Fermyn Country Park and Woods

Location - Between Thrapston and Corby

Where to park - Fermyn Country Park car park at SP95248487. For those just wishing to visit Fermyn Woods, parking can be found along Harley Way at SP96048565 and SP96488590 (the “Gliding Club” entrance), please park respectfully and keep the gates clear at all times.

Parking Charge - Yes at the Country Park, no parking charges along Harley Way.

Notable species - Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak, Black Hairstreak, Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary and Small Heath.

Managed by Forestry England the Fermyn Woods complex is one of the most productive butterfly sites in Northamptonshire and is nationally famous as its most sought-after inhabitant, the Purple Emperor, can readily be found “grounded” here. However, while the Purple Emperor is one of the main targets for visiting butterfly enthusiasts there is a lot more to see here and a full day exploring the site will be a very worthwhile one.

For those just visiting to see the Purple Emperors the best places to park are along Harley Way which runs east from the A6116 and heads towards the National Trust’s Lyveden New Bield. The eastern access gate opposite the gliding club (marked as the “Gliding Club Entrance” on the above map) has room on either side for several cars and gives immediate access to the main hard track which runs through Fermyn Wood and across the field down to Lady Wood. If this area is full you can park by the access gate to the west (marked as “Additional Parking” on the above map). The ride south of here also gives access to the wood and a short walk along here will lead you to a clearing which will be covered in the main site guide below.

For those with more time, and those who wish to see more species, the best advice is to park in the car park in Fermyn Country Park which is accessed directly off the A6616 as it goes passed Brigstock. Fermyn Country Park is run by North Northants Council and is a fantastic area to see butterflies. Butterfly Conservation and the local Butterfly Conservation branch (Beds and Northants) also carry out regular work parties here to help conserve the habitats for Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. From the car park head north towards the visitor centre and then follow the hard track to the right which will turn left and head towards a pond (marked “1st Pond” on the below map). When you’ve reached the pond to the right is a grassy area which leads to a plateau with a line of trees on the left. This tree line is a very good spot to look for Green Hairstreaks and the plateau is a good spot to look for Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. Head back to the pond and turn right to continue along the path and as the path turns to the right you’ll see an open area to the left with a butterfly notice board. The area behind this and towards to slopes to the right (SP95458513) is a great place to look for a variety of grassland butterflies during their flight periods. Dingy Skipper and Grizzled Skippers are seen here during the spring and Green Hairstreaks can often be seen here too. At the top of the slopes is the Great Ticket (SP95508514) which is a large area of blackthorn that holds a good population of Black Hairstreaks. You can either walk along the rides that head through this thicket, or you can follow the path as it loops around the outer edge and heads east into the wood. If you take the latter option, you will come across a long thin pond at SP95648504 (marked “2nd Pond” on the map below). This can be a good place to stop and scan the tops of the blackthorns behind as Black Hairstreaks often flit around the tops of these.

From here follow the path east as you leave the Country Park and enter Fermyn Woods itself. Keep an eye on the glades as you follow the path for woodland butterflies and eventually, you will come out at a crossroads (SP96168522). You are now in the realm of the Purple Emperor! Firstly, take a few steps into the middle of the crossroads and turn around to scan the tops of the Oaks you have just come out of as Purple Emperors can often be seen flying around the tops of these, and it can also be a great spot to look for Purple Hairstreaks too. When finished here walk north folllowing the ride and eventually, you’ll come to a clearing. This is the clearing that is mentioned above as the one you come to when you head south from the “Additional Parking” area. It is always worth waiting here for a while as Purple Emperors readily come into this clearing, it is in fact where I saw my first Purple Emperor many years ago! When finished here retrace your steps back to the crossroads, turn left, and follow the ride to the end where you’ll come across a T junction. If you’re in a hurry to see more Purple Emperors turn right and after 50 yards or so turn left and make your way through the wood to get to the main track which runs from the Gliding Club entrance. If you’re not in a hurry turn left at this T junction and follow the grassy ride north. The glades along here can be good for White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillaries. The ride will eventually bear right and then left and will lead you to a more open ride at SP96398574 which is on the main walking footpath route that runs through the wood. While walking along this ride stop for a while and look at the large blackthorns on the left as this is also a good area for Black Hairstreaks. Continue along this ride until you come out onto the road, this is Harley Way. Across the road is the memorial to the Lancaster Bomber known as DV361 EM-V which sadly crashed in the area in December 1944. Turn right from here and follow the road for a short distance (there is no path and is on a slight bend so please take care) and around the corner is the Gliding Club Entrance with no doubt a lot of cars parked in it. Walk passed the access gate to head back into the woods and continue walking along the hard track. Purple Emperors, White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries can be seen all along here. Follow this path all the way through the wood and it will eventually come out the other side.

Keep following the track across the field and into the next woodland. This is the area known as Lady and Souther Wood. Just before you enter the wood check the large patch of Elm on the left for White-letter Hairstreaks. After walking into the wood proper will find yourself in real Purple Emperor territory where groundings can be common. Keep a look out for any large butterflies on the floor as you progress through the wood, and as always don’t forget to look up too. Throughout the whole woodland keep an eye on either side of the tracks for woodland butterflies such as White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries and many of the blackthorns here have Black Hairstreaks on them although you will need binoculars to see them as they can be quite far from the path. After a short walk you will come to a fork in the road. You can either head left or right but, on this occasion, we’ll head right and follow the path looking for more grounded Purple Emperors. There are some nice bends on this path where you can get good views in either direction and by scanning with binoculars you can see any Purple Emperors from quite a distance. Keep walking along the ride heading further south into the wood and eventually the hard track will take a sharp right and after a short distance it will bear right a second time and leave the wood. At this second right-hand bend leave the hard track and turn left off the main track to follow the grassy, bumpier ride to stay in the woods. Follow this as it meanders through the wood until you get to the 1st crossroads at SP97988347. If you’re feeling really adventurous you can head right and take the ride down into the area known as Titchmarsh Woods, retracing your steps back to this point when you’re finished. However, we will take the shorter route and follow the hard track to the left. By sticking to the hard track at this point you can’t go wrong as, after going passed a 2nd crossroads, this will lead you back to the fork in the road you encountered when you first entered the wood. Keep scanning the rides for grounded Purple Emperors and other woodland butterflies, and as always don’t forget to look up! When you get back to the fork, turn right, and follow the hard track back out of Lady Wood and towards Fermyn. If you’re in a hurry, you can take a shortcut at this point as halfway between the two woodlands you will see a footpath heading west diagonally across the field (SP96798493). If you follow this, it will take you to the outer edge of Fermyn Woods and will eventually lead you back to the Fermyn Country Park car park. If you want to explore a bit longer walk back into Fermyn Woods and continue along the path until you reach the obvious right-hand bend at SP96688531. Coming off the hard track to the left are two rides, take the one on the right which will head west through the woods and will bring you out into an open ride. Turn right at the end of this ride and then left after 50 yards or so, and after following this ride will be back at the the crossroads where you came out of when you first came up from the Country Park. Retrace your steps back along this path towards the Country Park and then back to the car park.

Before you leave, go and enjoy a hot or cold drink and a slice of cake in the Skylark café, if you made it all the way around you most definitely would have earned it!

For more information about Fermyn Country Park please see North Northamptonshire Council’s website

For more information about Fermyn Woods please see Forestry England’s website