The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 4.6 miles (7.43 km)
Time to walk: Roughly 90 minutes
Difficulty: A combination of fields, meadows, tracks & hard pavement walking. There are lots of stiles & not all are dog-friendly. At one point you have to cross the busy A43, but just be careful & wait for your opportunity
Parking: Public car park in Barlow Lane
Public toilets: Pubs in Moulton when open
Map of the route:
This is a really easy walk to follow & very well signposted. The walk also covers some of the paths in the Overstone walk
Let’s Walk!
1. Today’s lovely circular walk starts in the beautiful village of Moulton. I’m not going to go into details about the village on this walk as I’d like you to do my Moulton Village Walk, which covers lots of amazing facts & visits some very beautiful places. Click on this link
We start right in the middle of the village near Stocks Hill & the village shop…
2. Turn round & walk east down Overstone Road…the December sun was playing havoc today
At the junction continue straight ahead…
3. Look for the footpath sign, beside the large tree on the left…
…& walk down the alley, following it as it bends right & left
4. And…just like that…bang! We’re out into the open countryside…
Now we are going to walk in a dead straight line to find “Brew”. Look at those glorious views across the fields
5. There’s lots of new housing building going on to your right, but just keep heading straight. This really is wonderful field walking & the paths weren’t muddy
As mentioned, there are lots of stiles on this walk & not all of them are dog-friendly. This one was & I met a large lab coming through it!
6. Continue across the next meadow to another stile…oh you can walk round that one then
Walk up this meadow & cross yet another stile – there’s some beautiful horses in this field…
7. Look for a stile on the left…
Climb this, turn right & follow the path around the sheds…
8. This is Overstone Grange, well known for pick your own pumpkins, sunflowers & sale of Christmas trees. They looked like they were getting ready for it. Please note that this isn’t the “Brew” caravan cafe’s usual location, but this is where it will be at certain times
Cross the farmyard – it’s really well sign posted
9. On the other side, pass through two gates into the next meadow where there were more horses…
Continue down the hill to yet another stile
10. Look across to the left to see the stunning Overstone Old Rectory…
Cross the bridge & continue up the hill
11. Guess what there is at the top of the hill? Yes…another stile so cross that one & carry on across the next field…
12. So this is Rectory Farm. Be careful at the stile of the electric fence, but exit on to the lane…
…& turn right & walk along to the very busy A43
13. Please, please be very careful crossing the road, but the route to Overstone lies straight ahead along the track…
14. After a short while, near a building, look for the path heading diagonally right across a field. The farmer’s done a great job at keeping the paths clear…
15. On the other side of the field enter the small spinney…
There’s a rather lovely brook in here, which we’ll cross again in Overstone
16. Exit the spinney & walk straight ahead across the next field…
At the top of the hill, walk along the large hedge & exit through the gate into…Overstone
17. At the road turn right – we’re now going to follow this hard path all the way back to Moulton passing some rather lovely houses on the way
Eventually the houses run out. The wall you’re following on the left belongs to the Overstone Estate. If you have a look at that walk it will give you a lot of information about the history
18. Follow the path round & up the hill, crossing over just before the roundabout to continue straight ahead through the bollards…
Ignore the footpath sign that shows the route to Moulton is to the right. It’s not it’s straight on. Have a look over the metal gates on the left to catch sight of the derelict Overstone Hall
19. As the road bends left, our route is straight ahead, but don’t miss the gateway of one of the entrances to Overstone Hall…
Continue straight ahead down the old road…
20. Eventually the path arrives at the new Moulton bypass. Again carefully cross the road & keep straight ahead…
21. Walk up the road to the junction & turn right. Cross straight over into Ashley Lane…
After about 100 yards, look for a gate on the left with a footpath sign to the local nature reserve…
22. Walk through the gate &, after a few yards, walk through the gate on the right into Crowfields Common, a wonderful area which I visited on the Village Walk
Continue straight ahead to the hedge & walk through the gap…
23. In the next area just follow the narrow path as it follows the hedge-line all the way round to the left border & pass through another gap…
24. Keep following the path as it now bends right & heads towards the exit into the village once more…
Walk through the gate & welcome back to Moulton
To return to the Co-op & the start of this walk, follow the lane to the end & turn left
So that’s it…It’s just a stunning little walk all on its own &, if you combine it with my Moulton Village Walk, you could have a full day out!
Go Walk!