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View of a lake with a mansion house and a church behind some trees, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire
The view over the fishing lakes to Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire | © National Trust
Leicestershire & Northamptonshire

Canons Ashby circular lake view walk

A tranquil countryside walk from Canons Ashby taking in the remaining traces of a medieval village, local wildlife and views over the fishing lakes to the house and church tower. Please note – some walks are largely on public land not owned or maintained by the National Trust. Landmarks, signage and other features may change and some parts may not be fully accessible after heavy rain or high winds.

Total steps: 9

Total steps: 9

Start point

Car park at Canons Ashby, grid ref SP577506

Step 1

From the main entrance to Canons Ashby House, carefully step over the iron chain and walk a few steps to your left. Look out for traffic as you cross the road that runs parallel to the House. Go through the gate into the field signposted The Macmillan Way. Head diagonally right across this and the next gated field. In the third field, head diagonally left until you come to another gate in the far left corner by a hedge.

Step 2

Go through the gate, then the gap in the hedge and over a small bridge. Ignore the path across the field ahead and turn left onto the track, keeping the hedge and ditch on your left. This is the Oxford Lane. Continue along the lane, crossing a private tarmac track after about 250m and carrying on past a wooded copse on your left until you come to a road.

Step 3

Turn left, towards Woodford Halse, onto this quiet rural road, with a wide grass verge. Follow it for 1km, ignoring the left-hand turn to Canons Ashby.

Step 4

At the footpath sign on the left, by a very wide metal barrier, go through the gap and straight ahead, keeping the field boundary hedge on your left. Follow the field boundary as it bends to the right and heads down into a dip.

Step 5

At the bottom of the dip turn left, following the Public Footpath sign on the tree into the right-hand field.

Step 6

Continue along the footpath, passing a large pond on your left where emperor dragonflies can often be seen in late summer. With the hedge on your left, follow the path until you reach the woodland edge ahead of you.

An emperor dragonfly on a lily pad
An emperor dragonfly | © National Trust Images/Richard Bradshaw

Step 7

At the woodland edge where the main track bears left, turn right. After about 200m, follow the path to the left alongside a field. When you come to a gap in the hedge ahead, look out for a waymark on your left and go diagonally across this field.

Step 8

As you cross the field, Canons Ashby House and the Priory Church tower will soon come into view beyond the fishing lakes.

Step 9

At the field boundary, go through the hedge following the footpath signs then turn left onto the road back to Canons Ashby car park – and perhaps some well earned refreshments in the Stables Tea-room.

End point

Car park at Canons Ashby, grid ref SP577506

Trail map

Ordnance Survey map of the Canons Ashby lake view walk in Northamptonshire
The Canons Ashby lake view walk in Northamptonshire | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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near Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 3SD

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