Page 65 - Phonebox Magazine May 2013

A lovely circular walk via Cogenhoe and Whiston with excellent views and riverside scenery. Approximately 61/4 miles about 2.5 to 3 hours.
There is a pub in Cogenhoe and the Buttery in the interesting Rural Shopping Yard in Castle Ashby.
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FIN the verges are mostly wide enough to walk on and it is a reasonably quiet road, this now leads back in to Castle Ashby in approximately 3/4 of a mile.
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Park up in Castle Ashby and walk in a south westerly direction out of the village (towards the A428, there’s a pavement on the right hand side of the road) in about 3/4 of a mile turn left into a lane sign posted “no through road” and through the hamlet of Chadstone, follow the road down and round to the right (ignore the path signed off to the left) until you come to Chadstone Lodge farm.
At the first farm buildings turn left on to a bridleway along the right hand side of a hedge. The path continues into a small spinney and then along a field until it crosses a road. It then keeps straight on towards Whiston Spinney, follow the path slightly to the right and look for a left hand fork that crosses a bridge and into the woods.
On leaving the woods keep straight on to another small wood again keep to the left hand fork and ascend the “Jerusalem Steps” follow the path with the “Firs” wood on your right hand side, at the gate at the end of this field turn sharp right and descend another flight of steps (caution here as they may be slippery if it has recently rained). Now cross a field diagonally to the left to a hedge and then keep on until you reach a road.
Cross the road into a field and bear slightly left up the field towards the outskirts of Cogenhoe on your left (pronounced Cooknoe for non locals), Go through the gap in the fence and turn right up a narrow field towards a row of cottages, in the top right corner leave the field and head down a lane (with the cottages on your left) towards Cogenhoe Mill. This is a riverside caravan park, our path goes just inside the entrance passing the “Crossing Cottage” on your right.
Before reaching the old mill building and the water sluice there is a very small finger sign marked “Nene Way” pointing to the right between two buildings, this leads out of the site and follows a path to the left along various waterways out to the tow path along the bank of the River Nene. In approximately 1 mile along this lovely riverside walk you will reach the Whiston Lock.
Turn right at the lock and proceed up a broad farm track to the road, there are excellent views of Whiston church on the hilltop in front of you. Cross over the road and walk up into the village, at the triangle keep left and follow the lane round until in front of you is the gate into a path that leads up to the church of St. Mary Magdelene. Go around the church to a metal rung in a gap in the wall, climb over this; looking back gives good views of the church, and then turn right.
Follow the edge of the field and then right into another field and then straight up until you reach a gate on to a lane. Turn left, but caution here as there are no paths but
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Phonebox Magazine 65
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