The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 4.1 miles (6.6km)
Time to walk: Just under 2 hours at a steady pace
Difficulty: A mixture of surfaces, including a short stretch of road walking. Some stiles & hills, but nothing too difficult
Parking: Careful on street parking near The Arnold Arms in Barby
Public toilets: The Arnold Arms
Map of the route:
Barby is situated about 5 miles north of Daventry & is located right off the M45 motorway close to the boundary with Warwickshire. The name means ‘Farmstead or village on the hill(s)
The Oxford Canal passes to the west of the village. The other thing we can recommend is the wonderful Garden Nursery
It was time to get this westerly village on the website so 003.5 Richard Parkes was dispatched with the route in hand & told to not get involved with the “inmates”. Shall we see how he got on?
Let’s Walk!
1. Our walk starts by facing The Arnold Arms
Turn right & walk down Rugby Road, passing the Village Store on your right…
2. On reaching the green turn left & continue along the road…
Pass the Church of St Mary on your right & carry on down Rectory Lane. The church dates from Saxon times, the oldest part being a Saxon window west of the south doorway. There have been many newer additions over the years
3. On reaching the junction turn right & walk up the road, with the brick wall on your right
Just past the white cottage, take the footpath & enter the church yard…
4. Leave the church yard by the gate & head down the lane…
On reaching the junction, cross over & walk along Elkington Lane
5. As you leave the houses behind the lane turns more into a track. Keep following this…
…past a memorial bench which has a sad story to tell
6. Shortly you’ll arrive at a fingerpost with multiple options. Our route continues in the same direction, into the fields, keeping the hedge on your left…
On reaching the gap, pass through it
7. Cross the stile in the picture below – this looks like it could get very muddy in the winter!
Walk forward across the field & cross the next stile. Now follow the path around the edge of the field
8. Take a few moments to look at the amazing views…
As you descend the hill you can see our next destination…the Oxford canal
9. Head over a final stile & make your way down to the canal bridge. On the other side of the canal you’ll see the Marina
The Oxford Canal covers 78 miles, linking Oxford with the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury (just north of Coventry) via Banbury & Rugby. Completed in 1790, it connects to the River Thames at Oxford, & links with the Grand Union Canal, which it is combined with for 5 miles between to the villages of Braunston & Napton-on-the-Hill
10. Cross the bridge & walk down to the side of the canal…
This is Bridge 81. Pass under it & continue along the tow path…
Although you can’t see them, on the left are two HM Prisons & a secure Training Centre, which were build here at Onley, the site of a medieval lost village. These are HMP Onley, HMP Rye Hill, & Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre
11. Continue on the canal path until you reach Bridge 78. Pass under the bridge & then take the path up to the road. Now cross over the bridge you’ve just walked under!
Just after the bridge, look for the fingerpost & walk down the steps…
12. Our path continues slightly left to eventually reach a stile & then climbs some steps
At the top of the steps turn right & continue to reach the gate in the picture below…
13. Pass through the gate & walk up the gravel track opposite the car park. Here you’ll arrive at a very busy fishing lake…
Go through the car park & along the track towards the farm buildings
14. Look for the footpath sign. As you can see from the picture below, access hasn’t been granted, so it’s a case of getting carefully through the fence…there is a small gate to the left that can be used although this is sometimes locked
Now head down the road side in the distance to your right, passing the way marker above your head
15. Exit the field through the gate in the picture below…
Now turn left & walk carefully along the road
16. At the junction carry on up the hill into the village, being very careful as some cars move quite fast along here. It’s also quite an uphill climb…
…to enter the village once more
At the top of the hill you’ll see The Arnold Arms again
So that’s it…our 4 mile stroll in the far west of the County. It’s a very varied walk with lots to see so…
Go Walk!