The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 8 miles (12.9km)
Time to walk: To walk without stopping & to explore each village would take roughly 3.5 hours
This walk is designed to encourage people to also undertake the short Aynho & Kings Sutton Village Walks & make a whole day out
Difficulty: Between the villages the paths are mainly across fields. There are a few steep hills plus a couple of stiles & numerous gates
Parking: Carefully & considerately on the street in Charlton. However this walk can be started from each of the three villages
Public toilets: Public Houses in all three villages
Map of the route:
Experience has shown that walks around the edge of the County are visited less often as:
- There’s greater travelling distance
- Some of the walks in this area are shorter & feedback has been people maybe don’t think it’s worth the journey
So if you undertake this walk you can also build in:
- Kings Sutton Village Walk No. 27https://northamptonshirewalks.co.uk/northamptonshire-town-village-walks/walk-27-kings-sutton-village-walka-must-see-southern-northants-village/
- Aynho Village Walk No. 39 which includes the Village Walkhttps://northamptonshirewalks.co.uk/about/walk-39-i-know-i-knowa-walk-around-aynho-apricot-anyone/
This south-western corner of the county, on the border with Oxfordshire, is stunning & the good news is that these walks are unaffected by HS2
Thanks to 003.5 Richard Parkes for doing the leg work for me
Let’s Walk!
1. Our walk starts in the lovely village of Charlton whose name probably means ‘farmstead of the freeman or peasants’
Have a little wander around…you’ll see there’s no church as this was originally half a mile away, across the fields in the now deserted village of Newbottle. Newbottle made the headlines in 1872 when a whirlwind hit it which felled trees, knocked down walls & pulled up water from the pond. It travelled two miles but no-one was hurt
Look at the older houses in the village…many face south & note there’s no windows on their north side to keep the house warm in the days before central heating
Opposite the ‘Rose & Crown’ is a beautiful cottage where once lived F.E. Smith, the first Earl of Birkenhead, lawyer & statesman, a close friend of Winston Churchill & once Lord Chancellor of England. In July every year the village fete is held here & a tennis tournament held. He died in 1930 & his tomb, which was designed by Lutyens is in the cemetery
As you walk around the main street look for blue-brick arched constructions. These provided a pumped water supply
The Rose & Crown is the only surviving pub of four that were once in the village
Take the public footpath in the picture below towards Kings Sutton, passing over a stile & into a paddock…
2. Head across the paddock to the bottom left corner. Here’s a challenge for you as you walk…look in the distance to try & spot 3 church spires in line with each other. First is King’s Sutton, which you’ll visit later & then Bloxham & Adderbury (both in Oxfordshire)
On reaching the corner cross over the bridge & walk up the bank on the opposite side
3. Now follow a well-marked path which cuts through the middle of the next few fields…
Just keep going straight ahead
4. At the gap in the picture below turn right…
…& then turn immediately left. You can see the path across the field which keeps the small, wooded area in the picture on your left
5. Pass through the next gap just after the woods on the left & follow the way marker sign…
At the field edge turn right to follow the track to the corner…
6. On reaching the corner don’t go down the hill. Instead turn right & head up the grass track, keeping the field edge on your right…
At the entrance to the next field head diagonally left to the opposite side. The path is well marked as in the picture below
7. Pass through the gap & continue on the diagonal path towards King Sutton in the distance…
On reaching the next hedge go through the gap & turn immediately right to follow the right-side hedge
8. Now follow the path ahead keeping the fence on your left…
Head up the hill into the village
9. Turn left at the cottages & follow the road…welcome to lovely Kings Sutton
Turn left & then immediately right at the island
10. At the junction bear left & head into the heart of the village, passing a CO-OP on the right…
Next to the CO-OP’s a tearoom which opens Thursday – Saturday
11. The village starts to show its history as you head downhill…
There’s a great many architectural styles in the village, but many of the properties are built of ironstone which was quarried locally until the 1920s. Many were rebuilt after a fire in 1785 which destroyed 40 houses. As you pass through the village look at some of the older houses to see if you can spot some of the remaining fire insurance badges
12. At the junction continue in the same direction by taking the right fork…
…& then turn left into Bull’s Lane
13. On reaching the island in the picture below turn left up the hill…
…to arrive at the Church of St Peter & St Paul. This is the point where our short ‘Village Walk’ around King’s Sutton begins, which will tell you more about the history & properties of the beautiful place
To access the Village Walk click on the link below…
Walk 27: King’s Sutton village walk…a must see southern Northants village
14. In a clever move the telegraph wires in this part of the village were moved underground so as not to interfere with the views. Many people think this is church’s spire is the most elegant in Northamptonshire…
Allegedly the 200 foot high steeple is built of a very thin layer of bricks & I was once told by the vicar that it does sway in high winds
Explore the Green which has several fine properties such as the Inns, the Old Court House & The Jacobean Manor. As with many Northamptonshire Villages, Lacemaking was an occupation of many of the women in the 19th century & girls would attend the lacemaking school in The Square rather than the general school
