The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 9.3 miles (14.97km)
Time to walk: Roughly 4.15 hours
Difficulty: Some hills, especially at the end, a mixture of surfaces & several stiles, some of which aren’t dog friendly
Parking: Carefully & considerately in the village or, if buying food & drink, at the Countryman Pub
Public toilets: The Countryman Pub or the cafes & pubs in Braunston
Map of the route:
This is a walk we’ve been looking to get on the website for sometime & therefore the route was given to 003.5 with a mission to achieve. We’ve already visited Staverton on another walk which heads south towards Badby. Braunston features in two of our other walks so this one can also be combined with that village one
Staverton means “Farmstead or village made of stakes” & stands on the watershed from which flows the Rivers Nene, Leam, Avon & Cherwell. The Countryman Pub has won many recent awards
This is a long walk so shall we get going?
Let’s Walk!
1. Facing the Countryman Pub follow the road on the right that enters the village…
On reaching the Green, walk straight ahead. You’re now following the Jurassic Way Long Distance Footpath which runs between Banbury & Stamford
2. There’s some lovely properties along this road…
At the junction continue to walk in the same direction along Braunston Lane
3. At the end of the road leave the village by passing through the gate & continuing on the path…
There’s now lovely views as you head towards Braunston
4. As the hard path ends, follow the field edge in the same direction passing a green bench on your right…
The grass path soon becomes a hard track once more. Keep straight ahead ignoring all the paths going off to the left & right. It’s now pretty much straight all the way to Braunston
5. On reaching the road continue in the same direction…
As the road bends right turn left along the track in the picture below & follow the field edge keeping the hedges on your left at all times…
6. Look for a way marker sign that’s tucked in the hedge after the corner…
Turn at the marker, & head into the woods. At the end, as you leave the woods continue with the trees on your left
7. At the edge of the woods cross the field to the tree in the distance…
Pass through the gate & continue straight head with the hedge on your right
8. On reaching the road please be careful as it’s busy. Cross over & do through the metal gate opposite to follow the track down to the farm…
Passing the farm house, keep to the track as it heads downhill towards Braunston
9. Cross over the bridge & follow what’s become a beautiful track. Head towards the canal…
On the other side’s the Admiral Nelson pub
10. We already several walks around the beautiful village of Braunston & you could easily pick up the Village Walk No. 83
Don’t cross the canal bridge but turn left down the steps & follow the canal left towards Braunston. Don’t go under the bridge
Pass the locks & don’t forget to stop at the Boat Shop, a lovely little shop selling coffee & souvenirs…
11. Suitably refreshed it’s time to continue on the towpath…
…crossing the bridge over one of the entrances into the Marina
12. Carry on ahead towards the wonderful two cast iron bridges 93 & 94 (Again…look at Walk 83 to see the details). Cross over the first one…
…& then under the next to pick up the Oxford Canal
13. Here’s a wonderful ‘turning bridge’ which you find near many of the junctions on the canal system. They’re so called because the horses towing the boat could be untied, taken over the bridge & attached to carry on in the other direction
It’s nice to be next to the canal, as it’s a grass towpath but it can get a bit sticky in places during wet weather…
14. Continue to Bridge 101 where it’s time to leave the canal…
Exit the gate before the bridge & climb the steps
15. Cross the bridge & follow the track up the hill..
At the top the track arrives in the small hamlet of Nethercote
The name Nethercote is thought to have been derived from the Middle English words “nether(e)” meaning “lower” & “cot” meaning cottage. There’s some evidence of a deserted medieval village laying to the south of the modern hamlet
16. Continue in the same direction with the house on your right…
At the next junction turn right & continue towards the village of Flecknoe in the distance
17. At the next junction follow the road round to the right…
…to arrive in Flecknoe where we’ve crossed the border into Warwickshire. The name means ‘Flecca’s Hill’. On the outskirts of the village is a derelict brick building which is attributed to be the remains of a Second World War camp
At the island you could continue to the Edwardian pub called the ‘Old Olive Bush however our walk heads left & out of the village
18. On reaching the junction in the picture below bear right…
…& look for a stile on your left. Cross this & head directly opposite across the large field
19. Now look for a stile to cross in the left bushes by the tree towards the bottom of the field…
Once over head down the field with the hedge on your right & cross the stile at the bottom
20. Almost immediately on the left’s a set of step. Go down & head directly opposite to the edge of the woods…
Once at the waymarker it’s clear where you need to be to cross the bridge opposite
21. Go over the bridge & walk diagonally left to the field edge…
On the other side of the field cross the narrow ‘plank’ & continue in the same direction across the next field
22. Go through the gap & walk slightly diagonally right to the opposite side…
…where hidden in the trees is a bridge to cross
23. Once over the bridge turn left & follow the field edge…
…& at the corner turn right to continue to follow the field on the grass track
24. Ignore the big gap on left & continue to follow the left tree line. Don’t go through any gaps…just continue to the end of the field
At the end of the field turn left & keep the hedges on your right
25. Eventually you’ll arrive at a gate. Cross the stile & turn right…
Go over the next stile & continue up the hill
26. Pass over another stile & carry on up the hill to the very top of the paddock…
Go through the kissing gate to arrive back in Staverton
27. Walk to Croft Lane where you head right & then 1st left into Glenn Lane…
Turn immediately right into Oakham Lane to retrace your footsteps back to the pub
28. At the village green head directly opposite & follow the road as it bends round to the left to arrive back at the Countryman pub
So there we go…9 miles of beautiful countryside with lots of opportunities to link to more of our walks, especially the Braunston Village one
It’s fab so…
Go Walk!