Ramblers Routes Ramblers Routes Britain’s best walks from the experts Britain’s best walks from the experts Central Central England 1/05/2016 15:2 07 Cogenhoe and Castle Ashby, 08 Walkern, Hertfordshire l Distance 10.5km/6½ miles l Time 3½hrs l Type Field and river l Distance 16km/10 miles l Time 5hrs l Type Country NAVIGATION level FITNESS level NAVIGATION level FITNESS level walk magazine summer 2016 walk magazine summer 2016 Plan your walk Plan your walk

Lincoln l

Cambridge l

King’s HERTFORDSHIRE Stamford Lynn WALKERN l l Peterborough l NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Watford l COGENHOE l

WHERE Circular walk through WHERE Circular walk from Castle Ashby, Cogenhoe and Walkern, Hertfordshire, via PhotograPhy: aLaMy PhotograPhy: Whiston Village. Cromer and Weston. ShUttErStoCK PhotograPhy: START/END Castle Ashby START/END Walkern, free (SP859635). Known as the ‘county of squires the route. The walk starts and car park opposite St Mary’s Walkern’s main claim to fame is robbed rich travellers and gave TERRAIN Footpaths and and spires’, Northamptonshire ends at Castle Ashby, the majestic Church (TL293266). probably that it was the home of to the poor. Tales abound about roads. Some stiles and steps. is a much underrated jewel in seat of the Marquess of TERRAIN Good tracks, Jane Wenham who, in 1712, was Jack. It was said, for instance, Ground can get boggy the countryside crown of the . The 35 acres of quiet lanes and field edges, found guilty of witchcraft. Jane’s that he could down a bird with following heavy rain. Midlands. This is an area where manicured gardens at Castle three stiles. death sentence was set aside and an arrow at half a mile and had MAPS OS Explorer 207; spelling and pronunciation are two Ashby are at their most splendid MAPS OS Explorer 193; she went to live on the estate of to talk to his neighbours through Landranger 152. opposing forces; for example during the summer months. For a Landranger 166. earl Cowper. The tale spawned their upstairs windows. GETTING THERE Bus 43 Cogenhoe is pronounced ‘Cook-no’ spot of luxury, treat yourself to GETTING THERE The 384 many pamphlets at the time and 1. START Go R alongside the from North Gate bus station, and here the River Nene has a high tea in the tearooms. Centrebus service runs has recently inspired a play – Jane churchyard and L at the end. Northampton (not Sundays or silent ‘e’ to become Nen as in ‘hen’ between Stevenage and Wenham: the Witch of Walkern After two gates, cross a field. public holidays). Car parking (and never Neen as in ‘scene’!). 1. START Head south from the Hertford (not Sundays, – by Rebecca lenkiewicz. This walk, In the next, follow the R edge, for patrons of the Rural This gentle to moderate walk Rural Shopping Yard (SP859635), ✆ 0116 246 0030). rich in meadows, superb country veering L at the end. Continue on Shopping Yard and Castle takes you along hedgerows following a road past red brick EATING & DRINKING houses, and three beautiful L field edges to a lane. Ashby House. Alternatively, bursting with life, through open cottages towards Chadstone. The White Lion, Walkern villages, starts near a duck- you will find a small public car fields and along the towpath of Ignore the footpath going off to (✆ 01438 861251); the Red patrolled ford over a chalk stream, 2. Cross diagonally R to follow a park between the two (to the the meandering River Nene. The the L and turn R past the post box Lion, Weston (✆ 01462 the River Bean. Opposite is a L field edge; go L at stables and south of the shopping yard) Royal Oak pub in Cogenhoe serves into Chadstone (SP852955). There 294321); the Rising Sun at church containing the remains of a immediately R at the corral. and roadside parking as a useful halfway point on this are brief views across hills before Hall’s Green (closed most rare chalk Saxon rood (cross) and Reach a road, go L then follow it throughout the village. circular walk. The staff are you drop into a valley. Continue Mondays, ✆ 01462 790487). a Purbeck marble effigy believed L through the village of Cromer. EATING & DRINKING The welcoming to walkers, especially over the river and along a SLEEPING Abbington Hotel, to be that of William de lanvalei, Turn R at the junction. At the Royal Oak, Cogenhoe those who shed their muddy boots bridleway as it veers R. At the 23 Hitchin Road, Stevenage one of the 25 barons elected at next junction, go straight on – (closed most Mondays, on the way in. The food is both farm, turn L to follow a footpath Old Town (✆ 01438 315241). Runnymede in 1215 to ensure that signed ‘Luffenhall’. Reach ✆ 01604 890922, www. reasonably priced and extremely across hedgerows, continuing VISITOR INFORMATION King John adhered to the law of ‘Fir Trees’. theroyaloaknorthampton. tasty. The tower of the 16th- through the trees and across Stevenage Visitor the land as set out in Magna Carta.

