Walking

An extensive network of footpaths and bridleways allow you to plan anything from a short walk to a full day’s hike with our selection of local walks. We have included suggested starting points near pubs and local car parks so that you can combine your walk with some delicious local refreshments!

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Walking for Health

Find out about walking in Northamptonshire, including a selection of countryside leisure walking maps, short walking routes, learning about the array of benefits associated with walking and information about weekly Saturday morning parkruns. Read about walking on the Smart Move Northamptonshire website.

It’s almost impossible not to feel good when we’re walking outdoors – it’s a natural mood-booster! Ramblers Wellbeing Walks make it easier to start walking and stay active. And you’ll certainly never be short of good company. 

The International Waendel Walk is an annual event and the only IML Walking Association event in the UK. The 42nd walk will be held in Wellingborough from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 May 2023.

Northamptonshire Walks

Recomennded by Dave from Northamptonshire Walks, Walk 122 Nassington Circular is a 7 mile walk around this historical village which has existed since at least Anglo Saxon times, when an Anglo Saxon hall was taken over by the Viking King, Cnut the Great, as one of his royal halls. Cnut is known to have visited after 1017, with his court including Aethelric the Bishop of Dorchester on Thames. 

Orienteering

Orienteering is an exciting, outdoor adventure sport which involves walking or running whilst navigating around a course using a map and a compass. Find out more about orienteering at Stanwick Lakes or at Nene Park. 

All aboard for rusdhen

Bring your smartphone or tablet to the Greenway in Rushden and discover some interesting characters from Rushden’s past, including the strong-minded suffragettes and the cracking story of an egg delivery lady. Download the All Aboard for Rushden app from your usual app store.

Aldwincle and Wadenhoe

Enjoy a leisure walk around the villages of Aldwincle and Wadenhoe. The loop of the River Nene probably gave Aldwincle it's name. Wadenhoe is a village of attractive stone buildings and a rich history probably dating back to the Saxon times.

Suggested starting point - King's Head at Wadenhoe

Nearby - Nene Way

Barnwell Country Park

Three circular trails allow you to discover the park, its wildlife and many features at your own pace. The trail paths provide easy access around the park. They are hard-surfaced (except for sections of riverside walk) with seats and / or resting points every 200 metres. All the paths are on level surfaces. Visit Barnwell Country Park website for more information on activities and local events.

Food and drink - Kingfisher Cafe located at Barnwell Country Park

Bluebell Wood Trail

Bluebell Wood is over 400 years old. Throughout it’s lifetime, the wood has been used for timber, recreation and as a home for wildlife. Visit Nene Park for more information about activities and events here.

Food and drink - Lakeside Kitchen and Bar

Visit Nene park

Boots & Bikes - Thrapston to Rushden

Explore miles of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleway along this part of the Nene Valley and discover hidden hamlets, a haven for wildlife and ancient churches. Visitors can follow the Nene Way along the banks of the river for part or all of its 70 miles as it goes up hill and down dale.
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Brigstock and Fermyn Woods Country Park

Enjoy 3 walks including the Lyveden Way, Woodland Walk and Fermyn Forest Walk. You can also enjoy a lovely walk along the Skylark Nature Trail at Fermyn Woods Country Park.
Skylark Nature Trail

Delapre and Hardingstone

From medieval nunnery to modern public park, Delapre has a rich and varied history. Lying within a stone’s throw of Northampton’s busy town centre, the varied paths and trails detailed in this leaflet will lead you via parkland and woods, village streets and ancient buildings, back in time to a medieval world of royalty, religion and war.
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Fotheringhay and Woodnewton

Set amongst rolling Northamptonshire countryside and alongside the River Nene, the attractive stone villages of Fotheringhay and Woodnewton are a quiet haven. A visit to this peaceful area reveals a more eventful past - a location of national importance with famous royal connections.

