Swish through the grass and breathe in the scents of Spring between these tranquil villages. There’s a choice of a 13km shorter walk, a 19.5km longer walk and a bike ride with a short off-road adventure! Walk directions and map can be downloaded below.

Short Walk Directions (Red route) 13km / 4.5 hours walking time (not including breaks)

From the War Memorial in front of St James the Great Church in Paulerspury (A) walk through the churchyard and turn Left towards Pury End. Descend through the field to cross a small stream and ascend the field the other side keeping to the left hand path. On reaching the road turn left. When the road bends sharp Right, with Kings Lane straight ahead, turn Left and cross the small stream (B). Follow the path along the field edge.

When the path along the edge of the field bears Left, slightly uphill, carry straight on into a small wooded area. Leave this wooded area by climbing the stile to enter a field. Head straight across this field to cross another stile. Keep to the Right hand side of this field until you reach a small pond hidden in the trees on your Right. Turn Left and follow the path slightly uphill through the crop towards a small wooden post to reach a flatter grassy area (the Polo Field). Turn Right and follow the crop edge to the hedge in front of you (C).

Pass through the hedge and bear Left to another hedge. Stay on the path through the crop through the next field to the next hedge. At this hedge turn Right and follow the path to the edge of a wood on your Left (D).

Go ahead into the next field and follow the right hand side of this field. Don’t go through the small gate on your Right, but carry on down with the woodland on your Left until you reach a road (E).

Cross straight over the road to join another footpath. Follow this down, with woodland on your Right at first, to a small stream in a ditch. Turn Left, follow this stream and use a tiny bridge to go through a very thick hedge. Follow the footpath with a hedge on your Right and fields on your Left until you meet a small road. Turn Right along the road and follow it as it bears Left in front of some cottages (F).

Just after the last cottage turn Right and follow the path across a small field. Stay with the stream and a hedge on your Left through the next field. At the end of the next field turn Left over the steam and continue in the same direction with the stream on your Right. Pass by Valley Farm and join a small road which will lead you to the main road through Lillingstone Lovell. Turn Right on this road, pass the church on your Right and at a bend in the road Glebe Farm will be on your Left (G).

To return to Pury End and Paulerspury reverse the above walk directions.

Long Walk Directions (Pink route) 19.5km / 6.5 hours walking time (not including breaks)

The permissive path through the Wakefield Estate is currently open (no cycling, and no dogs please), as is the ArTea Room in Wakefield Country Courtyard. Why not add on an extra loop?

Follow the Red Route walk directions to (D).

Turn Left along the bridleway to reach the Plumpton End road. Cross almost straight across the road to join the well signposted permissive path through the Wakefield Estate. You can either bear Right when you reach Wakefield Farm, or carry on towards the ArTea Room in Wakefield Country Courtyard for refreshments (https://www.artearoom.co.uk/ ) then retrace your steps to the Farm and then head south to the Whittlebury / Deanshanger road.

Turn Right up the road and follow it for just over 1km. Be aware that this is a narrow road with fast traffic.  Turn Left onto a bridleway shortly before the overhead power lines cross the road, and descend with the hedge on your Left to the cottages (F).

To complete the walk follow the Red Route walk directions.

Cycling Directions (Green route)

Fancy a bike ride with a short section of off-road cycling on a bridleway?

Cycle from Paulerspury to Plumpton End and on to the junction with the Whittlebury / Deanshanger road. Turn Left along the road for 0.5km. Be aware that this is a narrow road with fast traffic. Then turn Right down the bridleway shortly after the overhead power lines cross the road. When you reach the cottages on your Right (F) stay on the small road to Lillingstone Lovell.  At the road junction turn Right and follow the road, cross the stream, pass the church on your Right and at a bend in the road Glebe Farm will be on your Left (G).

Either return by the same route or, if you don’t mind cycling for a bit longer on the busier road, cycle past Wicken Wood to the Whittlebury to Deanshanger road, turn Left along this road, then turn Right along the road to Plumpton End and Paulerspury.

All of these walks and cycle routes are on legal rights of way (footpaths and bridleways). Please remember that cycling along bridleways is allowed but you cannot legally cycle on footpaths.

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