From Fiveways, set off via Baker Street to Wrights Lane opposite the churchyard. Almost immediately on the right, at the public footpath sign, go through the gate into the field, and after 50 yards go over the broken stile. Cross the field, going downhill, and after about 300 yards climb over another stile by the new gate over the railway bridge.

Going over the bridge, and then over the canal bridge, continue in the same direction towards Rothersthorpe, keeping close by the hedge on the right. After about 250 yards, you'll arrive at a copse where you need to veer left for a few yards to reach an opening to cross the stream over a plank. After 100 yards you come to a field and then need to veer right, keeping close to the hedge on your left, and then straight on for about ½ mile crossing 2 fields.

Going over a stile, make for the white cottage about 300 yards on the other side of the field. There, go over another stile and into a lane by the church in Rothersthorpe. On reaching the road, turn right, soon passing the Baptist chapel and two mid-17th century cottages (the Old Bakehouse and Garden Cottage).

After a few yards, climb over a stile at the gap in the wall on the right. This path led across a field for about 100 yards to a stile and a bridge over a stream. In a short distance along the beaten path go over another stile and continued for about 200 yards along the path, bearing partly left to one more stile close to the road (an ostrich farm with birds in the open can be seen away to the right). Ignoring the adjacent stile, which leads on to the road, continue on the path parallel to the road until you come to a gate and a narrow gap in the adjacent fence through which you should pass.

Bearing slightly away from the road, walk for about 300 yards and go over the bridge between 2 large ponds. After a few yards go through a gate and on to the wide track leading up to a cattle grid and the road on the left.

Turning right, walk along the road and over the canal bridge and on to the canal towpath on the right. After about 1000 yards along the path, passing Gayton Marina, you reach the road, and, bearing right, past a farm and some cottages and other buildings, soon arrive at the junction with the Grand Union canal.

Going over the road bridge, walk along the towpath towards Gayton for 300 yards and cross over the bridge at Milton Road to continue along the towpath. After about a mile, at the second bridge, go up to the road (Wrights Lane), turning left towards Gayton. A short distance past the railway bridge take the sign-posted footpath to the right. Cut across the field, but as it is usually cultivated, it is little extra distance to go right along the edge for about 300 yards to the long wooden bridge over a stream. Crossing this, and keeping fairly close to the hedgerow, on your left, climbe gently uphill across the grassy field (horses may be grazing here) for about ¼ mile and pass through the gate into a lane bordered by hedges.

In a short while you'll reach Park Lane and turning left you'll eventually reach the High Street in Gayton via the Eykyn Arms car park. And so going past the two village pubs, you'll arrive back at Fiveways.

Dennis Shaw