www.broxtowecountrytrail.co.uk www.broxtowecountrytrail.co.uk Broxtowe Country Trail Trail Country Broxtowe es outcling rand cy es kingaled wtwith associa liTra ountry C ewotroxB TheThe Broxtowe Country Trail is a long Broxtowe Country Trail is a long distance walking and cycling route which distance walking and cycling route which roughly follows the boundary between roughly follows the boundary between Nottingham City and the Borough of Nottingham City and the Borough of Broxtowe. The route follows bridleways, Broxtowe. The route follows bridleways, quiet roads and some sections of busy quiet roads and some sections of busy road connecting the Trent Valley with road connecting the Trent Valley with Sherwood Forest and the Peak District.Sherwood Forest and the Peak District. Acknowledgements This project was conceived and developed The core partners wish to record their thanks to through a partnership led by: the following partners for their valuable support Broxtowe Borough Council, in delivering this project. Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council. Introduction and Guidance The Bigger and Smaller picture Summary of the route Safety warnings BIGGER The trail starts alongside the River Trent near Cyclists please be aware that the trail The trail is about 27 miles and connects the award winning Attenborough Nature follows some very busy on road routes with the Erewash Valley Trail at its southern Centre and at Beeston Marina follows the denoted by on the map. and northern ends offering the chance to road system to Nottingham University and Full purple sections are quieter or are circumnavigate the Borough of Broxtowe, some 41 miles. Wollaton Park and Museum. Returning to the dedicated cycle ­tracks. Please be very wary road it follows the disused Nottingham Canal, at road crossings and junctions. Cyclists The trail links with many existing well known now a Local Nature Reserve, before joining should dismount if necessary. All cyclists trails including with the bridleway system of Strelley with should consider using helmets and hi Trent Valley Way (and Derbyshire’s its open countryside and spectacular views. visibility clothing. Trent Valley Greenway) Passing close to the Monks Way in Strelley Ashfi eld’s Hidden Valleys the route passes through Kimberley with Most of the route is reasonably level with River Leen Corridor its brewing and railway heritage towards few steep inclines. It is suitable for disabled The Big Track the thriving town of Bulwell. Onwards then access for much of its length although Erewash Valley Trail to Bulwell Hall Park and Hucknall with its some sections have kissing gates and other Nutbrook Trail Rolls Royce connections towards Greasley features which would make use of a mobility Robin Hood Way passing close to the ruin of Beauvale scooter diffi cult or impossible. Please contact The Monks Way ­ Ilkeston to Strelley The National SUSTRANS network also Priory then alongside Moorgreen Reservoir 0115 917 7777 or 0115 915 5555 if you need advice when planning your route. connects with the trail providing long towards Underwood. From there it passes distance connections across the country. through the pretty village of Bagthorpe, well served with a range of pubs, towards Broxtowe and Broxtowe!! Please see the Broxtowe Cycling Map leafl et Brinsley and crossing the Erewash Valley by There is often some confusion over the name forfor an overview of cycling in the Boro an overview of cycling in the Borough.ugh. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve Broxtowe which applies to two distinctly at Aldercar Flash. The Trail then reconnects to SMALLER separate areas which are close to each other:­ Erewash Valley Trail the northern end of the Erewash Valley Trail There are many links highlighted on at the canal basin at Langley Mill. One is the Borough of Broxtowe which is a the map which provide opportunities district council formed in 1974, the boundary to explore local circular loops or tackle Points of interest of which is shown by a light green area on the whole trail in small sections. the large map. The trail takes in a vast range of wildlife, heritage and tourism features. Major features The other is a ward of Nottingham City shown include the DH Lawrence Heritage Centre as a orange area on the large map. in Eastwood, Wollaton Hall, Attenborough Nature Centre and the many attractions It is not clear how the word Broxtowe was Summary of the route from South to North associated with Nottingham City Centre. created although “stowe” means dwelling place and Broxtowe was historically an administrative area or Wapentake created by the Danes and taking in a large part of The route takes in the following locations: Nottinghamshire. Latterly the name has been associated with Badgers which is a major 1 Attenborough and River Trent Ashfi eld feature in the Armorial Bearing or Coat of 18 District Arms for the Borough of Broxtowe. 