The best walks and hikes around Northampton

Explore the centre of one of England’s largest and most historic towns

Walks around Northampton’s centre reveal a town with a rich history. The area has been settled since the Bronze Age, though it was the establishment of Northampton Castle that really put it on the map in Norman times. The castle was frequented by royals and also regularly hosted the Parliament of England, though it had a tumultuous history. What remained of the castle by 1879 was demolished to make way for Northampton railway station.

Many of the town’s buildings burned down during the Great Fire of Northampton in 1675 and it was rebuilt in the centuries that followed. Northampton has this event and the industrial prosperity that followed to thank for the fine range of buildings that surround its large Market Square. Here is a great place to start when exploring the town’s streets, narrow passageways, museums and galleries.

Natural beauty in and around the town

Some of the best hiking routes around Northampton can be discovered in Harlestone Firs’ 300 acres (121 ha) of coniferous woodland. Owned by the Althorp Estate, which was the childhood home of Princess Diana, it’s a gorgeous place to explore all year round.

To the north of the town is the idyllic setting of Pitsford Water Nature Reserve. This extensive reservoir was constructed in 1955, supports a wide range of wildlife and is a serene place for an amble. Bird hides allow you to watch the large population of wildfowl that inhabit the lake. It’s magical in winter, when up to 10,000 birds can be spotted, including teal, pintail, gadwall and wigeon.

Along Northampton’s waterways

There are some beautiful walks around Northampton along its principal waterways: the River Nene and the Grand Union Canal. The Nene was early Northampton’s lifeblood and was the site of England’s first water-powered cotton spinning mill in 1742. Its water meadows, wetlands and nature reserves are a haven for birdlife and offer peaceful trails.

Around 500 acres (202 ha) of woodland, open grassland and lakeside strolls can be found at Delapré Park. The park is situated by the privately-owned Delapré Abbey, which was established on a meadow by the Nene 900 years ago by a community of nuns. The estate’s outer gardens are also free to enter and are open all year round.