Walk #1009: Jurassic Way: West Haddon to Watford and back, and then West Haddon to Welford and back

Directions

This walk starts off outside the Pytchley Arms in West Haddon at SP63197184. Leave the pub and turn right to follow the High Street westwards; pass the Crown Inn and then the church on the right to reach a mini-roundabout. Take the first road off to the left, Station Road, and follow it as it leaves the village and becomes Watford Road. There is no pavement for most of the way, but the verges tend to be wide; however care should be taken. The road crosses a railway line, and after 2.5 miles swings to the right at a road junction to enter the village of Watford. Continue west along the road for about 250 metres until a junction with Church Street is met on the right at SP60326885.

Here the Jurassic Way is joined. Turn right to head north up Church Street, passing the church on the left; after 250 metres this ends at a T-junction with another road. Turn left along this road, and when a barn ends on the right after a short distance, turn right across a stile beside a field gate to enter a field. Angle left for a short distance across some parkland to encounter an avenue of trees, and then angle right to walk northwards between the trees. The path passes the right-hand end of a copse, after which it continues on. Nearly half a mile after the road, the path heads through the ornate Pulpit Bridge under a railway line at SP60376988.

Go through an ornate field gate under the bridge, and on the other side head straight on across a field border into a field. The path heads straight across the field northwards, aiming for two wind turbines ahead. The field ends at a boundary-less track with a turbine on the left; do not head straight on uphill along the track, and instead angle right into a field, and head uphill with a hedge to the left, with the track on the other side of the hedge. Just before the top corner of the field is reached, angle half-right across the field, aiming for the far right-hand corner at SP60507071.

In the corner, turn slightly left to head north between a hedge on the right and a small patch of woodland on the left. This soon leads out into a field. Head straight on northwards across this field; at the far side, go through a field gate to enter a second field, and angle half-right to head diagonally towards the far right-hand corner of this field. In the corner, go through a broad gap into a third field, and follow a hedge on the right. When a corner is soon reached, turn left to follow the edge of the field northwards. Just before the far corner of the field, turn right through a clappergate and walk across a narrow field with a hedge to the left. In the corner, turn left to go past a field gate to join a track that follows a vague field boundary on the right. After 170 metres it curves right for a few metres to a track junction at SP60857150.

Here the course of the Jurassic Way has recently changed (2018). Instead of heading down towards Silsworth Lodge, turn left to head northwards along the track as it heads between hedges. After 300 metres, and just before the track curves left, go through a gate across the track and then immediately turn right through a clappergate beside a field gate to enter a field. Follow a hedge on the left; the hedge jinks left, and at the far corner turn right, still following a hedge on the left past the same field. At the bottom of the field, go through a gap in a hedge ahead and continue following a hedge on the left down a second field. At the bottom of this field, go through a bridleway gate through a broad hedge at SP61367165 into a field, rejoining the trail's old route.

Angle left across the field, heading slightly away from the hedge on the left and towards power lines ahead. At the far end of this field, cross a footbridge through a hedge and cross a stile to enter a second field. Head straight on across the field, paralleling the hedge away to the left at the top of the field. At the end of this field, go through a pedestrian gate and cross a footbridge to enter a third field. Follow a hedge on the left; the path soon passes under power lines. At the corner of the field, go through a gap in a hedge ahead and cross a farm bridge over a stream at SP62087185.

In the next field, angle right to head diagonally up the field; it climbs a slight slope and then falls to reach two stiles in quick succession in the far corner to enter a second field. Follow a hedge on the left; at the next field corner beside a barn, cross a stile and then angle right up the slope; ignore a gate ahead on the left. As it climbs the path joins a very indistinct track that leads to a stile to enter the outskirts of West Haddon. Continue along a path, following a fence on the right that guards a school's grounds. The path then curves right, still following the fence, and emerges out in front of the school. Turn left down a short road passing the West Haddon village hall on the left, to reach West End Road. Turn right down this for a short distance until a mini-roundabout that was encountered at the beginning of this walk is reached at SP62977179.

Turn left along the road, passing the church and then the Crown Inn on the left. Immediately after the Crown Inn, turn left up Crown Lane. When this soon turns right, turn left for a few metres, and then right to follow a path that follows the churchyard wall on the left. When the path turns sharply right, head straight on through a clappergate to enter a field. Turn half-left across the field to meet the hedge on the left. Follow this hedge north-northeastwards; at the corner of this field, go through a clappergate and head straight on across the middle of a second field towards a road. At the end of this field, go through another clappergate and go through a tunnel under the bypass at SP63127246.

