A circular walk from Croxton - with Medieval England all around you

Getting there take the A428 TOWARDS Bedford, pass Caxton Gibbet, and two miles or so on, turn left CROXTON HIGH STREET [cul de sac]

Parking park carefully in the High Street, not blocking entrances

The walk is about 6 ½ miles, and will take about 2 ½ / 3 hours. Good under foot and generally well signed.

Walk down the village street away from the A428, and turn right in front of a remarkable timber framed house, The Manor House. Across pasture field, keeping near to the hedge/fence on your left. *At the road, turn left, and then almost immediately right onto a grassy path in front of some houses. Keep going on this path, watching for the way markers: at one point on approaching a wooded area, do not follow the track to the left, but turn right, and then almost immediately left into a rather wet wood/plantation. Follow through to a farm, and keep right over a stile to avoid approaching their front door. Out through the farm gate, and at a very obvious track [Public Byway] turn left.

Down hill, over a stream, up hill, and then down hill till a good track goes off to the left, with the hedge to the right of it [no signpost when route surveyed]. Continue along this track, passing small plantation, till reaching taller coniferous trees, and turn right, with farm buildings to left and in front. Keep to the right, and emerge onto concrete farm track, passing moated farmhouse, site of former village [lumps and humps] and follow through to main road.

Turn left, and follow into Abbotsley [two pubs]; keep left at village green, pass church on right, and the Eight Bells on the left. Soon see sign to left [Harbins Lane], with ancient petrol pump in garden. Follow lane to gate with sign to Croxton 2 ¼ miles. Keep close to hedge on the left, and eventually swing right in front of copse, and turn left over narrow footbridge. Follow this track out to main road. Turn left, and walk up hill to the point * and turn right, re-tracing steps to Croxton High Street.

[on reaching the Street you can turn right into the parkland of Croxton Hall, and walk through the site of another deserted village to the church, and then re-trace your steps]

Neither the author nor his dog accept any responsibility for accuracy or for any injury or mishap that might befall any person who follows this walk. First published by "one man and his dog" in Great Shelford Village News August 2003