Food and drink - The Falcon Inn

Nearby - Nene Way

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Higham Fererrs Heritage Trail

Enjoy this guide to the history and heritage of Higham Ferrers.
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Nene Way

The Nene Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath in England running through the English counties of Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.
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Northampton Heritage Trail

The trail is approximately 3 miles and begins at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the oldest building in town.
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Oundle Riverside Walks

Oundle riverside walks are a selection of easy walks, mainly through meadows and along the River Nene. Ranging in length from 1 to 5 miles (1.6 to 8km), the walks take 1 to 3 hours.
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Oundle Heritage Trail

The river Nene curves round the ancient market town of Oundle. Built of local Jurassic limestone with roofs of Collyweston slate, the town retains its medieval street plan and is full of interesting independent shops, galleries, a museum and an array of pubs and teashops.
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Stanwick Lakes

Stanwick Lakes has a network of over 7 miles of footpaths (wheelchair accessible). Whether you’re feeling energetic – you can walk to Thrapston (six miles away) – or if you just fancy a gentle stroll to see some wildlife, there’s sure to be a route to suit you. You can also try the heritage trail, developed as part of a heritage project led by Rockingham Forest Trust, which uses stone markers to show visitors where historic settlements were found during the archaeological excavations of Stanwick Lakes during the 1980s and 1990s.
Heritage trail

Sywell Country Park

The trails are mostly hard-surfaced with seats and/or resting places every 200 metres. There are a number of steeper gradients within the park (marked on the map) but generally the paths have a gradient of less than 1:15.
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Rushden Heritage Trail

The history of Rushden dates back many thousands of years with indications of there being Bronze and Iron Age settlements, as well as Roman sites found in the area. Rushden is referenced in the Domesday book as “Risdene” which means “Rushey Valley.” This heritage means many of the settlements key attributes stem from early historical periods; for example, the core medieval pattern and field systems of Rushden were established during the 8th Century.

Thrapston Heritage Trail

Thrapston is an important and historic bridging point over the River Nene and the original settlement may have been established in the Saxon period. The Parish Church of St. James dates originally from the 13th century and other buildings in the town date from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The oldest part of the town is along the western side of Chancery Lane and to the south of the High Street are a number of streets of brick terraced housing from the Victorian Period.
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Titchmarsh Heritage Trail

Titchmarsh boasts a long and colourful history. Pieces of pottery, worked flints and crop marks all bear evidence of pre-Roman occupation. The Romans drove two roads through the parish and also settled here, but it was the Anglo-Saxons whom we have to thank for the name of the village, Ticceanmersce or Ticcea’s Marsh gradually evolving to Tichmarsh and eventually to Titchmarsh.

Food and drink - The Wheatsheaf Pub

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Warmington Rainbow Walks

These ‘Rainbow Walks’ are designed for those who wish to improve their well-being by taking an increasing amountof exercise in a pleasant environment. Remember that a ‘brisk’ walk which means that you breathe a little faster, feel warmer, and have a slightly faster heartbeat will slowly help to improve your health. They have been devised by members of Warmington Parish Council and villagers as part of their Community Involvement Plan. All walks start at ‘Glebe Stores’ the village shop and cafe in the centre of the village where you can enjoy a well earned cup of coffee after your walk.
All walks

Wellingborough Heritage Trail

The star attraction of Wellingborough’s Zoo park was a baby elephant called Ranee. But in 1949 she was bought by Billy Smart’s Circus, and packed her trunk for a life in show business. Renamed ‘Birma’, she travelled with the world famous circus, performing in his shows for more than 20 years. She is reputed to still be alive today!
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Nene Wetlands

Central to the Nene Valley is the Nene Wetlands nature reserve, a unique one square mile of wild and man-made habitats, managed for wildlife and people.
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Northamptonshire Round

The 50 mile circular walking route taking in the pleasant countryside around Northampton was created by the local walking group the Ten Foot Club in 2003.

Countryside Thrapston and Islip

Enjoy this picturesque walk around Thrapston Gravel Pits, taking in the sights of Titchmarsh Nature Reserve.

Macmillan Way

The Macmillan Ways are coats to coat paths which were created with a single objective of supporting Macmillan Cancer Relief.
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Summer Leys Circular

Since the 1980's gravel has been extracted &, rather than restoring the area to agricultural use, careful landscaping has created an important wetland in the Nene Valley. As well as an ever changing bird population, the reserve is also home to rare fish & newts. Enjoy this lovely 2 mile walk with car parking available at the reserve.
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