Two circular walks around Badby and Fawsley
Both are covered in this leaflet in PDF format, issued by Northamptonshire County Council.
The northern circular starts at the picnic area on the A361 to the north of Badby and is a walk around Badby of approx 1.9 miles.
The southern circular starts near Fawsley Hall and takes you to Badby and back to Fawsley and is approx 2.3 miles. These 2 walks can easily be combined.
Walk to Staverton and Hellidon
Although this is a description of a 8 mile walk starting in Staverton you can easily pick up a starting point in Badby and follow the route which takes in Catesby Viaduct and part of the Jurassic Way.
Newnham, Everdon and Fawsley
A lovely 7.5 mile circular walk, walking along the Nene Way to Newnham and taking in Everdon, and Fawsley, before coming back into Badby via Badby Woods and The Knightley Way.
Note: this walk was described in 2012 and references to the Windmill Inn are now out of date.
Walk to Arbury Hill and Hellidon
This 3 mile walk from Badby to Hellidon passes Arbury Hill, the joint highest point of Northamptonshire. You can follow a series of quiet country lanes and other tracks between the two villages with nice views of the hill and the surrounding countryside.
To make it a circular route from Hellidon you can then walk back to Badby via part of the Jurassic Way, either turning right heading north to Lower Catesby or go further on to Staverton before heading back to Badby, or left heading south-east to Charwelton, Fawsley and then Badby.
The Knightley Way
This is a 22.5 mile walk, starting by St Mary’s Church in Badby, and finishing in Greens Norton, near Towcester. The route is way-marked clearly, and crosses some of the most beautiful countryside in Northamptonshire.
The Nene Way
Following the River Nene through the beautiful Nene Valley, this long distance path runs for over 100 miles, passing Northampton, Wellingborough, Oundle, Peterborough and Wisbech.
The Nene Way starts in Badby near the Village Hall and takes you through the local villages of Newnham, Little Everdon, Weedon and Flore before carrying on to Northampton and beyond, eventually ending at The Wash. The route is clearly way-marked.
Badby Woods
Badby Woods is part of the Fawsley Estate and is private property, but is open to all visitors to enjoy its natural beauty. It has many footpaths leading from the entrance at Badby Woods arch and the Knightley Way ( the only Right of Way in the woods) passes along its perimeter. It is a protected wildlife area, and has a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within the woods. The ruins of the Dower House can be seen from the Woods but they are on private land.
Parking in Badby
When bringing your car to Badby to start your walk, then please consider residents’ access when parking. Parking spaces for several cars are available in Everdon Road at the bottom of the path to the Badby Woods arch; also on the lay-by and picnic area on the A361 about 500 yards north of Badby village, from where a footpath into Badby crosses the field.
If you are planning to walk the Knightley Way from its start by the church in Badby, please park at one of the above car parks, or on the road by the main village green; there are no parking spaces near the church owing to narrow roads and residents’ access needs.
Planning some refreshment before or after your walk? Then use the car park adjoining The Maltsters Arms .
Amended 19 April 2021