Distance 2.5 miles

Description Clockwise

On leaving Sywell Country Park turn right onto the small country road and walk uphill, to join a footpath on your left, just after East Lodge Farm.   This path passes through a lovely avenue of trees before emerging on the A4500 road.

Turn right and then left into Wellingborough Road Ecton village.  Ecton has two public houses, but no shops.

After passing the War Memorial, the road continues into the High Street.  Towards the end of High Street the route follows a village path to your right, this joins the end of West Street, turn left onto a footpath heading south.

The path emerges on a road, continue down this road to cross over the A45 dual carriage way, and then immediately left onto a short section of tarmac that joins a byway heading south.    This area does become an illegal dumping ground, not a place to admire the scenery.

Continue in a southerly direction, passing through the Anglia Water Authority irrigation farm, and the fishing lakes before arriving at the first Nene river crossing, on an old packhorse stone bridge.   Bear right across pastureland to the lock gate and access to Cogenhoe Mill, an area for recreation, boating, fishing and bird watching, etc.

When the access road to Cogenhoe turns left, continue straight ahead on a footpath to the village.  Initially, the path windings through the village to join Church Street, by the War Memorial.     Continue along Church Street, with its imposing buildings and houses, to arrive at the cross roads adjacent to the ‘Royal Oak’ public house.        

Cogenhoe has one public house and a shop.

Description Anticlockwise

At the cross roads in Cogenhoe, and opposite the ‘Royal Oak’ public house, the route continues down Church Street.  On arrival at the Church rooms and War Memorial, take the right hand road and then left down a small lane that leads to two cottages, looks like a dead end but in fact the path turns left towards Cogenhoe Mill, this section is on the Nene Way long distance path.

The path passes between two gardens to a gate and pasture land over looking Cogenhoe Mill a delightful area for recreation, boating, fishing and bird watching, etc.

Continue straight down the field to another gate giving access onto Mill Lane.     Turn left to pass the Mill and after the second bridge, over the Nene river, bear right heading for the pack horse bridge.

Cross the packhorse bridge and continue north on the track to the A45 road crossing, through the Anglia Water Authority water treatment area.   When the track turns right, continue straight ahead on a path that emerges at the A45 on a short section of tarmac road that runs parallel to the A45.  Turn left onto this short section of road, which unfortunately is also used as a dumping ground, and then right to cross over the A45 on the road bridge.

The route now follows the small road towards Ecton village, until a footpath on your left is reached.   Join the footpath and continue in a northerly direction to access into the end of West Street Ecton.  Turn right along a village path to reach the High Street and then turn left to walk through Ecton village along the High Street.      

Ecton has two public houses but no shops.

At the War Memorial  bear right to the Wellingborough Road  and then turn right on the path alongside the A4500, for a short distance, before crossing over to join a path heading north.

The path now turns north east to pass through an avenue of trees and emerges on a small country road at East Lodge Farm.  On reaching the road turn right and follow this road down the hill to Sywell Country Park, where refreshments and car parking are available.