4 miles east of Kettering

One of Grafton Underwood’s singular charms is a stream, running alongside its main street. Because of the stream, most of the ironstone cottages on the west side of the street are approached by their own stone bridge. The parish church of St James, surrounded by meadows and burly chestnut trees, has stood for more than 700 years and is noted for its Norman arcades.

As well as the greystone and thatched cottages of the village proper, there are three farms in the parish - which used to be the heart of Rockingham Forest. The whole area still has many trees and justifies the village’s name. There is a pleasant woodland picnic spot, in Grafton Park Wood, where tables and chairs have been set out.