Volume 4: Spring Walks

Introduction Welcome to our fourth volume of ‘100 Walks from the Poppy and Pint’. This volume contains Spring Walks for you to enjoy now that the lockdown has eased. I hope that you find it useful. You will find 49 walks in this volume bringing the total number of walks in the series to 150! This volume is quite different to the other volumes. These walks have been specially selected from a wider radius of Lady Bay. This gives us more choice, more variety, and the chance to showcase different areas. Most of the walks start within 30 minutes’ drive from the Poppy and Pint and most are relatively short walks of around two to three hours. All have been chosen because they hold one or more points of interest. Moreover, the paths are quiet, they are varied, and all are on good, waymarked paths. This makes them ideal spring walks just after the lockdown. Being out on the trail in the open air anywhere lifts the spirits, is good for the soul, and gives our lives a different perspective. I think we always feel better when we come back from a walk! Do try it and see! This is the fourth volume of walks to complement Volumes One, Two and Three. Unfortunately, it is not possible to put these four volumes into one tome as the subsequent size of the file would be too big to e mail! When I set myself the challenge of researching and creating 100 local walks, I never actually thought it was possible. One year, three lockdowns, two pairs of boots and over 1,000 miles of walking later, I completed the challenge and exceeded my target! We are truly blessed as we have so many wonderful walks on our doorstep. Thanks so much for your support and interest. I hope that this publication encourages you to ‘get out there’ and I hope to see you on the trail one day. If not, maybe in The Poppy and Pint when this is all over to compare notes and share ideas. Happy Rambling from Lady Bay and be sure to stay in touch! Best wishes, Trevor Riddiough March 2021 2

Route-finding You should be able to follow the clues to get you around each route without a map.

Useful maps are: Ordnance Survey: OS Landranger 129 Nottingham and Loughborough 1:50,000; Explorer 260 Nottingham Vale of Belvoir 1:25,000 or Ordnance Survey OS Explorer 246 Loughborough 1:25,000

You can download these maps onto your mobile once you have bought them.

ViewRanger is a free App and navigational aid. Once downloaded you may never get lost again as it shows your exact location on a clear base map! It uses GPS signals and so does not use your data allowance and is economical with your phone battery.

If you would like a five-minute quick start guide, e mail me and we can arrange a phone call to get you going!

Acknowledgements

This project has been a collaboration between people. I am grateful to the following people who have helped me enormously during this task:

Front Cover: Louie McGavin – Year 6 Hambrook Primary School, Bristol – our Grandson.

Suggestions for routes: Brenda Baxter, Vinny Cleary, Jim Hooker, Ed Myers, Dave Pratt, Caroline Thomas, Catherine Todd.

James Halfpenny, manager of the Poppy and Pint and the staff of The Castle Rock Brewery for their support and encouragement.

Andy Allan, CEO of Thunderforest Maps, for allowing me to use the map images. This was so important, as this leaflet would not be useful without the maps. Maps © www.thunderforest.com, Data © www.osm.org/copyright.

Contact: E mail: Trevor Riddiough - [email protected]

I am currently a volunteer walk and trek leader for Ramblers Walking Holidays at home and abroad. If you would like to join us on any of our tours, why not check out the brochure and dream of better times to come: https://www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/ During 2021 there are over 100 UK walking holidays to choose from. These holidays are backed by a refund guarantee, COVID safe travel and flexible deposits.

Ramblers Walking Holidays is a social enterprise with a not-for-profit ethos: part of its income is channelled back into charities and initiatives that support access to the great outdoors and benefit people living in the less-advantaged destinations that we visit.

Postscript

Thorpe Cloud was the last walk we reconnoitred for this guide. I include it because I love summits and I think you would too. I love the 360-degree views. I love the feeling of satisfaction when getting to the top. And I love the perspective we get of our lives when we look down and see people and places so small and so far away. There is something very primal about being in the mountains. That feeling of nature being all powerful, combined with the desire to climb as high as possible to experience unique views and feelings. That feeling of conquering a hard climb, taking time out to enjoy the view, and then returning down to the valley again is unbeatable. Truth be told, it makes us feel alive! We are so lucky!

After spending some time on the summit of Thorpe Cloud, thinking of all the times I have visited this mountain, I descended with a heavy heart. I knew that this would be the last walk in this guide and that this would mark the end of this project. Our lockdown plan to gather 100 walks for others to share and enjoy was finished with 150 quality walks in the making. I was happy, sorry, and relieved. Compiling these walks has been a labour of love and has taken the best days of three lockdowns over a period of one long and never-ending year! So, this will be my last publication. There really are no more walks to cover!

