Miss Alice's landscape walk at Canons Ashby
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. Built near an Augustinian priory, the Elizabethan manor house at Canons Ashby is set in an ancient landscape that's a pleasure to explore at any time of the year. This fairly substantial walk takes in a number of picturesque sights, including the charming village of Moreton Pinkney with its 12th-century church.
Near to
Canons AshbyStart point
The car park at Canons Ashby. Grid ref: SP577506Trail information
*Though the walk is fairly long, the terrain is generally easy to manage. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**People with reduced mobility may find this route difficult. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs are welcome, with conditions. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.
Look out for livestock
Please take care as there may be livestock on this route. With horse stables around the area, you may also encounter horse riders on the roads.
Total stages: 12
Total stages: 12
Start point
The car park at Canons Ashby. Grid ref: SP577506
Stage 1
Turn right out of the car park and go down the hill until you reach a sign for a footpath on the left, before the farmhouse. Follow the sign straight over a paddock, through a kissing gate and over a little bridge. Then walk across the next field to another kissing gate in the hedge.
Stage 2
Go through the kissing gate and turn right, keeping on the right-hand side of the road for a short distance. On your right after you pass the wood yard (the site of the old Moreton Pinkney Station), there's another kissing gate that'll take you back onto the footpath.
Stage 3
Cross the field diagonally. Head towards the middle of two telephone masts, where you'll see a gap in the hedge. Go through the kissing gate and across the next field, over the medieval ridge and furrow earth features, to reach the stile bridge.
Stage 4
Go over the stile and across the next field to another stile, then onto a path that leads into Moreton Pinkney village. Turn right at the main road to walk through the village, stopping to admire the impressive Victorian gatehouse. Just past the gatehouse, set back from the road, is the 12th-century church of St Mary the Virgin.
The Victorian gatehouse at Moreton Pinkney | © National Trust Stage 5
On the opposite side of the main road to the church, by Cherry Cottage, is a short path. Follow this to Prestidge Row, admiring the 18th-century cottages around the green. Turn left at the end of Prestidge Row, go down the hill and cross the footbridge by the ford over the brook.
Stage 6
Stay on the main track, bearing slightly left just before a bench. This leads through a beautiful tree-lined path. Follow this until you come to an old railway bridge on your left. Do not cross the bridge, but bear right and continue on the track, passing Foxhill Farm on your left. Continue on this track, passing between the walls of a dismantled railway bridge, until you reach a crossroads.
Stage 7
Cross straight over and follow the road to Crockwell Farm. Just before the farmhouse, take a sharp right up a short, steepish hill. Enjoy the view, then continue to follow the track that bends to the left until you reach the next road. Turn right.
Stage 8
Continue along the road, passing Cherry Tree Farm on the left, until you reach Mitre Barn. Turn right through the farm gate, onto the byway.
Stage 9
Walk straight on with the wall on your right, then keep to the left of the trees. The path forks at a large tree marked with a byway sign. Turn into the right-hand field. Keep to the left and follow the field boundary until you reach a pond.
Stage 10
At the pond, follow the concreted track to the right. When you reach the wood, turn right and follow the field boundary, which will turn sharply to the left. Continue round the edge of the field, with the hedge to the left, until you reach the end.
Stage 11
At the footpath sign, head straight on and, just beyond the field boundary, follow the direction indicated. After a few minutes, you'll see a kissing gate on the ridge ahead. Go through it and continue in the same direction to another kissing gate in the far hedge, which will take you to the road. As you walk over these fields, pause to admire the splendid views of Canons Ashby across the lake.
Stop to admire the stunning view of Canons Ashby | © National Trust Stage 12
Turn left at the road and head back towards the car park. Don't forget to visit the tea-room for some well-deserved refreshments.
End point
The car park at Canons Ashby. Grid ref: SP577506
Trail map
Map of Miss Alice's landscape walk at Canons Ashby | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Canons Ashby was home to the Dryden family for over 400 years and has a rich history. Discover how the house developed and about the people that made the house we see today.
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Find out more about the work the team are doing to improve biodiversity at Canons Ashby, including a recent project to restore the medieval stew ponds.
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The garden provides plenty of space for the family to have a great day out and enjoy the fresh air. You can also stretch your legs with one of the walks in the wider grounds.
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