2 Beeston Lock and Lock Cottages Council 17 3 Nottingham University 19 12 13 4 Wollaton Park and Village 16 21 20 5 Trowell Moor 15 22 Eastwood 14 6 Strelley Village 11 10 7 Swingate and Kimberley Amber Valley 9 8 Low Wood Borough Kimberley 9 Bulwell Council 7 8 10 Bulwell Hall Park Broxtowe 11 Hucknall Airfi eld Borough 6 12 Council Nottingham Hucknall City 13 Beauvale Priory 5 14 Moorgreen 4 15 Colliers Wood 3 16 Moorgreen Reservoir Erewash Stapleford 17 Underwood Borough 2 18 Bagthorpe Village Council Beeston 19 Brinsley 1 20 Brinsley Headstocks Attenborough 21 Aldercar Flash Rushcliffe Borough Council 22 Langley Mill Kimberley Enjoying our wildlife Local attractions near the route before continuing to Brinsley with its large Church and timber headstocks highlighting the The trail holds a rich variety of wildlife so The trail lies close to a range of attractions in the country. It was built using similar areas mining connections. keep your eyes open for a stunning mix of with the southern end connected to riverside technology to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. fl ora and fauna. You will see wetland birds features such as Trent Lock, Attenborough The route now crosses the Erewash Valley As the route passes towards Bulwell Hall Park including grebes and herons at Attenborough, Nature Centre, Beeston Lock and waterfront, passing by Aldercar Flash a wetland area it passes very close to Hucknall Airfi eld with Wollaton Park and Moorgreen. Look out for Trent Embankment, Nottingham’s canal formed as a result of mining and now refuge its military connections and long time testing farmland fi nches and buzzards at Trowell. waterfront. Nottingham City Centre offers for wetland birds. Langley Mill is the last point ground for Rolls Royce aero engines. You may get a glimpse of a kingfi sher or attractions such as Nottingham Castle, of interest with its Canal Basin and historical railway connections. This is the closest point on watervole or if you are lucky even a rarity Caves, ancient pubs and of course theatres, Crossing the M1 westwards the trail passes Langley Mill Basin such as otter, barn owl or bittern. Gypsywort ­ Photographer: Stig Madsen restaurants and shopping. close to the ruins of Beauvale Priory before the trail to access the D. H. Lawrence Heritage turning alongside the Moorgreen Reservoir. Centre and Birthplace Museum. Moving north the trail passes close to the We are now in the author, D H Lawrence’s busy town centre of Beeston and Nottingham Please see the Erewash Valley Trail leafl et for country and his Birthplace Museum and the University with its Arts centre, Archaeological more information on attractions west of the D H Lawrence Heritage Centre can be found in museum, Tennis centre and the attractive Broxtowe Country Trail. the heart of the interesting town of Eastwood. Highfi elds Park where visitors can enjoy a spot of boating in the summer months. The broadleaved woodland on the banks of the Moorgreen Reservoir hold rich birdlife and Nottingham University has extensive grounds at the northern end there are connections to and gardens and next to this we have the Ashfi elds Hidden Valleys with its gems such impressive Elizabethan Mansion, Wollaton Hall as Papplewick and Newstead. Bagthorpe Common Blue ­ with its museums, lake and deer park. The Photographer: Paul Shaw Village sits pleasantly in the landscape with delightful Wollaton village boasts an ancient several pubs offering the chance for a break church the old village pump forming a pretty Jay ­ Photographer: Sean Browne centrepiece. Further north the route touches on the disused Nottingham Canal which is now a Nature Reserve and as the trail heads towards historic Wollaton Hall Otter ­ Bennerley Viaduct Photographer: Darin Smith Strelley it offers spectacular views of the Erewash Valley. Kimberley has a rich history with railway and Attenborough Church brewing connections and a link westwards from the town connects to the Erewash Valley Mute Swan ­ Trail offering impressive views of the Photographer: Paul Shaw Bennerley Viaduct, a grade 2 listed railway structure and one of only two of its type The Hemlock Stone Attenborough Nature Reserve Strelley Village Beeston Lock Beauvale Priory The Broxtowe Country Trail passes through as a feeder water for the Nottingham Canal. Such sites provide a diverse range of urban and rural environments signifi cant opportunities for wildlife and recreation. The wetland and the geology defi nes the landscape and vegetation. sites in the vicinity of the trail are of particular importance. Species The northern section lies on Sherwood sandstone and this is associated with the Rivers Leen, Trent and Erewash include white­ particularly evident around Bulwell, where gorse and acid grassland clawed crayfi sh, otters, water voles and a variety of wading and E can be found. The trail also crosses into the Nottinghamshire and wetland bird species, such as lapwing and even bittern.