Mr F is getting his money's worth on "trails" again . . . though not as devious as last week 's suggestion that the proposed car park works over the Cherwell was in Oxford when Banbury was the actual location.
This week took quite a bit of close scrutiny of the OS Map to come up with the places mentioned since there are quite a few remains of Abbey and Priory earthworks in the area on or near the suggested route taken by the puzzler. One village, in particular, has two sites named the same - one the country house - the other - simply the remains of earthworks a tad South.
The spinster and her possible dalliance partner references made me chuckle - thanks GG and Etch!