a red kite hovering above the trees. Northamptonshire, and Fineshade Woods in particular, along with the RSPB are championing the return of this endangered bird of prey back into the British countryside.

In the past few decades the UK red kite population has fallen almost to extinction. Considered a pest by the farming community who once shot the birds to protect newborn lambs, a new relationship between these old rivals has been forged and local communities have been educated.

The birds incidentally are too small to carry anything larger than a small rodent, but will circle infant livestock in the hope of snatching the after-birth.

With a distinct forked tail that makes them easy to identify, it is certainly a privilege to spot a red kite. If you are a twitcher at heart then check out the project and shop at the Top Lodge in Fineshade Woods.

If the peace and quiet gets too much, then head towards the village of Silverstone where a hum of revving and vrrrooming carries on the breeze. The world famous racetrack, named after this pretty but uninteresting village, is a draw for motor enthusiasts from all corners of the globe.

Almost a community in itself, the vast Silverstone complex sits on the border between Norhamptonshire and Buckinghamshire.

After an initiation and helmet fitting it’s possible to take to the track with one of the taster packages available to buy. For the truly brave there’s the Formula Silverstone Single-Seater racing car, 1600cc with 140bhp. As sole driver you are in full control.

It has a tiny steering wheel, gear stick on the wrong side, can do 0-60mph in five seconds, and has no speedometer, but it surely provides the most authentic racing thrill short of becoming an F1 ace. The cockpit is tiny and claustrophobic. There is barely room to fidget given the belts that keep you tightly strapped in.

After 20 minutes of following a safety car around the track it's time for the real thing. Racing alongside fellow “experience” purchasers in small groups means the subsequent lapping can get good naturedly competitive.

It takes a phenomenal amount of nerves and concentration to keep the car on the tarmac around the hairpin bends. The sound is deafening as you push the pedal to the floor on the straights.

Coded flags around the track communicate whether it’s safe or not to overtake. The landscape becomes a blur and you develop tunnel vision. Nothing exists except your steering wheel and the road.

Too soon the techies wave chequered flags and the experience is over.

During a post race debrief your times are revealed, your performance analysed and the group champion is congratulated.

Relieved not to have disgraced myself amongst my fellow competitors, (all self confessed petrol heads incidentally) I made a quick exit and went for a lie down. The experience, though exhilarating, was exhausting, and one I shan’t be repeating in a hurry.

For those unwilling to trust their own handling skills there are passenger experiences available and a viewing platform from which to observe the action if even that is too much like hard work.

For a bit of culture, head to the Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton. A modern, bright complex with a choice of two auditoria and subsequently, twice as many shows to choose from, this theatre is an important landmark in the city.

If the spring production of Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web is anything to go by, the quality and style of drama staged here is outstanding. Of particular note is the celebration of English dramatist and theatre director Alan Ayckbourn, whose plays Just Between Ourselves, Private Fears in Public Places and Man of the Moment, are running throughout the summer months.

There is more than enough of on offer in Northamptonshire to fill a long weekend. I’d say give it a try: it makes a change. A rather pleasing one at that.

WHERE TO STAY:

Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa
Whittlebury, near Towcester, NN12 8QH
Standard room from £180 per night, double occupancy.
www.whittleburyhall.co.uk, 01327 857857

THINGS TO DO:

Fermynwoods Contemporary Art Gallery
The Water Tower, Brigstock, Kettering, NN14 3JA
www.fermynwoods.co.uk, 01536 373469

Fermyn Woods Hall
Brigstock, NN14 3JA
www.fermynwoodshall.co.uk, 01536 373227

Fineshade Woods
Near Corby, NN17 3BB
£2 parking charge or free to RSPB members. Open 9am – 7pm daily.
www.forestry.gov.uk/toplodge, 01780 444920

Silverstone Race Track
Single-Seater Racing Experience £169 pp.
www.silverstone.co.uk, 08704 588270

Royal and Derngate Theatre
Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP
www.royalandderngate.co.uk, 01604 624811

Further ideas about what to see and do in Northamptonshire, plus money saving offers:
www.britainonshow.co.uk