[1] Go left from the parking area towards the church, passing a road on the right. When the road takes a sharp left at the church, take the footpath, which starts at a Jurassic Way signpost, straight ahead down a drive to a stile, then alongside a wall to an elegantly designed kissing gate. The route from here to the canal follows the Jurassic Way, and its waymarks are easy to follow. Walk diagonally left over the next field to a stile into a large field. Go right, up hill to a gap in the hedge and follow the field path to a gap that leads into a small wood. Follow the path to a field and cross it diagonally left across to the far field edge. Follow the field edge for a further two fields to find a stile and bridge under a railway, (the west coast main line), emerge over a stile and go diagonally right to meet a stile onto a road (A 5 Trunk Road).
[2] Cross the road (very busy so take extra care when crossing) to the gates of a caravan sales yard, turn left along the verge to a footpath on the right. Follow the path to the canal and Watford Locks, go over the foot bridge and turn right to continue the walk passing two further locks (take care near the water edge, especially if with children).
Please feel free to turn left to see the Watford Staircase locks before continuing the walk.
(A) Watford Locks, a flight of 7 locks on the Grand Union Canal Leicester Arm. Interestingly it includes a staircase of four lock chambers.
Now leaving the Jurassic Way, continue along the towpath with the canal on the right for 2.25 Miles, passing the back of Watford Gap Services (M1), picturesque canal bridges and two large marinas.
[3] On arriving at Norton canal junction, turn right over the footbridge.
(B) This is a major junction where the Leicester arm of the Grand Union Canal leaves the main London to Birmingham route.
Bear left to a track over a canal bridge. At the far end of the bridge take steps on the right back down to the canal, continue with the canal on your right for 1.75 miles to arrive at Braunston Tunnel.
(C) The canal travels through this 1873 metre tunnel, our walk follows the route over the top of the hill where the boatmen would have lead their towing horses.
Walk up the track at the side of the tunnel entrance to find a clear path going straight ahead, along field edges, then a metalled track, crossing a road to a dirt track which has lovely views ahead to Braunston church and eventually descends to reach the West Portal of the tunnel. Continue along the towpath passing two locks, at the third lock turn right over a bridge to the Admiral Nelson Pub.
(D) This building was a farmhouse before the canal was built.
[4] Continue along Dark Lane, with the canal now on the left. Take a sharp right and follow the lane up to a T Junction and turn right. Follow the road then turn left into Spinney Hill. When the road bends to the left and becomes Ashby Road, turn right onto a metalled track, you are now back on The Jurassic Way.
(E) The Jurassic Way is a 90 mile long distance path from Banbury, Oxfordshire to Stamford in Linconshire which follow a limestone ridge through Northamptonshire for much of its length.
Keep on the track for 0.75 of a mile to reach fields, follow the way marked path ahead with the hedge to the right, to reach a road. Turn right for a few metres then left again along the right edge of fields to meet a main road (Busy road, cross with care).
Cross the road and continue along the road opposite back to Ashby St Ledgers and the car park.
(F) Ashby St Ledgers has a number of points of interest including the home of the Gunpowder plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th, November 1605, the ring leaders were Robert Catesby who lived in the Manor House and Guy Fawkes. The church is a really interesting one and is well worth a look. It has some fascinating medieval wall paintings. Look for the large skeleton at the back, and Saint Christopher opposite the main door.