co.uk). Walking parties can century church at Whiston the road. Information Point, Central In another churchyard, at Weston, 3. Turn L alongside it. Go straight phone ahead to book meals. (pictured above) rises from the Library, Southgate you will pass the 4m long supposed

surrounding landscape and serves 2. Once across the road, head grave of Jack O’legs, a giant on to a field corner; go L

✆ ▲ SLEEPING Various Airbnb ▲ ( 0300 123 4049). as a useful landmark throughout through the field to the line of to a cross track. Go R. After version of Robin Hood, who P5_54_WALK51_RR_CNTRALR1.indd 1 Ordnance Survey mapping ©Crown copyright 2016 Ordnance Survey Media 037/16 1

START START FINISH 5 the early 16th century and is a fine example of the oak timberwork the period. At back of church, dogleg L then take R over L at the gate onto the hill. Turn road. should now be visible. Continue on the a R at Take road to Castle Ashby. the war memorial to end up back where you started. Route devised by Dave Hamilton 2 of others, hundreds and route this download To www.ramblers.org.uk/routes visit 4 3 Cross the road and continue church at SP832356, heading Continue diagonally to the river. until you get to the disused railway line and follow this to the long, straight footpath.) At the lock, turn R and follow the long, straight footpath to the road. 5. the south towards Whiston. Take first L towards the church, following the narrow footpath uphill to the church. If you have time, it is worth popping into the church. The building dates back to

Pocket Pub 01604 367997). ✆ VISITOR INFORMATION VISITOR GUIDEBOOKS GUIDEBOOKS LOCAL RAMBLERS GROUPS RAMBLERS LOCAL options, www.airbnb.co.uk options, www.airbnb.co.uk (search Grendon or Cogenhoe), including the Annexe at Pastures Farm, Grendon. Information, Sessions Tourist House County Hall, George Northampton Row, ( Walks in NorthamptonshireWalks by Judith and Ron Smith (£5.99, Countryside Books, ISBN 978 1846740848); Walks for all Ages: 19 Circular Walks in Northamptonshire by Cheryl Joyce (£4.99, Bradwell Books, ISBN 978 1902674537). Northants 20s-40s Ramblers (www.lgrtr.org.uk), Northampton Ramblers (www. northamptonramblers.co.uk). Continued... trees; here veer R before heading L over a bridge. Head through the field, then take the L fork up steps into the wood. Follow this footpath and take R fork down the steps, then head towards the road. L on the road, heading for Turn the Royal Oak pub (SP832206). The Royal Oak would be a good alternative starting point on this circular route. 3. From the pub, take Church Road in front of you, heading north. This will become Mill Lane. Follow the footpath signs and head to the L of the red house, where you will see a sign on wall that reads: ‘Yes the footpath is tucked in ‘Yes this corner just there’! Take footpath down through to the caravan park and mill house. 4. Follow the river along towpath to the lock and weir. During periods of heavy rainfall, this area can be flooded. (For an alternative route during floods, take the footpath opposite

Ordnance Survey mapping ©Crown copyright 2016 Ordnance Survey Media 037/16

2 Go R. Fork L at the junction and 6. R on the bend. After bridge, go diagonally L. Go through a gap in the hedge to a gate, then L along the field edge. After a metal kissing gate, go to the wood’s edge and turn R. Descend steps to a straight path across large field. go L on a track. At the boundary, Go R of the farm to road. Turn L (passing a dovecote, built around 1700 to house pigeons, which were kept for meat, eggs, feathers and fertilizer), then go R to St Mary’s Church and the car park. Route devised by Len Banister 3 START START FINISH

1 To download this route and hundreds of others, hundreds and route this download To visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes visit 6 Turn L, going to the R of Manor Turn 5. Farm. Once through the gate, keep R of the recreation grounds. After a gate, turn R through another and go across a field. Keep forward through a woodland strip, continue through a gate L of house and across a lane. Continue to a gate. Go diagonally R across a drive, turning L alongside the wood, following a line of posts and then go through two gates to take a lane. Go L. At the corner, the first L along a wide track. Keep forward, ignoring a L turn. Swing at the farm to Rising Sun. 4

07778 ✆ 5 by North Herts Ten Walks in North Walks Ten

Go R, then L on Church Lane. GUIDEBOOK LOCAL RAMBLERS GROUP RAMBLERS LOCAL Hertfordshire Ramblers – contact details below – £5. North Herts Ramblers ( 877814, http://northherts ramblers.webs.com). Continued... 2km/1¼ miles, go L opposite a waymarker post. Cross bridge on the R and go diagonally L across a field, continuing on the track to join a lane. Reach road. 4. R into churchyard, pass Jack Turn O’Legs’ alleged grave, and stay on the gravel path through a gate. At cross tracks go L, soon forking R. After the boundary, go R. Keep forward to the main L, continuing along road. Turn Damask Green. Reach the Red Lion pub on the R.

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