Distance 4 miles

Description Anticlockwise

Pass in front of the Northampton Golf Course entrance continuing in the same direction until you turn right to cross over a stile, take care now you are crossing the first fairway of the golf course. 

Path now leads through Foxes Covert down to a bridge over the river and under the Northampton to Rugby railway line. After the rail bridge turn right and then left through a gate to join the bridle way to Lower Harlestone.

The track emerges in a lane behind the car-park of 'The Dusty Fox' public house where food and drinks are available. Turn left and at the A428 road, turn right to pass in front of 'The Dusty Fox' and after a few metres turn left crossing the road opposite the old forge.  

Careful navigation is now necessary, continue ahead with woodland on your left, follow the track that drops down behind farm buildings and cross a stream at a ford and then up to the village School. 

Cross a small road into a lane leading to St Andrew's Church. The Church is the centre of Lower and Upper Harlestone the estate villages forming part of the Althorp Estate.

St Andrew’s church Harlestone is situated on the edge of the Northampton Golf Course.   Upper and Lower Harlestone are linked with a number of footpaths, some having a tarmac surface, which allows all weather access for disabled person carriers and prams for young families.

From the Church take the path that crosses over the entrance road into the Golf Club House, and then continue ahead crossing one fairway to a gate on the perimeter of the course.

Ignore path on your left that enters Upper Harlestone, continue straight ahead passing the village hall  until arriving at a gate onto the road.  Turn right along the road and after a short distance turn left at road junction, grass triangle with a chestnut tree.

Opposite Cross Hill Farm, turn right onto a bridle way bearing left across a small field to a metal farm gate.  Turn left and then right through two metal farm gates to join an open bridle way with a hedgerow on your right.    The route now follows the Midshires Way to Nobottle.

Follow a good grass track to the top of Yew Tree Spinney and then continue in the same direction across an open field, heading towards a derelict farm building.        Pass the derelict building and cross another field before bearing left towards a farm gate on the corner of Nobottle Wood.    Turn right along side the woodland passing through Short Wood, and another farm gate, bear sharp left to reach a small fenced paddock, giving access onto the road at Nobottle.

Nobottle is a small hamlet on the road between Duston and Whilton.

Turn right along road for a short distance and then left down a minor through the village.   At the end of the road join a footpath on your left, cross stile into a field, continue in same direction with hedgerow on your right.   Cross through this hedgerow, at a stile, and continue with hedgerow now on your left.  Path joins a good stone track by the drive to West Lodge, continue ahead passing Harpole Covert on your right.

At the end of the Covert continue down a steep bank, first across a field and track, then in the same direction through metal gates across pasture land to arrive in School Lane Harpole.

Turn left along School Lane to All Saints Church on the corner of the High Street.   Harpole has a general provision store, three Public Houses and accommodation.