15. Head across to the White Horse & turn right to follow the road…
A 1746 map shows a ‘malthouse’ called the White Horse, indicating brewing activities on the site dating back to at least then. The existing structure is believed to date back to the 18th century
At the junction with Holland Rise enter the field by the gate & head diagonally across the field towards the bottom left corner
16. Follow the path through the gap…
…crossing over the bridge & walking up the left side hedge up the hill
17. Pass through the next gap & continue diagonally right – see the directional arrow in the picture below
There’s a lot of bridges on this walk so cross the next one & continue to the opposite side of the field
18. Go through the next gap & carry on in the same direction to a further gap opposite…
The route is pretty clear so just continue through another gap towards the bottom right corner
19. Go through yet another gap…
…& now follow the road down the hill left to arrive at a metal gate
20. Climb the stile at the side of the metal gate & continue up the road…
At the top of the lane enter the field through the gate on your right & head opposite
21. Cross another stile & follow the left hedge up the hill – in the direction of the black arrow on the market post
Go through the gap & continue on the path ahead which runs right through the field
22. As you climb up the hill take a few moments to stop & take in the views on all sides…
As you reach the summit of this hill the beautiful village of Aynho comes into view
23. Cross into the next field & carry on in the same direction to the village…
Climb over the large stile & turn right down the road
24. Welcome to Aynho, the ‘Apricot Village’ which is simply a Northamptonshire jewel
The name means ‘Hill spur of a man called Aega’ which is relevant, as it once commanded a medieval castle, which showed it had some importance sitting on the main road from the North Midlands to Oxford. Records exist showing there was a settlement here at the time of Edward the Confessor, although the name has changed several times over the years
In olden days most of the cottages were thatched, but they are now slate. Our village walk is excellent to show you & tell you about the older parts. I’ll put a link to it when this walk reaches the start of it
Look out for the famous old apricot trees grown against lots of the cottages. They’re traditionally grown on high rootstocks to prevent young children from picking the fruit. It’s thought that the fruit was given to the Park House as part payment of rent for the cottage
Follow the main road up the hill to the left…
25. Keep the houses on your left as you climb the hill…
At the top of the hill on the right’s beautiful Aynho Park.
In 1616 Richard Cartwright bought the estate & the family lived at the Park until 1954, when another Richard & his son were both killed in a motor accident. Due to Death Duties the estate had to be broken up in 1959 & the house taken over by the Mutual Household Association
Today it’s an American furniture designer showroom. The conservatory with an American dining experience called Juicers, a Tea Salon & Wine Bar is accessible to all & you can also access the viewing terrace overlooking the deer park
26. Next door, the Church, from the outside looks quite unusual & is worth having a wander around…
Inside it’s full of memorials / tablets to the Cartwright family
Plus it’s also the place where my Aynho walk starts, the first part of which, is a short walk around the village from the Church which contains some amazing history
26. So ready to move on back to Charlton?
Pass the Cartwright Hotel on your left & continue to follow the path along the road…
The Cartwright Hotel was originally known as the Red Lion coaching inn. It has a history intertwined with the Cartwright family & Aynho Park. It was purchased by the Cartwrights in 1615 & eventually became known as the Cartwright Arms. After falling into disrepair, it was renovated & reopened as The Cartwright Hotel in 2008
27. Continue up the street...
Turn left beside No. 33 & follow the road, ignoring all the footpath signs as you pass a recreation ground on the right
28. At the junction with Charlton Road, join the byway directly opposite with some farm buildings on your left
Pass through the gap & continue ahead
29. Follow the byway as it heads downhill, taking time to stop & admire the views all around you…
Finally at the bottom head into the field on your right & keep the hedge on your left
30. At the end of the hedge continue to follow the track as it bends right….
Then, almost immediately, turn left over a grass bridge & follow the left hedge
31. Walk up the bank & bear diagonally right towards a big tree in the distance…
Again the path is very clear
32. Cross into the next field & walk along the edge with the hedge on your right…
Towards the end of the field, go through a gate & continue with the hedge &, soon after, a fence on your left
33. Pass through the gate & walk diagonally left…
Look at the hill to your right. This was the site of ‘Rainsborough Camp’, believed to date back to the Iron Age, with earth ramparts, held by stone walls 2000 years old, enclosing around six acres. It was also later used by the Romans. If you fancy a quick diversion up the hill parts of the structure can still be seen from the humps & hollows
34. Go through a metal gate & continue in the same direction opposite…
Now go through the wooden gate & head to the bottom right corner of the field to a large wooden gate
Even the sheep love this walk!
35. Go through the gate & follow the left fence line…
Now arrive at a final gate which leads onto the small road. Please be careful as there’s no path
36. Turn left & walk the short distance back into Charlton & the Rose & Crown where this walk started…
So that’s it…a great walk with different options to add in. This is a stunning, hidden part of the County & hopefully this walk will encourage more people to travel to explore it more
Go Walk!