Walk Six

From Daventry bus station turn left along New Street, past the police station, to the mini roundabout. Bear right here, then turn right down Sheaf Street. On your left the Wheatsheaf nursing home, where Charles I stayed prior to the battle of Naseby, on your right Priestly Court (site of the home of Joseph Priestly, discoverer of oxygen).

Walk down Sheaf Street to the end of the pedestrianised section, then turn left along Warwick road, across another mini round-about, pass the Coach and Horses, cross Western Avenue, pass the fire and ambulance stations and use the under-pass on the right to go under Cavalry Way into Staverton Road. Walk down Staverton Road towards Staverton Clump,ahead, at the T junction turn right, on Thames Road, until, as the road bends right, there is a cycleway off on the left. Take this, across Leamington way and into Browns Road. Follow Browns Road past the Civic Amenity tip, where it becomes an un surfaced lane. When the lane takes a right-angle left turn go straight on into Kentle Wood.

Follow the broad open path until it meets the hedge, pass through the hedge at the style and follow the field edge right to the power line post. The farmer here normally marks the route of paths across his fields by spraying them with weed killer, so they are fairly visible.

Here the path cuts off 45 degrees left, diagonally in a straight line across this and the corners of the next three fields until it meets the lane coming from Staverton.

As you start across the field you can see Staverton golf course a couple of fields away to your left and, ahead in the distance, Shuckburgh hill.

Turn right on the lane and follow it, past Berry Fields farm until it turns sharp right.

Here take the path 45 degrees left (usually weed killed) to Braunston covert. The path goes down, through the covert (often muddy in winter), up the other side and along the right hand edge of the covert.

At the end of the covert head for the two trees on the horizon. At the trees pass through the hedge and follow the path to the A45. Cross the main road and go through the gate a few yards to your left. Follow the path through the next gate, ignoring the path to Braunston on your left, and after the next gate bear left to follow the lane down the hill to the Grand Union canal at the "Admiral Nelson" (food at lunch times).

Turn right on the towpath up past four locks and to the West portal f Braunston tunnel. The towpath bin the cutting is always wet due to ground water seeping out of the bank but there is a firm gravel base no more than 2" below the water. At the tunnel follow the route used by the towing horses and zig-zag up to the lane following the course of the tunnel. Pass over the top of the hill and across the A361. Just after the ventilation shaft on your right bear right along the path th the left of a larch copse. Follow this path, past some green railings and go down the concrete ramp back to the canal.

Follow the canal for just over half a mile until you get to a length of concrete bank opposite two old wide beam barges. When opposite the barges go through a gap in the hedge, round the end of the overspill channel from Daventry reservoir and onto the "set aside". Follow the "set aside" up the left hand side of the overspill channel until, at the gorse bushes, pass through a gap in the fence, on your right, onto the path round the reservoir in Daventry country Park.

Turn left on the path and follow it through the trees until you see an underpass on your left. Go through the underpass and carry on to the old Norton Road, turn right and follow the road through the next underpass and up to Abbey Street. Cross over and go up the steps by the war memorial, follow the path to your right, round the back of the church and across Church Walk into Little Lane. At the far end of Little Lane you will see the bus station to your left.

Map of the route.

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