Stoke Bruerne & Shutlanger Circular

Northamptonshire Walk

Canal Walk + Countryside + Pub Walk

Walk Route Description

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Circular walk from village of Stoke Bruerne on the Grand Union Canal. Route includes a section along the canal towpath, the entrance to the 2,800 metre Blisworth Tunnel, the remains of a monastery at Shutlanger, a nature reserve and locks and canal bridges. Allow time to visit the canal museum, to enjoy a boat trip or to visit a historic waterside pub.

The walk starts from Stoke Bruerne pay and display car park (grid ref. SP744499). After parking walk to the canal and turn left (north) along the towing path. Continue to the entrance to Blisworth Tunnel and fork right uphill through woods to a gate and a road (grid ref. SP738508). Continue ahead and after 120 metres, turn left along a signed bridleway. After 750 metres, the track through a gap in the hedge and forks right. The route continues with a hedge on your right to reach the corner of Nun Wood, where your turn left and walk with the wood on your left. Pass a barn to reach a road (grid ref. SP724504).

Turn left and continue into Shutlanger. At the next junction, turn left along High Street and then right into Baker's Lane. Follow the lane around two bends to reach a crossroads with the old school on your right. Go straight across into Water Lane Continue to the end of the tarmac and take the track ahead running between frees. Reaching open fields, pass through left-hand gate and walk slightly left to cross a footbridge. Bear left and follow meandering stream on your left across fields to reach a pair of gates with a barn away to your right.

Cross stile and footbridge and pass through next gate. Follow path across a field with woodland on your right toa steel gate. Pass a stile, cross lane and after 25 metres pass through another gate. The path keeps left of a barn on your right and then continues through avenue of poplar trees to pass through a metal gate. Join track between hedges and just before a cottage, turn right through gates to enter the nature reserve. Walk on for a short distance and then left through gate onto towpath. Turn left and continue to the locks and the start of the walk.

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