Griffin Trail, Braybrooke: A Small Route Delivering Big Benefits
The Griffin Trail shows what can be achieved when parish councils, local authorities, landowners and businesses work together towards a shared vision.
Located on the edge of North Northamptonshire, close to the Leicestershire and West Northamptonshire borders, the trail was developed in response to evidence from the Braybrooke Neighbourhood Plan, the North Northamptonshire Greenway Strategy, and the growth of a new rural business. Through strong partnership working, more than £120,000 was secured to deliver a 1.8-metre-wide all-weather route, with local businesses helping to bridge funding gaps and bring the scheme to life.
The route now provides a safe, attractive off-road connection for walkers, wheelers and cyclists, linking into the wider active travel network, including the National Cycle Network route between Market Harborough and Northampton. Designated as a footpath with permissive cycling rights, it offers year-round access to the countryside and creates a valuable link between communities.
The impact has been immediate. Independent monitoring by the University of Northampton recorded more than 500 users on each of two consecutive weekends, demonstrating the strong demand for high-quality rural active travel routes. The evidence gathered has already helped support proposals to extend the trail and connect it to the Brampton Valley Way, creating an even stronger link between Braybrooke and Market Harborough.
The Griffin Trail has also delivered direct economic benefits. By bringing more visitors into the area, the route has helped support local businesses and strengthen the local economy.
“The Griffin Trail has been a fantastic collaboration between North Northamptonshire Council, Braybrooke Parish Council and ourselves. We opened our taproom at the brewery roughly the same time as the trail opened and it has added greatly to the number of people visiting us each week. I have lost count of the number of times that people have told me how much they love the trail, and have walked, run, cycled on their own, with friends, family, etc. I totally underestimated the positive impact the trail would have on the taproom. It has come as a very pleasant surprise after all the hard work put in by everyone.”
Braybrooke Beer Co.
The project’s success has attracted national recognition, being nominated by Active Travel England as one of Britain’s Best Community Projects 2025.
The University of Northampton has highlighted the Griffin Trail as an exemplar of how partnership working and evidence-led investment can unlock future improvements:
“The Griffin Trail and the wider Greenway project is an exemplar of local authorities working with landowners to create rural active travel routes.”
University of Northampton
Maintained jointly by Braybrooke Parish Council and Braybrooke Beer Co., the Griffin Trail demonstrates how relatively small investments in off-road connectivity can deliver significant community, health, environmental and economic benefits.
For parish councils and landowners considering similar projects, the Griffin Trail provides a compelling example of how collaborative working can create lasting local value while forming part of a wider Greenway network for future generations.