On the other (northern) side of this tunnel, go through another clappergate to enter a field. Head straight on northwards across this field as it falls, aiming slightly to the left of some distant wind turbines. At the far end of this field, go through a gap in a hedge and descend a couple of steps to a clappergate that leads into a second field. Head down this field, angling slightly towards the hedge on the left. After 100 metres turn left through a gap into a third field, and angle diagonally across this field, aiming to join a track in the far corner at SP63127306.

Continue along the track as it heads through a gap in a hedge into a field. When the track starts to curves left after a few metres, angle right across grass, aiming for a field gate in the far corner. Join a surfaced road, go through the gate, and continue along the road. At the end of this field, go through a second field gate. Continue along this road as it heads into Winwick; after 400 metres a road junction is reached beside a bus stop at SP62637372.

At the junction, and just before a bridge over a stream on the left, turn right up Elkington Lane and follow the road as it swings to the right at the top of the hill, past a wiggly wall on the right. A short distance after the bend, follow the road as it becomes a track and swings left across a cattle grid with an adjacent gate. A good track heads on north-northeastwards; it climbs up to pass the entrance to a farm on the left, and then descends, becoming rougher in nature. It goes through a field gate and heads on. 700 metres after the cattle grid, it curves left at SP63077451.

At the bend, turn right to head straight on along a track to reach a bridleway gate beside a field gate. Continue on to, and through, another field gate, and when a hedge on the left turns left 250 metres after the bend, turn left into a field. Do not continue uphill northeastwards along the track.. Head north across the field, angling away from the hedge on the left and climbing slightly and then falling to reach a field gate in the corner at SP63287498.

Go through this, and turn right along a vague track following a hedge on the right. At the corner of this field, go through a field gate and aim slightly to the left across a short field. At the far side, go through another field gate and then a bridleway gate in the hedge to enter a larger field. Turn right to follow a hedge a short distance to a field corner, and then left to follow a hedge on the right in a rough north-northeastwards direction for about 700 metres. At the northern corner of this field, turn left for a few metres and then right through a gap in a hedge and descend down a slope through trees at SP63577603.

It emerges from the trees; turn right for a few metres and then left to cross part of a golf course. Go through a pedestrian gate and head straight on across a field, aiming just to the left of a farm halfway up the hill. Go through a bridleway gate and continue between fences to another gate; soon after the path ends at a concrete track. Heads straight on up this, soon passing Honey Hill Farm on the right. At the top of the field cross a cattle grid or go through the adjacent gate, and continue along the track past a house on the right to reach a road on the top of Honey Hill at SP63937696.

Turn left along the road; when it soon curves right, continue straight on along a path that runs between hedges. Go through a field gate into a field and follow a hedge on the right down past a memorial stone to the opening of the Jurassic Way on the right. After this the path curves slightly to the left away from the hedge, and then descends to reach a field gate in a hedge. On the other side, continue on southwestwards, following a hedge on the left past a field. At the corner of this field, go through a field gate and continue on, passing Elkington Covert on the left until the trees soon end at SP62937660.

At the end of the trees, angle right to join a half-hidden path that descends through an area of gorse and scrub. Do not continue on along the vague track curving to the left downhill from the covert. The path descends downhill, curving right to reach an area of grass at the bottom. Curve left alongside a hedge on the left as the field narrows. Go through a field gate and head on along a path that climbs slightly through a scrubby area to reach a pedestrian gate. Go through this and head on west-southwestwards between electric fences past paddocks. The fences are replaced by hedges; the path emerges out onto a road in Elkington at SP62577651.

Head straight on along the road; when it soon ends at a triangular junction, turn left to head west along a road. After 250 metres this reaches bridge 28 over the Grand Union Canal. Cross the bridge, and on the other side turn right down some steps to reach the canal towpath. Follow the canal north, with the water away to the right. It passes under several bridges – including a large one carrying the A14 overhead – and after 1.2 miles bridge 31 is reached. Climb up some steps to reach the road over the bridge at SP61347833.

