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Nobottle Circle Through Whilton & Muscott

Roman Roads and Victorian Canals

Introduction

This petal based on the Northamptonshire Round joins it on the Duston to Whilton Roman Road at Nobottle. (Map reference 675630 Pathfinder 978 or Explorer 223).  The walk is 15 miles circular for the more discerning walkers.

Nobottle to Brockhall

Leave Nobottle taking the footpath heading NNW crossing fields diagonally to a small unclassified road.  Turn right and in short distance where road turns sharply right pick up footpath to left and follow to join Althorp Estate Drive.  On reaching drive turn left and walk into Little Brington.  Upon reaching road, cross and continue through village passing the Saracens Head pub on your right (.9 miles), until reaching “T” junction. Turn right towards Whilton, cross and immediately take the unmarked but well defined field road running WSW. Continue (Bridle path markers appear after fourth field) to reach a narrow unclassified road, here turn right and follow to Brockhall.

 

Brockhall to Buckby Top Lock

It is worth wandering around the churchyard (3.2 miles) in this delightful old village.  Continue along gated road through pastureland and then onto a firmer track passing cottages on your right to “T” junction. Turn left and follow tarmac road to Muscott.  Pass through farmyard and continue on same track across M1 to reach bridge over the Grand Union Canal.  Turn right follow towpath on right-hand side of canal north until reaching Whilton Locks. (Ice cream, drink etc can be obtained from Whilton Chandlery (5.2 miles) reached by crossing the lock gates).  Continue on towpath up the flight of locks to reach the New Inn (6.7 miles) at Buckby Top Lock.

 
Leave the canal here to join the A5 trunk Road and head North for a few yards, cross with care to pick up footpath by the side of Rye Hill Farm.  Follow this path passing over M1 motorway, (some of the next few fields contain set aside and it is easier to walk the perimeter as the path is often not re-instated). Crossing small concrete road leading to Sewage Works and continue  in same direction until, just before reaching the railway bridge, take left path (doubling back in westerly direction) to pass through hedgerow and cross large field onto bridle path. (In practice as this field is down to grass the path can be picked up at the point where the hedgerow on your left has  left then right 90 degree turns – path is through hedge after second 90 degree turn). Turn right and follow bridle path until reaching the Long Buckby to Watford road at Murcott.  Turn right, follow road under Railway Bridge, through Murcott.(9 miles).

 
Ignore two footpaths to your left, start to climb hill and pass Mill Park Reserve.  Shortly after there is a sign for Lodge Park and Farm, walk about 30 metres along drive and take marked path over style on right of first gateway to pass through young spinney.  At end of field continue on ignoring footpath that leaves on left.  Upon reaching church path turns right and enters churchyard (9.7 miles).  Take left path through churchyard to reach Church Street.****

 
At junction with The Banks turn left, cross road and almost immediately, by end house, pick up footpath.  When this path enters a cul-de-sac walk to the end, cross Pytchley Drive and take short marked footpath opposite that leads into Tebbitt Close.  On reaching The Leys, turn right, cross road, walk uphill, pass Armley Close and enter Towns End.  Leave through jetty at end and turn right to pick up field path.

 
Follow path round field edge to cross style in hedge, ignore paths to left and right take marked path running 45% right (east) across field.  Follow this path, keeping houses on your right and with good views across fields towards West Haddon to reach Cotton End (10.5 miles).

 

****   (As an alternative when reaching the church yard take the right path, turn right into Church Street and into King Street to reach Market Place (or right into West Street to reach the Old Kings Head pub) with Peacock pub and shops. Long Buckby can then be explored.  Leave Market Place either by Church Street to pick up route as before or along High Street (another pub) and then East Street to Cotton End (very edge of village) to rejoin main route.

 
On reaching road at Cotton End turn left and cross to pick up footpath on right by last house.  Follow path until in third field you reach a white disk in the hedgerow.  Turn 90 degrees+ (SSE), and head on a slight right diagonal across the field (probably path not re-instated) to reach gate in hedgerow.  Continue in roughly the same direction with hedgerows on your left, ignore all side paths, until you reach the narrow tarmac road.  Turn left, pass cattle grid, cross small stream and turn right to pass under Railway Bridge (Platford Bridge) (11.9 miles).

 
At gates past Railway Bridge turn left (SE) (path is currently unmarked) and taking a right diagonal cross large field and head for corner.  When reaching hedges the path divides, take left branch and head for Glebe Farm crossing three more fields.     Take gate to right side of farm, ignoring track, continue uphill to exit in field corner.   Carry on in roughly the same direction to pass Thornbarrow Hill eventually reaching the Whilton to Great Brington Road.  Turn left and after a short distance take lane on right shortly passing the rear (car park) entrance to the Althorp Coaching Inn (Fox & Hounds) (13.5 miles).  Alternatively a stroll around the village is pleasant and rewarding particularly a visit to the Church with its Spencer family connections.

 
Continue the walk by leaving the village from the Great to Little Brington Road by Birchfield Farm.  Ignore the path leaving to the left but continue ahead (SE) crossing two fields and then over the Althorp Estate Drive. (Good views of Althorp house and grounds on this section).  After a further three fields the path joins a road to the west side of Harlestone thicket (14.5 miles).  Turn right and on reaching the left hand bend you will recognize this as the small unclassified road section walked at the beginning of the route.  Turn left onto the footpath past the second bend and return to Nobottle.

 

(Mileage is a rough guide only)