Brackley - St James' Lake & Town

Please Note: As part of the Trail route is along Brackley Park, you may encounter puddles and mud after wet weather, so appropriate footwear is advised.

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around Brackley, with Explorers helping antiques expert Noah Lott track down his stolen car and priceless Ming vase before the thieves make a clean getaway.

The quest covers approximately 2.5 miles and should take around 2.5 hours to complete. You’ll follow clues from the Market Place and High Street, through Brackley Park, Pebble Lane, St Peter’s Church, Halls Lane, St James’ Lake and back towards the Town Hall.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route includes a mixed bag of paths and surfaces, with some stretches that can become muddy or puddle-splattered after wet weather, especially in winter. Sturdy footwear is recommended, and keep Mini Explorers close near roads, crossings, narrow paths, the lake and any slippier sections.

Getting There

Time to gather your crew and begin this antique-rescue adventure:

By car - Park your expedition vehicle in the Market Place, High Street (NN13 7AB), using ///fuss.tilts.invested.

Parking is free for up to three hours between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, which should give you enough time to tackle the Trail. It’s best to avoid the Market Place on market days, when spaces may be harder to find.

Your adventure begins at the Town Hall, the lone building in the middle of the Market Place with its clock tower overhead.

By public transport

Make your way into Brackley town centre, then head for the Market Place and Town Hall to begin the hunt.

Need the Loo?

Even seasoned vase-rescuers need a comfort break before the clues get delicate. Public toilets can be found by the Market Place bus stop and behind The Old Fire Station after Clue 03, so you’ve got handy options early in the adventure.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers can join the outdoor adventure 🐾

This route includes town pavements, road crossings, churchyard paths, parkland, lakeside areas, narrow lanes and mixed surfaces. Keep canine companions close throughout, especially near traffic, St James’ Lake and any muddy or slippery sections. Any dog attempting to “retrieve” the Ming vase should be reminded that antiques and enthusiastic paws rarely mix.

Food & Drink Stops

Tracking stolen treasure can leave the whole crew peckish.

You’ll find plenty of cafes and other refreshment stops along the High Street and around the Market Place. Alternatively, pack a picnic and enjoy a well-earned feast beside St James’ Lake around Clues 14-15, once you’ve shaken off a few false hideouts.

Want to Make a Day of It?

St James’ Lake

St James’ Lake is the strongest picnic-and-pause spot on the route. It gives the adventure a greener, calmer stretch and makes a lovely place to refuel before the final push back towards town.

St Peter’s Church

St Peter’s has centuries of history tucked into its stonework, possibly stretching back to the 7th century. Look out for the Norman arch above the south door, the carved faces around the tower doorway and the grisly legend of the priest and his faithful dog.

Brackley Town Hall and Market Place

The Town Hall gives the quest a proper centrepiece. The current building was built in the early 1700s on the site of a medieval wooden cross, then later sold back to the town for just one shilling. Not bad for a bargain landmark.

Magdalene College School and Chapel of St James

Brackley’s medieval care network began with the Hospital of St John in 1150 and Chapel of St James in 1160. The chapel still hosts worship today and is believed to be England’s oldest building continuously used by a school.