Distance: Approximately 9 miles or 14.5km
Time: 3 hours 30 mins
Terrain: flat/slopes/steps/bridges/gravel paths/grass/road
Eat/Toilet Stop: Yes
General Information: This walk begins (and ends) at the Ferry Meadows Visitors Centre
then follows the path alongside the Nene Valley railway until it joins the river up to Alwalton Lock. It then cuts across lovely meadows where we rejoin the river and follow it up to the beautiful village of Water Newton. From there we walk through the lovely villages of Ailsworth and Castor and then drop back down to Ferry Meadows when we go over Milton Ferry Bridge and pick up the breathtaking Riverside Walk that runs through Bluebell Wood.
Look out for the red information along the route for places of interest and stops for refreshments.
- 1 Starting at the Visitor Centre (X) turn right, heading in the direction of the Caravan Park and Nene Valley railway station.
Overton Station is on the Nene Valley Railway Line:
Nene Valley Railway
- 2 Just before you cross the road to the railway station, take a sharp right and follow the path alongside the track.
- 3 When you reach this signpost, turn left and walk over the railway bridge.
...joining the path to Alwalton which is just over 1 mile/3km long.
It has some long, gentle, upward slopes, but halfway along the path, these chairs provide a welcome rest and have some wonderful high views across the tree tops to the river and meadows beyond.
- 6 At the bottom of the steps, turn left..
...and follow the path along the river. It eventually bears left and goes up a very steep hill.
When you reach the road at the top of the hill, you're in the pretty village of Alwalton
If you look to the left, you'll see Lynch Lodge.
Lynch Lodge, Alwalton.
If you look to the right, you'll see Alwalton Church.
- At this point, you can turn right to continue your walk * or turn left and stop at the village for refreshments at:
Alwalton Tea Room, Shop and Post Office
Alwalton Tea Room, Shop and Post Office
The Cuckoo, Alwalton.
The Cuckoo, Alwalton
Just outside the village, if you turn left onto Oundle Road, it's just a 5 minute walk to the East of England Arena and Marriott Hotel roundabout where you'll find:
Alwalton Harvestor
Alwalton Harvester
* Follow this road all the way down the very steep slope and walk through the gate at the bottom.
In front of you is a tiny bridge which stands on the site of the old Alwalton Mill.
- 7 Follow the narrow winding path until you reach Alwalton Lock. Walk through the Lock and when you reach the final gate, walk straight ahead through the meadow, heading towards the bridge and windmill (X)
- 8 Continue on past the windmill and go through the gate, following the path next to Castor Mill.
- 9 At this point, join the left-hand path as marked.
- 10 When you reach this gate, cross over the stile and take a sharp left towards the (X)
- 11 At the bottom of the slope, cross over this little bridge and follow the pathway bearing left.
This meadow pathway is approx 1 mile/3 km long. The river comes into view on the left hand side, with the Nene Valley railway line on your right, and runs through stiles and bridges until you reach the quaint village of Water Newton (visible here to your left).
- 12 When you reach this point, you can either turn left and explore Water Newton (X) or turn right to follow the path across to the railway line.
- 13 When you've crossed the railway line, join the narrow road straight ahead and follow it straight into Ailsworth. At the end of this road, turn right.
The first of several refreshment stops is just two minutes walk from here:
The Coffee House
The Coffee House - Ailsworth
- 14 Continue along this pavement and follow it until it stops*.
As you walk along this road into Castor, you have many more opportunities to stop:
The Prince of Wales Feathers
The Prince of Wales Feathers
The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak
The Chubby Castor
The Chubby Castor - Fitzwilliams Arms
- *when the pavement stops at the bottom of Love Hill, cross the road. Continue on up the hill and straight along the pavement for about half a mile until you reach this point, where you'll need to cross the busy road.
The red cross marks the top of Castor Hill. Follow that road back down into Ferry Meadows and you'll glimpse some spectacular views of the whole park on your way down.
- 15 At the bottom of the hill is Milton Ferry Bridge...
...but don't go over it. Instead, take the left-hand path beside it.
- 16 Follow this river path for about 5 minutes until you reach this split path at Bluebell Wood.
The lower path to the right takes you directly alongside the river on a raised board walk and has beautiful views of the river. The path to the left takes you up above the woods and has amazing high views of the woods and river below.
Both paths lead directly to a main pathway where you turn right and then go over Bluebell Bridge.
- 17 Follow the path until you reach the next bridge (Ham Bridge) then go left over it.
- 18 At the bottom of Ham Bridge, turn left and follow the long river path until you get to the next bridge.
- 19 Go over this bridge and take a sharp right.
- 20 At the end of the path, turn right.
- 21 Finally, cross the road and follow the path back to the Visitors Centre.
That's the end of your walk, I hope you've enjoyed it!
