The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 8.5 miles (13.67 km)
Time to walk: Roughly 4 hours
Difficulty: A long walk. but fairly flat. There are lots of stiles, which you’ll need to lift your dogs over
Parking: Carefully on the road in Greens Norton
Public toilets: The Butchers Arms at the start & end of this walk
Map of the route:
We’ve already done a Village Walk around Greens Norton. It’s the fab Walk 68 & it could easily be combined with this one at the beginning or end
Laying roughly a mile north-west of Towcester, Greens Norton was originally known as simply ‘Norton’ & was a royal domain of Edward the Confessor & later William the Conqueror. In the 14th century the whole village was sold to Sir Henry de Grene for a total of 20 shillings, hence the name Grene’s Norton, which today was modernised to just Greens Norton
The last person of that family died in 1506. He was the grandfather of Catherine Parr, who was to marry Henry VIII
‘Norton’ is a very common village name, which basically means ‘north of’
I initially did this walk (with both my Westies) before starting this website & always remembered it as a lovely stroll. I therefore gave the route to 003.5 & told him to report back
Let’s Walk!
1. This walk starts right in the middle of the village outside the Butcher’s Arms which is another pub that was rescued & brought back to life by a group of local people
Facing the pub, turn left & walk past the village store, turning right into Bradden Road. After about 50 yards, take the footpath on the left beside the brick wall…
2. Cross the road onto the other footpath, heading in the same direction…
…passing through the kissing gate in the picture below…
3. Now head diagonally right through another gate & then quickly followed by a metal gate. Continue to another metal gate leading onto a lane…
4. Cross the lane & enter the paddock…
…heading diagonally opposite to find a stile in the corner. Cross the stile & then walk towards the shelter in the picture below
5. Cross the stile next to it. Enter the next paddock directly opposite through the kissing gate below & continue ahead, keeping the fence on your left…
At the end of the field go through the gate below & continue along the path into the woods…
6. On reaching the end of the woods, bear right…
…to reach a gate & stile…
7. Pass through either & continue ahead, crossing the bridge in the picture below…
Note the directional arrow, showing you that the path now heads diagonally right to the top corner of the field where you’ll find a double stile…
8. Cross this & head away from the tree line to a gate almost opposite in the right hedge. Go through the gate & over the bridge…
Now walk to the top left corner of the next field, ignoring the first gate you pass on your left. Keep going to the far corner where there’s another gate…
9. Go through the gate above & walk over the track, continuing in the same direction. When Richard did this walk in early summer, the weeds were really tall & he was glad he didn’t have shorts on so beware!
The exit from the jungle is through the gate in the top line of trees…Now cross the double stile…
…& head round the field, keeping the fence & then hedgerows on your left
10. Eventually you’ll arrive at another double stile in the picture below. Cross this & now head to the top left corner where you see the welcome sight of the village of Bradden
Exit the field via the double metal gate. Welcome to Bradden!
11. Bradden means “Broad valley” & is a beautiful small village with lots of properties built of Northamptonshire stone. Evidence shows there has been a settlement here going back many years
Turn right down the lane…
12. At the top of the lane turn right, passing Bradden Lodge…
…& then follow the road round, passing some stunning properties (Richard wondered which one was mine 🙂 )
13. On the left’s Bradden House which was traditionally the site of a manor house of the Knights Hospitallers who held land in Bradden. The existing building certainly incorporates a late medieval structure…
Continue past the local flower stall…
14. Next up on the left’s St Michael’s Church which, apart from the tower, was rebuilt in 1850
Carry on up the hill ahead. As the road bends right at the top of the hill, take the footpath on the left (see below), which runs around the side of the farm buildings
15. When the path ends continue along the track in the same direction…
There are some beautiful views from here
16. Just before the telegraph pole is our footpath which heads right, down towards the grey farm building. At the time of this walk it was opposite the log in the picture below – obviously there’s no guarantee that the log will be there when you do this walk!
At this time of the year the path was very clear – a big thank you to the farmer! It may not be as clear at other times of the year so just head for that barn…
17. Just after the grey barn, head up the gallops, keeping the hedge on your right…
Are you tempted??? Go on….you know know you want to!
