The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 4.1 miles (6.6km)
Time to walk: A steady stroll of about 1 hour 30 minutes & you can extend it further into the watermeadows should you wish
Difficulty: Flat, easy & all on hard surfaces
Parking: We parked in The Tove Long Stay car park in Northampton Road & walked to the start of this walk at the Towcester Mill Brewery. It’s free with no restrictions.
Public toilets: Cafes & pubs etc
Map of the route:
Towcester lies about 8 miles south of Northampton & lays claim to being the oldest town in Northamptonshire & possibly, due to the age of the Iron Age finds in the town, one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the country
Today the A5 runs straight through the middle of the town. In Roman times this was known as Watling Street & a Roman garrison town called Lactodurum was established on the site of the current town
In the 18th & early 19th centuries the town became a stop on the major coaching road between London & Holyhead. Many of the pubs & inns in the town today remain from that period
Let’s Walk
1. This walk starts outside the Towcester Mill Brewery in Chantry Lane. The current mill is over 200 years old. It was derelict for many years, but restored in 1996. Brewing in the town began once more in 2014. Please click on this link for opening times & further details
Turn left & walk towards Bury Mount…
2. Bury Mount Motte is the remains of an earthwork motte & bailey fortification or ancient castle & has been designated a scheduled ancient monument. The Motte probably dates back to the 11th Century when it was a Norman fortification. It fell into disrepair, but was restored to what it is today
Walk round to the right towards the arched wooden bridge…
From here, should you wish, it’s possible to walk to the top of the Mount…
3. Cross the arched bridge into the Watermeadows & turn right along the hard path…
This area. The Watermeadows cover 60 acres & were originally part of the Easton Neston estate. Now owned by the public they are registered as Grade II in English Heritage’s Parks & Gardens Register. Although their design is predominantly early 19th century they have older parts that date back to 1700
4. This hard track is perfect for a short disability / accessibility walk, as is the whole of this walk. Continue to follow it down towards the bottom of this part of the meadow. At the end is a gate which will allow you to walk further towards the grandstand of the racecourse, but this is not hard surfaced
For this walk continue left on the hard track. Across to the right you can see the racecourse grandstand
5. As the track now bends left, across to the right’s a lovely picnic area…
The path now heads back up the other side of the meadow to arrive at the gate onto the road…
As this is the main entrance to the Watermeadows there’s a really good information area…
6. Leave the meadow via the gate & turn right along Northampton Road. Cross over the road & the bridge & bear left into the next meadow…
As the path splits in the picture below take the left one
7. Shortly this path reaches another split. Turn right & then left over the bridge beside the large, old willow…
Now follow the path as it narrows up to the road
8. At the road bear left & walk to the main road, which is Watling Street. Cross over & enter the next park…
Follow the hard surface once more
9. Cross over large arched bridge…
…& continue straight ahead passing the school sports ground, to the end
10. Turn right & walk along the alley…
…& at the end bear left through the houses
11. Now it’s a case of following the road as it runs through the estate, bearing left & then up the hill to finally arrive at a roundabout…
Walk over the road to the cemetery & bear right along the footpath down ‘Springfields’…
12. The road bends left & heads down the hill passing the Leisure Centre…
Cross the river bridge…
…& turn left along the small path that follows the river
13. This pleasant walking through these small parks…
After a while the path reaches a road. Cross this & walk into the next park, still following the river
14. The stream widens & there’s now railings against it…
…& arrives at another road. Cross over this, slightly left & carry on along the small path towards Waitrose
15. Bear left across the entrance of the store & then right up the entrance road, heading towards the big arch…
…& then walk through it
16. Carry on up towards the other arch , passing the museum, which was founded in 2003
& whose exhibitions span 5,000 years of Towcester’s history
17. Go through the arch & turn left up the main street…
Cross over the road &, in the square, turn right past the Town Hall
18. Walk down Chantry Lane towards St Lawrence’s Church which has a 12th century Norman ground plan, probably laid over a Saxon 10th century stone building. It most likely dates back to Roman times as St Lawrence was patron saint of the Roman Legions
The building was reconstructed in 1480-85 when the tower was added. It contains a ‘Treacle Bible’, a table tomb & cadaver of Archdeacon Sponne. The Archdeacon started what was thought to be the oldest Grammar School in Northamptonshire
The church tower contains more bells than probably any other – 12 & a chime of 9 bells which ring the hours & chime tunes at frequent intervals
19. Continue down the left hand side of the church & turn left along the road at Amen Corner…
…at the end of which is Bury Mount once more. Turn right at the Mount & walk around it back to the Brewery once more where we started this walk
So that’s it a lovely stroll around this historic town
Go Walk!