Hike report - 1993

This year we headed north to Northamptonshire and an area close to Oxfordshire and a few miles to the east of Banbury.

We had planned to start the hike in the small village of Helmdon but upon discovered the local pub shut we drove on to Sulgrave. As a result we were now at the Saturday lunch stop and had knocked 3 miles from the overall distance.

Despite being half a day ahead of schedule we did not waste too much time on the Saturday morning. It was not long before we had walked the short distance from the pub to the gates of Sulgrave Manor, the home of George Washington’s ancestors.

A short photo session followed.

We continued heading north along the road and when it took a left turn we crossed over and joined the footpath that was to lead us all the way into Moreton Pinkney. A fairly uninteresting trek with nothing of note to report.

However, once off the path and at the first major road junction, we came across an impressive looking Victorian archway and turret that was attached to a small gatehouse.

After some examination we discovered that it was purely decorative and the roadway led to a church and a few houses.

We continued through the village until we reached the pub. This was to have been where we spent Saturday night but it had now become our lunchtime stop.

The Olde House at Home was a large white painted building set back just off the road. It was not long though before we were inside and enjoying the warmth.

Our timing could not have been better – the television was on and they were going to show the 5 nations rugby match involving England.

With the match over, it was decided that there was no point in hiking any further that day and we should now stay here for the night, as originally planned.

Nevertheless, feeling a bit guilty about this we decided to leave our rucksacks at the pub and walk up the road, for about a mile, to see Canons Ashby – A tranquil Elizabethan Manor House that now belongs to the National Trust.

There was nothing spectacular about Sunday, after breakfast and clearing the site, it was on with the rucksacks and on with the hike. We followed the road out towards the east and eventually joined a footpath that led in the direction of Weedon Lois. From there it was onto Weston, where we had a spot of lunch in the Crown PH.

The original plan was of course to hike south to Helmdon, but instead it we went south-west towards Sulgrave.

Fortunately there were clearly marked paths all the way, although at one stage we thought we would never get back. Of course there was eventually ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ – the tunnel being under the railway we needed to cross before our arrival back in Sulgrave.

With the hike complete we loaded the gear and ourselves into the cars and headed home.