Newnham, Northamptonshire

Description

(D) We started our walk in the village of Newnham, parking on the roadside by the village green. We followed the road up School Hill past the school and round the left-hand bend into Church Street, and had a look at the church with its large porch under the tower and a rather grand monument to a fallen soldier at the rear of the churchyard. (1)

Leaving the churchyard at the back we followed a track eastwards until we reached a small road, Mounts Lane, where we turned right (2) This turned into a narrow downhill lane and at the bottom we turned left following the Public Footpath sign 'Nene Way to Everdon'. A gate and stile took us into fields. We went across the first field and in the second went right to follow the Nene Way to Everdon. This route is well signposted and it helps that farmers in these parts have attached large round plastic bucket lids to the gates and stiles making it easier to spot where you are heading for. It also helps to have a 1:25K OS map showing the field boundaries. The path heads in a straight line across fields until entering the Everdon Hall Estate with views of the house from the path (3)

The path joins the road at Little Everdon and the road goes south to Everdon. Entering the village we followed the road around to the right and up to the church on the bend. There is a pub on this bend. We went right at the church following the road to Newnham and Badby. Walking up the High Street we took the Fawsley Road forking off to the left (4)

Shortly after the road bends to the left. At this point (5) you have a choice. You can leave the road by taking a footpath off to the right and a straight path westward over Everdon Hill passing Westcombe Farm and arriving at Fawsley. There had been a lot of rain so we chose an easier route by road and had a bonus as en route we got some good photos of Orange Tip Butterflies. At the crossroads (6) we went straight over and reached the lakes at Fawsley (7) with a good view of the church. As the road bends back on itself we joined the path on the right (8) and were now on the Knightley Way. Up the hill to skirt around the left of Badby Woods which were filled with Bluebells and then entering fields down to Badby where the path takes a sharp left which is easy to miss.

Follow the path into the village emerging by the Church go right for a moment then follow Vicarage Hill to your left. Reaching Main Street go right and right again into Chapel Lane. Immediately after passing the Chapel take the footpath to the left of the gate (9). This is the start of the Nene Way and the river is just a pleasant sounding stream here. Passing a small group of trees on your right the Nene Way then goes right (10) after which it is a straight walk back over the fields to Newnham with the Church as a landmark. The path emerges onto the road at the entry to the village and from there it was a small distance up into the green and the end of an enjoyable walk. (A)