Upton Park to Kislingbury

Location: Upton Park, High St, Northampton NN5 4EH

Distance: 5 miles/ 8 kms

Time: 1.5 hours - 2 hours

Hey, you're back! It's good to see you!

This weeks walk was particularly beautiful as it was unintentionally perfectly timed with golden hour as the sun set on another gorgeous autumn day.

Start by parking in the Upton Park car park and make your way to the left of the car park and onto the gravel pathway which takes you round the first section of the country park.

Sticking to the path you will pass a large sheep field to your right and this covers the first mile of your walk. Look out to your left and you will see the River Nene as well as the Grand Union Canal. As you reach the first mile mark you'll come to two metal gates which you must go through and then bear left over the dam lock bridge and on towards the concrete bridge. Once you have crossed both these bridges you will see Upton Country Park gate to your right. Follow the route through the park here.

As you walk along this track, take notice of the herons, swans and geese that call these reservoirs their home.

If you're a sloe gin fan then keep your eyes peeled for sloe berry (blackthorn) bushes as you can pick them and add them to plain gin to create your own.

After walking along this track for about a mile you will reach a metal gate. Come through the gate and continue up and over the road. Having crossed the road and walked down the small pathway, you will reach another road track where you will then turn right and make your way to the gate into the field on your left.

Follow the yellow gravel path along the raised levee through the sheep field making sure you say hello to our woolly friends. The pathway route takes you through two sheep fields so if you have dogs please keep them on the lead.

       

Once you reach Kislingbury you'll come to a wooden gate which you need to go through and onto the country road and continue straight on. This is the point where you decide if you want to stop off at the lovely little pub called Cromwell Cottage which you'll see on your left or whether to continue your walk by turning right and heading over the River Nene via the footbridge.

Now you've crossed over the bridge continue along the pathway until you get to a gate on your right, turn here and follow the trail through a small woodland and out the other side following the River Nene back towards Upton. 

You'll come to the paved walkway that leads all the way back to Upton however if you want to meet some more sheepies then turn right when you reach a gate on your right. Cross over the bridge and continue walking along the levee until to get to the other side of the sheep field. You'll walk under the road bridge and past one left turn. 

This is where your walk is coming to an end. Rejoin the paved walkway and turn right towards the farm. When you get to the end of Upton Country Park walkway turn left and then take a right at the first wooden gate you reach.

Follow the path round the park either left or right and you will come back round to the car park at the end.