Footpaths: Including conservation walks

Our Parish has many footpaths, most of which meet or cross other paths forming longer walks through adjacent Parishes.  The Nene Way long distance path also crosses the Parish as it follows the course of the river from Northampton to Peterborough.  This page contains just two of our Parish walks, both of which can be extended to suit the walker, and have access to the Nene Way long distance footpath.

Both of the walks start from the Haycock Hotel, where there is ample on road parking, and refreshments on your return, and follow the same departure.  So, if your ready, walk away from the river bridge, and follow the yellow route along Elton Road through the village.  On your right you will pass the Paper Mills public house, where the name provides a clue to a long defunct business which once flourished in the village. Continue on past the Cross Keys public house, the village Post Office/shop, Stibbington House, the Christie Hall community centre, and up the hill to the junction with New Lane.  Here our walks turn left and goes down New Lane. However, if you continue along the Elton Road for a further 100m you can turn right immediately after the bungalow and follow the path down the hill and on across the old railway track to the river where you will meet the Nene Way at the Parish boundary. From here the path passes through the neighbouring parishes of Yarwell and Wansford before returning to the bridge and the Haycock Hotel.

Back to our walk, and we turn left and walk down New Lane.  Opposite the Bradshaw Electric Vehicle complex you have the option to take 2 short walks or combine them into one longer walk.

Following the red route, enter the field on your right side, and follow the path ahead for a short distance, and then around to the left.  Skirt the wooded area, keeping it on your left hand side, and continue to the bottom of the field. Turn right along the hedge, and continue to the boundary of the field where the path turns left alongside the Nene Valley railway track and under the A1.  The path continues on to meet the Old Great North Road. You have now reached Wansford Station, the home of the Nene Valley Railway, and it’s most famous resident, Thomas the Tank Engine.  Visitors are always welcome and there is a pleasant cafe in the new station building and a picnic area overlooking the river.  For those wanting a longer walk, cross the river by the bridge and join the Nene Way towards Peterborough.  However, for this walk, turn back up Old Great North Road and after approx 50m turn right into the field and follow the path to  Stibbington village.  Entering the village you will pass the old gamekeepers cottages, Castle Farm, and the Old Rectory.  Joining Church Lane, turn right and walk past the church of St John the Baptist. Where the road turns left, a lane runs off to your right to the boatyard where the ford used to cross to the village of Sutton.  Church Lane you will pass the 17th century Stibbington Hall on your right, and Stibbington Manor on your left.  Church lane turns left towards the A1, and this is the point where our 2 walks meet. To continue the walk turn right and join the green route. If you wish to return directly to the Haycock continue up Church Lane and cross the A1 by the flyover where you can turn right and follow the footpath along the A1,

Following the green route, carry on down the hill towards the A1.  Cross the road over the flyover and turn left at the T junction. At the crossroads you will find the Stibbington Environmental Centre, which is housed in the old Duke of Bedford junior school. Turn right here and walk down Church Lane.  At the end of the houses leave the road and continue straight on following the grassy footpath for approx 200m, with the Victorian walled kitchen garden of Stibbington Hall on your right hand side.  Where the fence starts turn left.  (The path in front carries on to a dead end at the nature reserve which is managed by The Wildlife Trust.  Follow this path past the field and the wooded area.  Where it meets the next path go straight across past the green gate and onto the path which provides access to the fishing lakes. Follow the path to the left with the lake on your right, and then between the 2 lakes, turning left towards the A1 with the lake on your left. At the end of the field turn right towards the river, and then turn left at the stile to pass under the A1 and out into the Haycock grounds alongside the river.  Follow the path alongside the river, and under the old bridge, turning left to emerge opposite the Haycock Hotel.