The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 7.45 miles (11.99km)
Time to walk: Roughly 3 1/4 hours
Difficulty: Flat & mainly across arable fields so may be a bit muddy in winter. There are several stiles which your dogs will need lifting over
Parking: Carefully & considerately on the road near the Knightley Arms
Public toilets: The Knightley Arms at the start & end of the walk
Map of the route:
This is the second walk that we’ve started from the lovely village of Yelvertoft, the other being Walk 102 the Yelvertoft & Crick Circular. There are so many public footpaths in this area to explore &, as we’ve never covered the village of Clay Coton we decided to head in a different direction
Yelvertoft is a very friendly village & you’ll always get a warm welcome. It’s thought the name of the village derives from ‘homestead of a man called Geldfrith’. It’s a beautiful place where 19th century cottages sit alongside Georgian farmhouses. Agriculture is still the main industry & the four main lanes that run at right angles to the main street are reminders of long-past farmers…Ward’s, Tarry’s, Swinnerton’s & Ashwell’s
The Canal, as we’ll see, passes close by & brought a lot of trade
We dispatched 003.5 with a route to follow & report back
Shall we get going?
Let’s Walk!
1. Facing the Knightley Arms turn right & walk along the street…
…passing the wonderful Reading Room & village pump
Their website tells us “The first formal school in Yelvertoft was in the Reading Room & it opened in October 1711.It was instigated by, and specially built by Richard Ashby who gave £100 “towards the intent and purpose to initiate, bring up and rear poor children for the time being of the Parish of Yelvertoft in school learning and literature”
2. Enter the churchyard & make your way to the left side of All Saints Church…
If it’s open go inside & have a look at On the opposite wall in the sanctuary is a three-seat sedilia, where clergy, priest, deacon sub & deacon were seated during the liturgy. The columns separating the seats have incision marks on them
A local story says the incisions were caused by Cromwell’s soldiers during the Civil War & that they used the sedilia to sharpen their swords before the Battle of Naseby, about 5 miles from Yelvertoft
3. Pass through the gate on the other side of the churchyard & turn right down the lane…
At the junction in the picture below turn left…
& walk along the wide verge to the canal bridge
4. Bear left down to the canal & continue along the canal path – don’t go under the bridge…
You’re now going to spend quite a time walking along the canal path, which is grassy, so relax & enjoy the jewels we have in Northamptonshire
5. Just keep following the canal after starting at Bridge 19 you’ll go under bridge after bridge, including No. 26 below…
Finally you’ll arrive at Bridge 30. Don’t go under it go left but immediately left again to retrace your route back under the A14 trunk bridge…
6. At the gap follow the right field edge….
…As the A14 comes into view at the end of the hedge, bear diagonally left towards the wind farm. The farmer, even at this time of year, has marked the path well
7. At the end pass through the gap and head directly opposite…
On reaching the other side of the field pass through & continue ahead…
8. Don’t go through the gate, but instead turn right & keep the hedge on your left…
At the other side of the field cross over the bridge & follow the field edge with the hedge on your left…
9. Tucked in the hedge at top is another bridge to climb over…
Head directly opposite & cross over the stiles…
10. Continue with the hedge on your left &, when you get to the corner, continue through brambles to the corner…
Continue through the woodland path…
11. When you come out of the woodlands continue in the same direction up the field edge with hedge on your left…
Go through the gap & continue in the same direction…
12. On reaching the corner of hedge head straight towards the village opposite…
Welcome to Clay Coton whose name means ‘Cottages in the clayey district’.
13. With the big houses on your right, pass tennis court, & you’ll come across a stile tucked in the corner…
Climb this & the path now passes through someone’s garden so please be respectful & keep left following the hedge until a further stile takes you out of the garden
14. Opposite you’ll the footpath which takes you through the church yard…
The former medieval church of St. Andrews was built in the 14th century but fell into disuse in the 1950s. It remained empty & derelict for many years, but fortunately was renovated as a private house. The graveyard still has public access. At the time of writing (May 2024) the church is on the market for £1.2m
15. Follow the path over the River Avon which leads to the road…
On reaching the road turn left passing the houses to arrive at the junction
16. Cross the road & go through the gate. Follow the grass bank with the road on your right. The grass bank is part of the flood defence system to protect the village as the Avon does flood
Pass through the gate in the picture below…
…& immediately turn left down a little slope to follow the field edge with the hedge on your left
17. Cross over the bridge & turn left along the gravel track…
Soon you’ll reach another bridge in the picture below…
Don’t cross it. Instead turn immediately right & head across the field to the tree on the corner
18. On arriving at the corner & tree head in the same direction to the bungalow & the start of the village…
Your route out of the field is a small gap in the right corner…
19. Turn right & cross over the bridge over the Avon once more…
On reaching the gravel turn right to reach the road & then continue straight ahead
20. Turn left at the junction & head to the pub to complete the walk…
003.5 also recommends a visit to the local butchers, Squisito Butchers & Provisions. Looking at their website it does look amazing…click on this link
If you get time it’s also worth visiting the wonderful local pocket park with its orchard & lakes plus a great amphitheatre
It’s a cracking little stroll so…
Go Walk!