|
|||||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
 NEWPORT PAGNELL (BRIDGE) TO TURVEY (BRIDGE)Starting in Mill Street, Newport Pagnell walk up to the mini-roundabout, turn left and cross the bridge over the River Ouse, leaving the town on the road to Lathbury. Keep to the left-hand side of the road where the pathway is wider, and after the garage on your right, cross over and turn right down the road signposted to Sherington. Walk along this road for 1.2 km. At a bend in the road, not long after crossing the river again, there is a driveway leading to the kennels, before this is the sign for the walk. Cut diagonally across this field to the entrance across the kennels' private road and, keeping the kennels to the left, follow the hedge line. You then cross another minor access road and follow the route towards Sherington. Go past a large metal stock gate and into a paddock. Head for the kissing gate, the path then runs between two houses. Turn left and left again into Water Lane. Walk down this lane past the houses and carry on, following the path as it skirts round to the left of End Farm and becomes a grassy track. Continue along the main track until it veers away to the right, then becomes a grassy track which takes you along the edge of the field towards the trees along the edge of the field, with the river (out of sight but you’ll spot a bridge) on your left. Go through a gateway, past a large horse chestnut tree, and then through another gateway which leads past an old wind pump which once provided water for nearby Fences Farm. Follow the riverbank past a tall plantation of poplars before crossing the field diagonally towards the obvious gap in the middle of the hedge where there is a gateway. Go through the gateway and straight on towards the village of Tyringham. The ancient hump-backed bridge is visible to your left. Go through the gate, turn right and walk up the road for a short distance until you come to a trackway on your right which leads to Fences Farm (if you have time, it’s worth turning left to walk back towards the bridge where you also get stunning views of the impressive but privately-owned Tyringham Hall. Turn right up the farm track, and follow it for about 0.3 mile/0.5 km, passing two cottages together and then a third on its own. Just past this last building, look for a gateway with a signpost (currently Three Shires Way) to your left. Pass through the gateway, and then through another gate into a field. Walk across the field, then bear right just before the gate into the wood. Once in the woods, turn right at the signpost. As you come out of the woods, go through another gate and turn left. There are some lovely views ahead of you, including the distinctive spire of Olney Church which you will be seeing again later. Continue walking along the edge of the woodland. At the end of the wood, turn right over the crest of the hill. Follow the path across a private ride (watch out for galloping horses!). When you reach the end, turn left and keep the hedge on your right. Follow this up the hill until you reach the end where you need to turn onto the other side of the hedge. Now keep the hedge on your left until you reach a junction. Turn left here until you reach the road. At the road, turn left (this is a windy, narrow country road so be careful as you walk along it) go past a very grand-looking house on your left, follow the bend of the road round and then leave the road to turn right up a track which leads to Rectory Farm. Pass the main gateway of the farmhouse, and, keeping left go through a small gate. (There are a number of footpaths and bridleways at this point so it’s easy to get confused!! Take the path furthest left of the two in front of you. Then go straight across the field (don’t follow the path on the right which goes round the edge of the field) and through a gateway. Follow this path down a hill until you pass the spinney on your right. At this point, the Three Shires Way bridleway turns away to the right but the Ouse Valley Way turns left and leads up a slight hill. Follow the path to the top of the hill, then turn right to join a track. Follow the track for about 0.75 mile/1.2 km until you come to the caravan park on the edge of Emberton Country Park. Go through the gate and turn left to walk through the caravan park. It’s in the park that you will meet the River Ouse again! There are toilets and sometimes refreshments available here. To go through the park, turn left, keeping the lakes to your right and then, further up the river, to your left. This path is hard-surfaced and easy to walk on. The first lake you pass is Grebe Lake, the second is Heron Water. At the end of this lake, turn left keeping Heron Water to your right and Otter pool to your left. At the end, come out of the park at the gate. As you come out of the park, turn left along the A509 and walk along the pavement over the bridge towards Olney. After the bridge, cross the road. Walk through the church gate and follow straight through onto Church Street, where you will need to turn right. Look out for the grave of the reformed slave-trader John Newton in the churchyard. Bear left in front of the large mill house, go through a gate/over the stile and follow the old stone causeway (which is believed to have been built pre-1760 and led between Olney Mill and Clifton Reynes Mill providing a hard surface in times of flood.) The River Ouse now flows over to your right. Carry straight on, joining another path which comes in on your left, and continue over a bridge. Cross the river through two metal gates and pick up the stone path again on the other side. Turn left, following the path. There are good views back over to Olney church at this point, then continue to bear left, this time following a path of paving slabs up Clifton Hill. At the top of the hill, head straight for the horse field in front of you. Once in this field, head diagonally across towards the left corner and Clifton Reynes Church. Go through the kissing gate and turn left to the church. Follow the road until you see a left turn opposite the Robin Hood Pub Follow this road until the houses peter out. As you reach a bend to the left, look for a signpost and gap to your right which points across a field. Cross the field, go over a little wooden bridge, skirt round another small field, cross another wooden bridge (3 of 5 built and maintained by volunteers), then turn left and follow the edge of the next field, following the route of the old Bedford to Northampton railway. Cross over a minor road, bear left and continue along the path. Follow the path around another field, heading towards the road. At the far end of the field, turn left on to the road and into Newton Blossomville. Walk through the village, past the pub/restaurant on your left. After the bend in the road, take a sharp turn left away from the main road up towards the church. Follow the track which runs to the left of the church wall, over a couple of small concrete bridges towards the river. Cross the double bridge over the river and continue straight on through the trees, passing Brayfield House on your left. Go through another gate and follow the hard-surfaced path which leads to the A428. Turn right and continue along the walkway for about 0.3 miles/0.5 km until you reach Turvey bridge. | |||||||||
| This section of the walk ends here. Return to top of page. To continue along the Ouse Valley Way, go to next section: Turvey to Sharnbrook | |||||||||
Detailed Map (pdf file)
Print Walk Instructions