The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 5.5 miles (8.85km)
Time to walk: Just over a couple of hours
Difficulty: A mixture of surfaces so may be muddy in winter. A couple of hills & also several stiles
Parking: Carefully & considerately on the road by the The Old Red Lion pub or church
Public toilets: The pub, or Dee Cafe, at the start or end, or the Tea Room half way round
Map of the route:
Litchborough is a wonderful Northamptonshire village, the name of which probably means ‘hill with an enclosure’
Click on the community website for all the details at this link
This walk’s all about finding out about another wonderful fact that not many people know exists in Northamptonshire. Shall we go & explore?
Let’s Walk!
1. This Walk starts next door to the Red Lion, at the rather wonderful Dee Cafe, which is great for refreshments at either beginning or end of the walk. And…if you mention you’re a member of Northamptonshire Walks they will kindly give you 10% on Saturdays & Sundays!! (open 9am 5pm)
Facing St Martin’s Church turn right & walk along the road…
Just after the church is the War Memorial
2. Behind the War Memorial is the footpath you need to take. Cross the stile & walk diagonally left as shown by the footpath sign…
This is quite a lovely little path as it winds between some lovely trees…
3. The footpath is well marked here so continue ahead, crossing a couple of stiles & keeping the trees on your right
Cross the next stile & turn immediately right to follow the fence…
4. As the fence ends DO NOT follow the direction of the arrow…
…instead turn immediately left towards the farm
5. Keep the fence on your left until you reach the farm…
On reaching the road, cross straight over & continue on the track opposite, ducking under the gate
6. There’s some amazing views fro here…can you spot the Northampton Lighthouse (the lift tower)?
Keep staight ahead up the hill until the track ends
7. Cross the stile & (in summer) the path ahead is easy to follow towards the trees ahead…
Cross the next stile & also the one opposite
8. You’ll arrive at an interesting stile bridge…
Once you’ve negotiated it, continue in the same direction over a couple more stiles
9. Once over the last stile, the exit fro the last field’s over a stile in the top left corner…
Once at the road turn left & head up the road for a short time, it’s very quiet up here &, if a car does come along, the verge on both sides is wide enough for everyone
10. Just after the bench is a gate & a footpath sign…
Turn left here & head up the hill keeping the hedge on your right…
11. Pass through the gap & continue with the hedge on your right…
Cross the stile & turn immediately right, minding your head under the trees
12. Now turn immediately left, keeping the hedge on your left…
Pass through the gap & continue in the same direction
13. Look for the gap under the big tree in the picture below & pass through it…
Depending on the time of year, the track here isn’t always the easiest to spot. You need to walk diagonally right towards the farm buildings in the corner as in the picture below
14. At the bottom DO NOT go through the gate…
Instead head right through the gap keelping the hedge on your left. This time the farmer had left a clear path
15. Cross over the little track to continue keeping the trees on your left…
Keep to the left side. As the field bends to the right look for a bridge to cross…
16. Once over head towards the trees across the field to the right. On arriving there cross the stile to arrive at the road…
Turn right. Be careful on the road as the cars can move quite quickly along here
17. Now it’s time to discover something unique to Northamptonshire…a memorial stone commemorating the birthplace of radar…
On February 26, 1935, a converted commercial van filled with top secret equipment parked right here where you are standing now
The equipment was connected to some improvised radio antennas previously erected in the field. High-frequency radio waves were beamed out from the nearby British Broadcast Company to a transmitter on Borough Hill in Daventry
When a Handley Page Heyford biplane bomber approached the site, scientists in the van were able to demonstrate for the first time on British soil that radio waves reflected off flying aircraft. This allowed the scientists to detect the plane using the antennas in the field
The memorial marks the spot where Arnold Wilkins & Robert Watson Watt parked their van to carry out the experiment
Just WOW! And Northamptonshire you never stop surprising me
18. To continue the walk cross over the stile on the left & head up towards the left corner of the woods…
At the corner of the woods head slightly right up the hill
19. And, on reaching the top…your reward’s some amazing views! Who said Northamptonshire has no hills?
Cross the field to find your next stile tucked away in the corner
20. Head up towards the house…
On arriving at the brick wall follow it to the end where you’ll find a gate
21. Go through the gate & a small wood to reach the village of Upper Stowe…
We visit Upper Stowe on several of our other walks so please see those for the history & details of the village
Follow the road down the hill to the footpath sign on the left…
At this point you have a choice because on the right up the hill is the Old Dairy Farm with craft shops & an excellent cafe
22. To continue the walk follow the footpath sign on the left as it makes its way back towards the fields…
On reaching the field walk directly opposite to the left corner of the wood…
23. As you start to reach the bottom of the field, look to your right where you’ll see a gap that leads you into the woods…go through that gap!
Cross the little stream & walk through the woods, keeping the fence on your left
24. In the summer the route’s easy to spot. In other seasons, if it’s not, just continue in the same direction that you left the woods by…just follow the telegraph pole line
Go through the gap & continue in the same direction, the telegraph pole lines have switched to your left hand side now…
25. The path arrives at another gap as in the picture below…
Go though it & continue in the same direction to the tree line with another gap. Go through this one too into the next field
26. Now turn immediately right & then left to stay in the field. Keep the hedges on your right & don’t go through the next gap
Soon you’ll see a way marker…
27. Cross the field, following the line of the telegraph poles. On arriving at the edge of the field bear left along the edge
As the hedge ends, turn immediately left & cross the field…
28. Walk up the steps…
…& cross diagonally left across the field edge to the hedge opposite. Pass through the gap next to the big tree
29. Continue in the same direction towards the right of the small industrial estate…
Cross the stile & follow the line of the fence
30. Cross the next stile & go through the gap in the top right corner of the playing field
There’s just one final stile to get over. Once you’ve done it turn right towards the church & Dee Cafe where this walk started (don’t forget your discount!)…
So that’s it….
Northamptonshire never fail to keep throwing up so many surprises for me. The Glenn Miller Memorial & now this….the Birth of Radar
Who knows what’s next
Go Walk!