1
Turn left outside the pub and head gently downhill past a bridge to the crossroads. Take the Harcamlow Way footpath opposite. Cross the stream, bear left to follow the path along the field edge, and cross an earth bridge beside an iron gate. Keep ahead along a track passing a watermill and before the house, go through a gate on the left. Pass the remains of Tilty Abbey (TL601267).
Overgrown at Harcamlow Way footpath
(A) The 12th century Tilty Abbey, was once a thriving community with its own vineyard.The church of St Mary the Virgin is the main building left of the abbey complex.A small patch of 13th Century wall painting can be seen on the South wall and there are some well preserved brasses in the floor.
Continue through the field and go through the kissing-gate along a centuries old path leading to Tilty church (TL600264),
2
At the T-junction past the church turn right along the lane and, after 400m, turn left before a house called Pumpkin Hall. The path (which can be very muddy in the winter) crosses a stream and continues across fields. Keep to the right of the ditch as the grassy path later curves first right and then left and continues to a lane. Cross this, go over the stile, through a gate and head towards a gate on the opposite side of the paddock. Cross the footbridge, head along the left-hand field edge to a lane and turn right.
3
Where the lane bends sharp right keep ahead along a bridleway and, after about 100m, look out for a narrow footpath to the left of a paddock’s fencing where you leave the Harcamlow Way. Continue ahead to reach an enclosed path between more paddocks and join the farm track between Brook End Farm and its stables. At the lane turn left to pass Easton Lodge (TL593239).
(B) Easton Lodge was once home to Edward VII’s mistress. Its gardens are open from Easter until October.
Continue along the lane, ignoring all paths off to left and right, and pass between two ponds to reach Little Easton church (TL604235).
(C) Also dating form the 12th century, Little Easton church boasts an unusual Louvain Crusader tomb and a Norman motte on private land to the right of the church. It also has a set of wall paintings on the north wall of the nave.
4
At a public footpath sign turn left just before the church and go through the small iron gate on the right of the main one to enter the grounds to Little Easton Manor (TL604236). Pass between buildings, go through another gate leading to a grassy path across fields, and pass between two more ponds. Ignore the footpath sign on the right and continue ahead beside the fence as it curves right, to join the bridleway. Keep ahead to a road.
5
Turn left and after 300m turn right at a public footpath sign along an enclosed path between houses. Where the gardens end bear left, and follow the downhill path to the right of a stream. Turn left over the second footbridge, keep ahead turning right across another footbridge, and go over a stile. Turn left, keep ahead to pass to the right of a copse, follow the riverside path and before the ditch turn right to follow the line of pylons, heading towards a waymarked fingerpost. Cross the plank footbridge, cross another bridge by a fingerpost and head towards the backs of houses to reach a road, with the Swan pub on your left.
6
Turn right and opposite Great Easton church (TL607255) turn left at a public footpath sign to the right of the village hall, and go through a gate. Keep ahead and bear right along a gravel path. At the fingerpost turn left across the field and at the waymarked fingerpost cross the plank footbridge. Continue along the right-hand field edge path and at the road turn left to return to the Three Horseshoes pub.