Turn right to cross the bridge, and immediately on the other side turn left through a gap in a hedge into a field. Angle across the field, aiming for a telegraph post in the middle of the field and trees ahead. Pass the post, cross a concrete track, and head straight on, climbing towards the trees across a field. At the top of the field, cross a broad, grassy area and enter the woodland through a gap. Head straight on steeply uphill through the trees, and exit them through a gate to enter a field. Head eastwards across the field, angling away from the fence on the left. Pass a small pond on the right, and at the bottom of the field go through a gate in a fence into a second field. Head straight on across this, crossing a gravel track to reach a pedestrian gate to join another track at SP62447862.

Turn left to follow the track northwards; after 250 metres it curves to the right to head northeastwards for another 0.75 miles along the good track until it ends at a road at SP63467955. Carefully cross the road, and continue on along a road called West End; after a little over half a mile a road junction is reached opposite the church in Welford at SP64078030.

Turn right down Church Lane, passing the church on the left, and follow it down to the A5199 in Welford. Here the Jurassic Way is left for the day. Turn right down the main road to head south out of the village; there is a pavement on the right-hand side of the road. The pavement ends at a lay-by after 600 metres; continue along the main road for another 300 metres until a road leads in from the right. Turn right down this road for 100 metres turn left until it meets another road junction on the left at SP64277934.

At the junction, turn hard left to find a barely-visible path that follows an old road eastwards back towards the main road. After 150 metres turn right to cross a plank bridge over a ditch to enter a field. Angle half-left diagonally across this field. At the far side go through a gap in a hedge and head straight on across a second field. At the far side of this field, turn left to cross a footbridge across a ditch, and then angle right alongside a hedge on the left. In the corner of the field turn left across a footbridge through a hedge, and then turn right to follow the hedge on the right. In the corner of the field cross a footbridge over a ditch, and then continue on along a bridleway, with a ditch to the right. In the next corner, angle slightly right through a gap in the hedge along a track. Follow this track as it soon curves right to head westwards up a slight slope. Go through double field gate to reach a road at SP64187822.

Turn left to follow the road south; it soon passes over the A14(T) on a bridge, and after half a mile ends at a triangular junction with another road. Turn left to head south down this road, and after another third of a mile it curves to the left to rejoin the course of the Jurassic Way walked earlier on Honey Hill. Continue along the road for a short distance until a track leads off to the right at SP63937696, following a hedge on the left.

After 200 metres the track curves slightly to the right, passing a house on the left to reach a cattle grid with a gate nearby. Go through this and continue on down the track. When the track curves left into Honey Hill Farm, head straight on between fences for a short distance to reach a bridleway gate. Go through this, and on the other side continue on downhill to a second bridleway gate that leads into a field. Head straight on down the field, paralleling a hedge away to the left, and at the bottom go through a pedestrian gate and head on between trees across part of a golf course. Pass Hole 8, and head on down a slope. The path enters some woodland and meets a rough track. Turn right along the track for a few metres and then left to join a path that leads steeply up a slope through trees; this emerges out into a field at SP63577602.

Turn left to follow the edge of the field; when the corner is soon reached, turn right, following a hedge on the left for about 700 metres. At the far corner of the field, turn right to follow a hedge on the left for a few metres, and then turn left through the hedge, going through a pedestrian gate and field gate to enter another field. Angle slightly to the left across this field, and at the far side go through a field gate and follow a hedge on the left. At the corner of this field, cross a vague track and turn left to reach a field gate. Go through this into a field and angle slightly right to head diagonally across this field, climbing and then falling to meet a hedge on the right, which soon ends at a grassy track in the far corner of the field at SP63287471.

Turn right to head southwestwards along the track; it soon meets a field gate. Go through this and continue on down the track to reach a bridleway gate beside a field gate; on the other side the track meets another coming in from the right. Continue straight on down this to reach a field gate; go through this and continue on along the track. It climbs uphill, passes a farm away to the right, and then descends. 700 metres after the track junction, cross a cattle grid or go through the nearby gate, and follow the track as it curves right, with a wiggly brick wall on the left. The track becomes a road, and soon curves left to head downhill into Winwick, ending at a T-junction beside a bus shelter at SP62637373.

