The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 5 miles (8 km)
Time to walk: Roughly a couple of hours
Difficulty: Lots of fields & can get muddy in the winter. Some hills & there are some stiles with dog hatches but some without
Parking: In Parson’s Close Grendon by the school
Public toilets: None
Map of the route:
This walk simply delivers &, if you want amazing views & peace, this is one for you. The name means ‘Green Hill’ & Grendon certainly sits high up on one
Grendon Hall sits down the hill to the north & we won’t visit it on this walk. Interestingly in World War II it was used by the ‘Free French’ to train personnel who were parachuted into France to join the Maquis resistance movement
Let’s Walk!
1. Walk to the junction at the end of the close & turn right passing the old Crown Inn
As the road bends right look opposite to see a footpath sign directing you down a narrow alley
2. Walk down the alley where you’re rewarded with this great view inviting you to come through the gate & discover…
3. Bear left across the meadow. In the distance you can see Castle Ashby House & you need to keep straight towards this…
Exit the meadow over the stile below…
4. When the crops are growing the paths here are really well marked each year…
Cross the bridge & continue in the same direction
5. Eventually the path arrives at a road & ahead of you is Castle Ashby House…
Turn left up the narrow road. Take care as there are some blind corners..
6. Carry on up the hill where there’s also a view of the wild swimming lake on the right
Continue to the t-junction below…
7. Turn right for about 100 yards & bear left at the footpath sign through the gap in the hedge
In the summer this is another well marked path that runs pretty much in a straight line all the way to Easton Maudit
8. Cross the small bridge & continue up the hill with the hedge & old lime trees on your left…
9. Over the top of the hill we get our first glimpse of where we’re heading to…Easton Maudit church…
Cross the narrow lane & continue up the track
Listen out for the noisy skylarks – there’s normally lots in these fields
10. At the top of the hill pass through the gate below & follow the right side of the meadow down to the village
Take time to enjoy this view of Easton Maudit looking like a typical English village…
11. Easton Maudit takes its name from the Maudit (or Mauduit) family who purchased the estate in 1131. In 1578 the village was acquired by Sir Christopher Yelverton & Thomas Percy was made the rector. He was a friend of Samuel Johnson, who was a frequent visitor to the Rectory
Ahead of you is the “Tree House”. You can still see the trunks of the original house that formed the supports of the building. The canopy was the roof
12. Turn left & walk up into this stunning village…
13. In front of the church behind the bush are the remains of a very old oak tree…
You can see it better from the other side & it’s now being well supported
14. The church in Easton Maudit is dedicated to St Peter & St Paul
Bear right around the graveyard & head for the far right corner where there are magnificent views across to Bozeat & Wollaston. Also here is the grave of one of the villages most famous residents, actor Derek Nimmo…
15. Come back out of the churchyard & turn right down the well marked path towards the Lebanese Cedar trees…
Pass through the gate & head towards the old farm buildings
16. Pass through the next gate & then follow the field edge until we come to a bridge on the right…DO NOT CROSS THIS
Instead head diagonally left across the field towards the corner
17. Pass through the gap into the next field & walk slightly diagonally right…
You can see Grendon Church from here…
18. Cross the bridge …
& cross the next hill again slightly diagonally right to the corner
19. Go through the small gate in the hedge
…& walk straight ahead keeping the hedge on the right for the next few hundred yards…
20. In the corner cross the stile into the next paddock & look for a stile in the hedge on the right…cross this
21. Keep to the right hand side & exit the field into the lane
22. Just have a quick look through the window of the house on the right. You never know whoooo you might see sitting there…he’s called Jo Jo & was hand-reared & is 20 years old (2024)
Head up the lane back into Grendon passing some beautiful cottages…
23. On reaching the junction cross the road & turn right to enter the churchyard…
This is St Mary’s Church
24. Exit down the steps on the other side…
…& then turn immediately left up past the Blacksmith’s House
27. So now there’s only a couple of twists & turns up the alleyway to arrive back at the start of this walk
So that’s the end of a stunning little walk – give it a go on a warm summer’s evening
Like we said if you want beauty & open spaces all in one this is a great get away from it all walk that’s an easy stroll so just…..
Go Walk!
Good walk with directions guide and photos…..but why is the map so small?
Thank for for your feedback. I’m limited by memory on WordPress by size of pictures etc. That’s why I always use photos as a guide
Lovely walk, a bit heavy going at times due to last nights heavy rain but beautiful views and barely saw a soul. 10/10 – thank you!
Aww thanks Cari – so glad you enjoyed it
Shetlands aren’t in Grendon any more but my 3 equines are more than happy to say hello. Ginger thoroughbred, black and white cob and black mini mule who is scared of people a lot of the time.
Awww bless. That’s a lovely place to walk
This is a great walk which we did today. However it is a very different walk in summer when everything is over grown.
Point 9 – the ‘fallen down marker’ has now been replaced with one that ‘stands up’. Sorry can’t paste the photo we took !
Point 16 – the bridge cannot be seen due to the undergrowth.
Point 17 – There is no diagonal path to follow across the field so you have to follow the edge of the field but take care to spot the left turn to follow the field edge to the old farm buildings – we missed this and walked around a large field!.
Hope this is helpful