The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.63km)
Time to walk: Roughly 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty: Mainly on tracks & across grassy fields. Lots of stiles & therefore not suitable for large dogs that need to be lifted
Parking: Carefully & considerately on the street in Crick, near the Co-op in the High St, postcode NN6 7TS
Public toilets: Pubs in Crick
Map of the route:
We already have two walks that touch lovely Crick. Firstly Walk 78: Crick Village & Walk 102: Yelvertoft & Crick Circular. This walk would be a great one to combine with the Village Walk as it starts virtually in the same place!
Crick lies close to the border with Warwickshire, six miles east of Rugby & 14 miles northwest of Northampton. It takes its name from the Brittonic Celtic word for “hill,” “cruc”. The Grand Union Canal also passes through the village although much of it’s underneath in a tunnel
There are 48 listed properties in the Parish & the village walk will tell you about many of them
I’d heard there was a Deer Park close to Crick, so designed a route that took it in. 003.5 was then dispatched to stealthily move as only he can to investigate
Let’s Walk!
1. This short walk starts right in the centre of the village right outside the (recommended) Wheatsheaf, which also has excellent accommodation…
Thanks to Vicky White for the following history of the Wheatsheaf…
“The first recorded reference of the Wheatsheaf was in 1770 when a licence was guaranteed at a price of £10 by Thomas Kilworth, another Crick publican to John Cooper the landlord.
The original building was constructed of stone with a thatched roof. On 4th October 1886 the roof was partially destroyed by a fire that started in the kitchen. It’s reputed to have underground tunnels linking it with the church.
In the early 20th century it was used as a posting house as part of the relay service for delivering mail across the country by horses. Until the early 1960’s the pub was a popular meeting point for the Pytchley Hunt. However after the opening of the nearby M1, it was deemed that this was too dangerous to continue”
Facing the Wheatsheaf turn around & walk past the High Street past the Co-op & down to the T-Junction. The High Street was part of a medieval road known as the Oxford Way running between Oxford & Lincoln. Many of the houses along here are at least 350 years old (see the Village Walk for details on many of them)
2. At the T-Junction turn left up Lauds Road…
…& then right at the island. Apparently the grass area used to be larger & was used for Maypole Dancing on May Day
3. At No.35 follow the footpath sign which leads to a grass path…
This, as the sign tells you, is a footpath to West Haddon…
4. After crossing a couple of early stiles, the narrow path widens out into a larger track & starts to head uphill…
Pass through the metal gate into the field. Now bear diagonally left, as in the picture below, towards the top right corner
5. Once in the corner, cross the stile (below) & follow the well-trodden path, keeping the hedge on your right
The stiles are coming thick & fast now (this walk may be challenging the East Haddon one for the ‘Grand National title!). Cross the next one…
…& continue up the hill passing the Deer Park
6. Hopefully when you do this walk the deer will be a lot closer as they are magnificent…
At the top head away from the deer & through a little woodland…
7. Now follow the field edge keeping the hedge on your right…
… passing through the gap at the top. The path here is quite narrow as it now follows the fence line of the paddock
8. On arriving at the next gap, walk through it & head diagonally left towards the farm buildings…
Continue through the gate & keep going keeping the hedge on your left
9. Eventually you’ll arrive at a crossroads. In front of you is Park End Farming which has a farm shop…
There’s also a nearby sign to a tea room which is up & across the main road. If you decide to partake of refreshments just return to this point afterwards to continue the walk by bearing left up the track. There is a fingerpost poking out from above the hedge in the picture below…
10. Follow this track, which is accessible to cars so be alert, all the way to the main road, ignoring all the paths going off to the left & right…
On reaching the junction, cross the road very carefully & continue ahead on the much quieter road opposite
11. Carry on along this road &, as it bends right, turn left into the field at the footpath post…
Once in the field bear diagonally left to the middle of the two big trees in the picture below…
As you get towards the bottom the fishing lakes come into view
12. Go through the gap in the hedge & walk down towards the bungalow…
Cross the fence & bridge in the picture below & continue opposite with the lakes on your left & bungalow on your right
13. At the next hedge cross the stile & keep straight ahead…
The good news is, at the next hedge, there’s no stile! Cross the bridge & walk diagonally left down the hill…
14. And just when you thought the stiles might have ended….at the next hedge there’s a double one to be negotiated!
This is beginning to be a bit of an assault course as the next one’s a bit of a climb so watch your step…Cross it & bear right…
…passing the swing…go on, you know you want to have a go!
15. Continue in the same direction & climb the next stile & then cross the bridge in the hedge just after…
Once over the bridge walk left towards the wind turbines
16. On reaching the next hedge, you’ll find another double stile, but the good news is this is this is the penultimate one…
Walk along the side of the fence…
…& cross the final stile near the entrance to the garden centre
17. Carefully cross the road & walk over the road bridge with the canal underneath…
Continue along the hard surface, passing between the gates…
18. Pass the village post office & store on your left…
Continue ahead, passing the Red Lion to arrive back at the Wheatsheaf where we began this excellent walk
So that’s it & we hope you enjoyed the stile assault course of this super short walk. Now if you fancy exploring Crick further, why not try out our excellent Village Walk which will give you all the history & tales of the properties…see this link
Go Walk!