Turn left along to head southeastwards along West Haddon Gated Road. After 400 metres go through a field gate and continue along the road (now little more than a track) to reach another field gate in the corner of the field. Go through this into a field, and turn half-left across the grass, aiming for another track ahead. Join the track and then immediately go through a gap in a hedge ahead. Go through the gap and turn half-right off the track, heading diagonally across the field. In the far corner go through a gap at SP63197292.

Turn right to go up the field, angling slightly away from the hedge on the right. At the top of the field, go through a clappergate in a hedge and ascend a couple of steps into another field. Head straight on uphill across the field; at the end of the field go through a clappergate and head under a tunnel under the A428 bypass. On the other side of the bridge, go through another clappergate and angle slightly right across a field. At the far side of the field, go through a clappergate and follow a hedge on the right. After 200 metres the hedge curves left, and when it curves right soon afterwards, continue straight on across grass towards the field's far corner to reach a clappergate to join a path at SP63067197.

Head straight on down this path, which soon joins the churchyard wall of West Haddon church on the right, and then curves left to reach Crown Lane. Turn right down the lane to reach the High Street in West Haddon beside the Crown Inn. Turn left up the road for a short distance to reach the Pytchley Arms at SP63197184, where this walk ends.

P2018DSC02734 A crest on Pulpit Bridge.		P2018DSC02735 Pulpit Bridge.

P2018DSC02736 Heading north towards the wind turbines near Watford Covert.		P2018DSC02737 Bails and a wind turbine.

P2018DSC02739 The base of a wind turbine.		P2018DSC02740 A wind turbine near Watford Covert.

P2018DSC02743 Heading north towards Silsworth Lodge.		P2018DSC02748 It's best not to attempt this footbridge in shorts.

P2018DSC02751 Looking back from near West Haddon.		P2018DSC02753 West Haddon church.

P2018DSC02755 Heading north out of West Haddon.		P2018DSC02757 The bridge under the A428 bypass north of West Haddon.

P2018DSC02761 The descent from West Haddon towards Winwick.		P2018DSC02763 A tractor in Winwick.

P2018DSC02766 A delightfully wggly wall in Winwick.		P2018DSC02768 Heading north from Winwick towards Honey Hill.

P2018DSC02771 If you get this lovely view, you've gone wrong.		P2018DSC02778 Heading north towards Honey Hill.

P2018DSC02781 Climbing up towards Honey Hill.		P2018DSC02785 The view back down Honey Hill.

P2018DSC02787 The monument commemorating the opening of the Jurassic Way on Honey Hill.		P2018DSC02790 The Grand Union Canal near Elkington.

P2018DSC02794 The Grand Union Canal to the north of Elkington.		P2018DSC02800 A mile marker on the the Grand Union Canal.

P2018DSC02805 The Grand Union Canal near the Hemplow Hills.		P2018DSC02806 Heading east up the Hemplow Hills.

P2018DSC02811 Woodland on the flank of Hemplow Hills.		P2018DSC02816 The track leading from Hemplow Hills towards Welford.

P2018DSC02818 Welford.		P2018DSC02819 Welford church.

P2018DSC02825 There's a path here, somewhere - heading south from the A5199.		P2018DSC02829 Another shorts-friendly footbridge.

P2018DSC02832 Crossing the A14 near Welford Lodge Farm.		P2018DSC02834 The track leading down from Honey Hill towards Honey Hill Farm.

P2018DSC02841 The track near Home Farm to the north of Winwick.		P2018DSC02842 Looking towards a grand house in Winwick.

P2018DSC02843 The gates leading to a grand house in Winwick.		P2018DSC02845 A garage in Winwick.

P2018DSC02846 A post box in Winwick.		P2018DSC02854 Ascending the hillside up towards West Haddon.

P2018DSC02856 The bridge under the A428 bypass north of West Haddon.		P2018DSC02857 West Haddon.

P2018DSC02859 An old milestone in West Haddon.		P2018DSC02863 The point the path to Elkington diverges by Elkington Covert.

P2018DSC02865 Following the trail down into Elkington.		P2018DSC02870 Following the trail down into Elkington.

Disclaimer

Please note that I take no responsibility for anything that may happen when following these directions. If you intend to follow this route, then please use the relevant maps and check the route out before you go out. As always when walking, use common sense and you should be fine.

If you find any information on any of these routes that is inaccurate, or you wish to add anything, then please email me.

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And finally, enjoy your walking!

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