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From Daventry bus station turn left along New Street, past the police station, to the mini round-about. 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.
As we walk up the road we get to see Staverton Hill, our first goal, ahead.
At the end of Staverton Road use the footbridge to cross the by-pass and continue along the old main road. At the second hedge on the left we can take one of two routes.
The first is to follow on to the main road and walk along the footpath towards Staverton, past the golf complex. At the end of the golf complex, where the road turns off to Staverton, we rejoin the illegal route.
The alternative is NOT a public footpath, but is far more pleasant. There is a private path throughout, with gates or styles at hedges.
Turn left into the field and walk up the hedge on the left, towards Stepnell spinney, continue past the spinney down to the lane and turn right to Staverton wood.
Follow the right hand edge of the planted wood through the gate and up the path to the top edge of the wood, through the gate and turn right along the top edge of the wood.
At the end of the wood we cross an open coll, with extensive views to both sides of the hill, from here head to the gate in the hedge down to the left. Pass trough the gate and follow the hedge, to your right, and continue down the hill with woods to the right and Whitmill farm down on the left. Go through the gate and then pass through the gap in the hedge to your right,
walk diagonally down across the field to the gate. Cross the next field, through the gate, cross the lane, through the next gate and follow the wire fence to your right. In the corner, beyond the lane's gates climb over the style and cross the A425 to rejoin the legal route.
Take the road off right to Staverton, bear right at the "White house", pass Staverton C of E school and bear right again into Braunston Lane.
We follow Braunston Lane for about a mile and a half, past where the path from Kentle wood joins, and come to a "cross roads" with two waymark disks on a post on the left. Turn right here, immediately before the hedge and follow the hedge to the left corner of a small wood.
Go through the waymarked gate and walk up the gulley to the gate in the top left corner of the field.(The cattle in this field are usually very nosey) Follow the path up towards the warehousing perimeter fence, ignoring a waymark pointing off to the right. Turn left at the fence and follow it round to come out onto the A45.
Cross the A45 and turn right for about 150 yards then take the bridleway off on the left immediately before more warehouses. Follow the bridleway, in roughly a straight line, for 3/4 of a mile over the old railway bridge. After the bridge the path goes left and follows round the edge of the Middlemoor housing estate. When you get opposite the old Middlemoor farm (now a public house) on your right turn left through the gate and across the field tho a gate onto the narrow-boat horse track over Braunston tunnel. Turn right on this and follow it down to the A361. Cross the A361 and 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.