The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 6.75 miles (10.9km)
Time to walk: Roughly 2.5 hours
Difficulty: A fairly flat walk on a mixture of surfaces. There are numerous stiles which dogs will need to be lifted over
Parking: Near the White Hart pub in Great Houghton
Public toilets: The White Hart in Great Houghton & the Red Lion in Brafield
Map of the route:
Someone posted a picture of a very large stile on our Facebook Group & asked “Is this the tallest one in Northamptonshire?”
Well we had to simply write a walk that included it now didn’t we!
This walk starts in the village of Great Houghton. Houghton is a very common name & means ‘farmstead on or near a ridge or hill-spur’
I love St Mary’s church in the village as its spire can be seen from afar, especially if you’re walking around the Washlands. It was built in 1754 & replaced the previous one built in the 13th century
Apparently it sold its bells to the church in Little Houghton to pay for its renovation which gave rise to the rhyme…
“Great Houghton folk, foolish people
Sold their bells to build a steeple”
Let’s Walk!
1. This walk begins facing The White Hart in the centre of the village. The pub dates back to 1715…
Turn right & walk up the road towards the phone box, which also acts as a book lend / swap
2. Turn left into Willow Lane which leads into Willow crescent…
At the very top of the road look for the gap in the picture below. Go through this & turn immediately left
3. On reaching the open field head directly opposite…
…crossing a stile in the hedge & then following the left tree line
4. And here it is!! Carefully attach ropes & crampons & over you go…
…& then cross the smaller one directly opposite
5. Once over the smaller stile head right towards the big trees. You can see the direction in the picture above…
You’ll arrive at a double stile. Cross this & continue with the tree line on your right
6. Soon you’ll arrive at the large metal gate in the picture below…
Walk through this & the one opposite
7. Carry on ahead & pass through the gap in the hedge…
Once through turn immediately right to follow the right-hand tree line
8. On reaching the next, larger gap, go through & turn immediately left keeping the hedge on your left as you head towards the village…
Walk through the next gap (below) & bear round to the right which leads you down a path through the trees…
9. Once out of the trees you arrive at the A428 & Brafield on the Green, whose name means ‘Open country by higher ground’
This walk doesn’t visit the village itself but it’s well worth exploring just to find the stunning duck pond. Our Walk 198 includes it – see this link
10. To continue this walk follow the road past the garage & The Red Lion pub…
After the last house on the right follow the direction of the fingerpost keeping the hedge on your right
11. On reaching the gap in the picture below continue straight ahead…
At what feels like the end continue in the same direction with the hedge on your right
12. Pass through the gate continue in the same direction…
…to arrive at the next gate in the picture below. Go through this & continue towards the two farm buildings opposite
13. Cross the stile & walk towards the farm buildings following the track round the back…
At the fork bear right with the hedges on your left &, at the gap, continue in the same direction to the road…
14. Pass carefully through the gap onto the road & turn left…
The verge is wide on the opposite side so, for safety, cross here & stay on the grass verge
15. At the footpath sign head through the metal gate & keep the hedge on your left as you pass the racetrack…
In the corner go through the smaller gate & continue in the same direction
16. Carry on straight ahead through the gap in the picture below…
After the next gap turn immediately right & keep the hedge on your right
17. On reaching the top of the field go through the next gap to join the track which heads up to the farm…
On reaching the farm stay on the track as you pass through remembering to be aware of farm machinery…
18. Once past the farm join the road heading in the same direction…
You’ve now arrived back at the metal gates you passed through at Point 6…
Now it’s time to retrace your footsteps back go the start so turn left though the gate & keep to the field edge as you make our way down to that double stile in the bottom left corner
19. Cross over the stiles & you’re heading to that big stile again which is on the left…
Negotiate the big stile again & turn right along the field edge
20. Cross the final stile & walk back across the field towards Great Houghton again…
Walk over the bridge out of the fields & make your way back into the village
21. Turn right at the junction to make your way back down to the pub…
So that’s it…the ‘Walk with the Big Stile’
We look forward to seeing your pictures negotiating it!
Go Walk