The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 7.5 miles (12.07km)
Time to walk: Roughly three & a half hours
Difficulty: A variety of surfaces. There are some hills & some of those are quite big
Parking: Carefully & considerately on the road in Lutton
Public toilets: None…so hold on!!
Map of the route:
I bet you’ve never heard of the small village of Lutton, which lies close to the border with Cambridgeshire. This is an amazing walk which does cross the border, but wait until you see where we’re taking you
It’s a walk that’s littered with the sites of deserted medieval villages & also it’s one of the most peaceful walks you’ll ever do
003.5 was sent out with a mission to report back. He was slightly worried about crossing the border, but was pleased to learn he ‘would return’
The name Lutton means ‘Farmstead by a pool” & it’s also known by its alternative name ‘Luddington in the Brook’. There were once three pubs, a shop & a school here, but they’re all now long gone
1. This walk starts outside the church of St Peter’s. It stands on the highest point of the village & is thought to have been the site of pagan worship for centuries…
The church you see before you today dates back to the 11th century, but there have been many alterations over the years & the tower is 15th century
2. Facing the church head left along the road towards Polebrook. As the road bends left, follow the black fingerpost to the right & go through the wooden gate…
3. Walk up the grassy hill towards the farm…
…& pass through the gate, continuing ahead up the bridleway with fields either side
4. On reaching the marker post, bear slightly left & follow the track down the hill towards the wood…
At the bottom of the hill cross over the bridge & continue up the hill towards the farm
5. As you climb the hill, look out for a gate on the right (in the picture below) & pass through it…
The path across the field heads diagonally left to reach the next gate (below)
6. Walk through the gate to arrive where once was the deserted, medieval village of Papley, with its moated Manor House & fishpond, which is still here. The village was small in size & records show that it was depopulated by the early 16th century
What a beautiful area with the pond & a welcome place for a wander to explore & to try & think of what once stood here
7. Head past Papley cottages (holiday homes) & continue on the bridleway…
…over the cattle grid, ignoring paths going off to the left & right
8. On reaching the crossroads, carry on straight ahead towards Lodge Farm…
Walk through the middle of the farm buildings & head through the gate straight ahead…
9. Once through the gate follow the path across the field. If the path isn’t clear just follow the line of the telegraph poles…
On reaching the other side of the field, pass through the gap below & continue down, keeping the ditch on your left
There are some amazing views around here in all directions & it’s such a peaceful walk
10. Finally, on reaching the bottom corner, cross the bridge & then cross the next one directly opposite…
Once over the second bridge turn immediately right & make your way over the third bridge. Now…climb that hill ahead!!
11. On reaching the top, bear slightly left & continue towards the Ongutein Manor Farm, which comes more into view with every step you take
Pass through the gate…
…to reach the road
12. Turn left & follow it for a short while. Just before the barn on the right, turn right onto the bridleway once more
The bridleway soon splits. Ignore the one going off to the left & continue ahead through the middle of two fields
13. Eventually the path arrives at North Wood.
Across to the right was once another medieval shrunken village…Washingley, which can be visited on the footpath going straight ahead. Washingley was originally a small Anglo-Saxon farming village, centred around the stream. A motte & bailey castle
was built for the Lord’. Today the fish ponds, remain
To continue our walk, cross the ditch & turn left, following the edge of the field with the trees on your right…
This is a pretty part of the walk. Keep following the path around the wood & don’t get tempted to go into it just yet
14. The path bends right & nows the time to keep straight ahead into the woods (as below)
This track will now lead you over two bridges…
15. Once over the second bridge, bear right & head through the gap straight ahead…
The path emerges into the open once more & continues straight up towards the village, keeping the trees on your right
16. In the bottom corner, head left & keep the fence on your right…
Just beside the ‘Pooches Pub’ head through the gate & keep the fence on your right…
17. Go through the gate (below) & walk straight ahead to a further gate behind the tree…
Pass through the next one…
…& follow the grass path into the village of Folksworth – it’s just a flying visit & a chance to see the village pond shortly
18. Enter the village through the final gate & head down the road to the right…
We’re now in Huntingdonshire / Cambridgeshire. At the pond turn left & then shortly after it, on the left hand side of the road’s a footpath sign which takes you up someone’s driveway
19. Now head straight through the paddocks, keeping in a straight line which goes through a few gates…
I told you it was a flying visit, but what an amazing series of paddocks
20. Exit through the last gate…
…& now our path heads down the hill opposite to the left, towards the farm. At the bottom of the field you arrive at the metal gate in the picture below
21. DO NOT go through the metal gate. Instead, just to the left is our route through the wooden gate…
Now follow the field edge, keeping the tree line on your right
22. On reaching the road, cross over & continue the walk through the gate opposite…
Cross over the bridge opposite & turn immediately right through a further gate
23. Now follow the tree line on your right towards the farm at the top of the hill. Across to the right was where the Mott & Bailey once stood.
Once you past the finger marker go straight for a very short time then left up the hill
…& then turn left up the field towards the impressive Manor Farm
24. Just after the farmhouse turn right & head towards some further farm buildings…
After the first barn, turn immediately left & walk between the two barns…
25. Once past them, turn right & then immediately left to be back out in the open fields once more. Ever had the feeling you’re being watched?
Continue along the track towards the Caldecote Wood, which hides an ancient moat & more fishponds, although we won’t see them on this walk…
26. On reaching the woods, continue in the same direction, keeping the trees on your left. At the fingerpost turn right & head up the field edge, with the hedge on your right…
Cross the bridge & turn left, now keeping the hedge on your left
27. The footpath now reaches another road. Cross straight over to pick up the path again on the other side…
Head straight down the hill towards the pylon to arrive at yet another bridge…
28. Cross the bridge…
…& turn immediately left, heading towards the big tree. On reaching the tree turn right & head up the hill with the hedge on your left
29. On reaching the track, cross straight over & into the field. It’s not particularly clear where the path is, but my advice is to walk towards the biggest tree opposite…
…under which you’ll find another bridge
30. Cross the bridge & continue to arrive at a road. Turn left & head into the village. There’s a nice farm shop opposite, which was closed when I did this walk
As the road bends to the right, you’ll start to see the church appear once again where we started this walk from
So that’s it…a stroll around the sites of so many lost villages. It is possibly the most peaceful walk I’ve ever done
Go Walk!