18. Follow the gallop round &, at the top, you’ll see the marker post (below) showing the way along the woodland path…
Enter the woods. The exit is through the gate is in the top right corner
19. Keep the fence on your right as you head down the hill…
Cross the bridge & go through the gate. Now walk up the hill…your line is to the right of the telegraph pole
20. Walk past the telegraph pole & through the gap in the hedge in the picture below…
Cross the double stile & enter the next field through the gate to your right. Follow the field edge to the left until you reach the next double stile
21. Go over this & continue directly opposite, following the direction of the way marker on the telegraph pole in front of you. The area you’re walking in now was once the site of the medieval village of Kirby
Pass through the double gate & follow the line of the fence on your right…
22. Bear right over the bridge…
…& now head left around the next field, passing the gate in the picture below & continuing to the end of the field. Now walk through the trees & go left along the track
As you can see…there’s a swing here waiting for Elaine!
23. Just after the swing, head right to the top left of the field & go through the gate…
Now…again the path at this time of year is clear, but in winter when it might not be, head left towards the village…
24. You might find the smell around here makes you walk a bit quicker as you’re now passing the local sewerage farm. Carry on over the track, heading diagonally towards the playing fields…
At the end, go through the gate, passing the park & basketball area…
25. Exit through the gate & walk down to the road…Welcome to Blakesley…
The name “Blakesley” is generally thought to mean “Woodland or clearing of man called Blaecwulf (Black Wolf)”
26. On reaching the road, turn right past the village store…
And then turn right at the village green
27. Now cross straight over the road, past the post box into Church Street…
Richard loved this street…
28. Pass Sycamore Farm on your right….
…& then the Reading Room on your left
29. You now pass St Mary’s church, which dates back to the 13th century, although many improvements have been made over the years…
Continue to follow the road. Just before the cemetery, turn right up the driveway & walk towards the houses…
30. On reaching the house, follow the grass path beside it, which leads us through a couple of metal gates…
Once you reach the track, bear left down the hill…
31. At the end go through the gate & then continue straight up the hill in the same direction…
At the top of the hill pass through the double gates & keep going in the same direction
32. Eventually you’ll reach the edge of the field. In the left corner you’ll find the gate in the picture below
As you can see from the picture below, there are two clearly marked paths. At different times of the year these might not be so obvious. Our path is the left one, towards the hedge & a gap under a tree…
33. Once through the gap, the next field didn’t have the clearest of paths, but the line is straight ahead, to the left of the farm in the distance
Finally at the bottom of the hill go through a gate & then the one opposite after a few steps
34. Continue straight ahead, still aiming for the gate to the left of the farmhouse…
Go through the gates…
…& then turn right at the farm buildings in the picture below, to join the Knightley Way. The Knightley Way is a 12 mile walking route, which passes through attractive countryside formerly owned by the Knightley family of Fawsley Hall. The walk starts at the village of Badby & finishes at the village of Greens Norton near to Towcester
35. After the gate take the right track…
…& then on reaching the first barn, turn right through a further gate
36. Follow the track…
…& then pass through the double gate & continue along the very attractive, tree-lined track
37. Now walk through the gate complex. You’re heading across the next field, in the picture below. keeping near the fence on the left side
At the end of the field, go through the next gate & head directly opposite to the tree line
38. On reaching the tree line, turn right & continue with the trees on your left…
In the corner you’ll find a gate which leads you over a bridge
39. After going through the gate, bear left along the track…
…to continue through another one, heading towards the farmhouse
40. This walk is all about going through gates at the moment! Walk through the one in the picture below…
…& then through the next one on your left
41. Now bear right, passing through the small gate in the picture below…
Now follow the field edge, keeping the tree line on your right
42. Shortly you’ll arrive at a track. Cross this & go through the gap…
Now follow the path round to the right & up the hill, keeping the hedge on your right
Other paths come & go along here, but just continue with the hedge on your right
43. Pass through the gap…
…& keep straight ahead across the last field to the houses at the bottom
44. Exit the field to the right of the White House…
At the road turn left & walk into the village…
…to arrive back at the Butchers Arms where we started this walk
When I first did this walk many years ago it was when I had the two Westies & I absolutely loved it. What did 003.5 think? Well here’s his summary…
“WOW WOW WOW what a walk”…..I think he liked it then & hope you do too
Go Walk!