The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 6.85 miles (11km)
Time to walk: Roughly 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy walking across a mixture of surfaces. There are quite a lot of stiles on this walk so may be unsuitable for larger dogs
Parking: Carefully on road in Syresham
Public toilets: None
Map of the route:
Thanks to 003.5 Richard Parkes for doing the leg work for me on this one
Syresham lies near Brackley. The village’s name means ‘homestead/village of Sigehere’ or ‘hemmed-in land of Sigehere’
There’s an old Syresham song that shows the spirit of the people who depended on the forests around here for their living…
“Take your seats for Syresham for Syresham’s the place,
Where they never never worry nor fall into disgrace,
Where all the boys are brothers & all the girls are sweet,
If you tumble down in Syresham, they’ll set you on your feet.”
The village always portrays a sense of tranquility, but have a look at the plaque outside the Wesleyan Chapel that commemorates the death of local shoemaker, John Kurde who was burned at the stake in 1557 for his religious beliefs
There be witches in this village
There are several deserted medieval villages nearby, including Astwell near Helmdon & the site of the still standing keep or gatehouse of Astwell Castle
There’s already a village walk here on our website – see this link
Let’s Walk!
1. This walk starts outside the Church of St James the Great…
St James’ dates back to Saxon / Norman times. By the early 13th century it was administered by The Abbey of Leicester who appointed the first vicar in 1210. The Abbey continued in this position until the Reformation. The parish obviously took to the reform church & the renewal of the Catholic faith under Queen Mary led to John Kurde, a Syresham bootmaker, to stand up for his Protestant faith
For this he was condemned to death & burnt at the stake in Northampton
He is the sole Marian martyr in our county
With your back to the church head down the hill towards the village until your reach the junction. Turn left…
2. At the slightly wonky footpath sign turn right…
…& keep following the track as it bends left
3. Continue forward on what is now a grass track which bends left down the side of the barn…
…& then head to the bottom of the field
4. On reaching the gap, pass through & continue in exactly the same direction…
Now walk through another gap & turn immediately left & continue to follow the track, keeping the hedge on your left
5. At the end pass through another gap to continue on the track in the next field…
At the corner turn right which takes you on a grassy path between the field & the woods…
6. At the end of the woods head in the same direction with the fields on your left & a hedgerow on the right…
Cross over the bridge & turn immediately right to follow the right-hand field edge all the way to the gap ignoring a little bridge on your right….
7. Head to the gap passing the big tree…
Immediately after the big tree turn left through the gap & carry on ahead with the hedge on your right…
8. Walk straight on to join a track…
At the little stone mound, turn left alongside the woodland & walk along it
9. Once you reach the corner of the field, keep straight ahead – you are heading directly opposite…
Pass through the gap & turn left. There was some far machinery here
Feeling tired yet?
10. Follow the narrow path…
…&, as it opens up carry on in the same direction
11. Go through another gap & past the house on your right…
It’s all gaps at the moment & also the one opposite . Keep going until your reach the road…
12. Turn left onto the road & then almost immediately go right down the bridleway, keeping the woodlands on your left
At the end of the field go through another gap on the left as you need to continue to follow the woodlands
13. Keep the woods on your left…do not enter them. At the corner go through the gap on the left & keep left still with the trees on your left
As the woods end continue in the same direction. After about 200 metres bear left through the gate
14. Now walk up the hill & go through the gate opposite…
Keep along the track which takes you through a second gate & up the hill
15. Walk through the gap & go diagonally left towards the top left corner, as shown by the sign on the marker post…
Pass through the gate & continue with the tree line on your left
16. You’ll soon arrive at the gate in the picture below. Go through this & the one opposite…
At the corner of the fence continue straight ahead…
…where you’ll find another fence to follow
17. The path reaches a gate which leads onto a road…
Turn right up the hill & please be careful walking on the verge
18. Just after the road signs you’ll find a footpath sign on the left…
Follow this over the stile & the bridge opposite & head towards the houses
19. Cross over the stile & the one next to it…
Now head diagonally left & cross the bridge in the bottom corner
20. Once over the bridge follow the telegraph pole line up the hill…
Continue to follow the lines through the gap down to the edge of the field
21. Pass through the gate in the picture below sitting in a gap in the hedge on the left. Once over it head diagonally towards the furthest telegraph pole
Head past the pole, down the track to the road
22. Turn right & walk along the road…
…& then right again upon reaching the play park
23. Cross the bridge over the Great Ouse. There’s an interesting little sign on it that tells you the source is 1 mile away & the river mouth 142 miles…
On reaching the cottages, bear left in the direction of the footpath sign
24. Immediately go through the gap between the two trees
Cross the stile & walk straight through the middle of the field towards the church…
25. Look for the stile in the left hedge to take you out of the field…
Now continue up the road
26. Climb over the final stile & turn left to arrive back at the church where this walk started
So that’s it. Now…if you didn’t do it before the walk go & do the Syresham Village Walk
Go Walk!