I have enjoyed receiving your e mails telling me of your ventures, where you went, which walks you liked and which ones you didn’t! It has been good keeping in touch in this way. And please continue to do so. I wish you all many happy days on the trails and pathways and lanes of Nottinghamshire. There will be fair winds and foul, days of sun and days of rain. But enjoy them all.

Why not think about planning your own adventure? To help you, I recommend you look at the Cicerone Guide: Peak District White Peak East. 42 Walks in Derbyshire including Bakewell, Matlock and Stoney Middleton by Paul Besley. To order copy, go to White Peak East walking guidebook - Peak District… | Cicerone Press . The White Peak is the nearest Peak Area to us and is barely an hours’ ride away. The guide includes half day and whole day walks in this area and includes an overview map and route summary. It is extremely easy to use, and all the walks included are on one map: Ordnance Survey White Peak OL 24 1:25,000

I owe my thanks and appreciation to so many people. To those who contributed, made suggestions or accompanied me on the ‘reccy walks’. To you for accepting this guide in the spirit in which is given – with all its imperfections, and for your trust in following the routes assiduously. And finally, love and thanks to my wife and climbing partner Jenny McGavin for her enthusiasm and optimism and for sticking with this project come rain or shine.

I wish you good walking and “may your dreams be larger than mountains and may you have the courage to scale their summits”.

Trevor Riddiough

March 2021

Location Map of the Walks

120; 121

114; 115; 116

150 137 136 103 128 134; 135 118 117 133 119 132 138 131 130 129

102; 111 105

112; 113 106 107 109 108

127

122 - 126

104; 110

143 141 147 139, 142, 144 148; 149 140, 145, 146

5 Maps © www.thunderforest.com, Data © www.osm.org/copyright

100 Walks from the Poppy and Pint – Volume 4: Spring Walks

Bike friendly route  Canalside section ☺ Child/ Pram friendly

 Especially good for birds  Riverside section Index A. Close to Home

Walk 102: An Exploration of Rushcliffe Country Park   ☺ Variable Page 10

Walk 103: Calverton – Fox Wood and Lamp Wood 5 km Page 12

Walk 104: Wymeswold Village – Circular Walk 6 km Page 14

Walk 105: The Two Cropwells  7 km Page 16

Walk 106: Woolsthorpe Round by River, Canal and Locks   8 km Page 18

Walk 107: Grantham Canal and Cotgrave Country Park via Cotgrave   8 km Page 20

Walk 108: Owthorpe and the Vimy Ridge  8 km Page 22

Walk 109: Keyworth to Widmerpool – Circular Walk 9 km Page 24

Walk 110: Wymeswold to Stanford by Ridge and Valley 13 km Page 26

Walk 111: Rushcliffe Country Park, Bunny and Bradmore  9 km Page 28

Walk 112: Bradmore and the Two Moors  9 km Page 30

Walk 113: Bradmore and the Three Moors  13 km Page 32

B. North of Nottingham

Walk 114: Through Langford Lowfields RSPB Reserve   4.5 km Page 35

Walk 115: Around Langford Lowfields RSPB Reserve   8 km Page 37

Walk 116: Langford Lowfields to Holme by River   10 km Page 39

Walk 117: An Exploration of Bestwood Country Park and Mill Lakes 6.5 km Page 41

Walk 118: Eastwood – The Country of my Heart 14 km Page 43

Walk 119: Monks Way - in Strelley, Cossall and Ilkeston  8 km Page 46

Walk 120: An Exploration of Laxton – a medieval village 8 km Page 49

Walk 121: Kneesall to Laxton 12 km Page 52

C. South Derbyshire

Walk 122: A Walk alongside Staunton Harold Reservoir   ☺ 2.5 km Page 55

Walk 123: Calke Abbey to Staunton Harold Reservoir Cafe and Return  6.5 km Page 57

Walk 124: Staunton Harold Visitor Centre to Calke Abbey and Return  6.5 km Page 59

Walk 125: Melbourne to Calke Abbey via Staunton Harold Reservoir  10.5 km Page 61

Walk 126: Around Staunton Harold Reservoir and Calke Abbey Deer Park from Melbourne  12 km Page 63

Walk 127: Melbourne to Swarkestone by Path, River, Canal and Railway    12 km Page 67

D. Along the Trent Valley

Walk 128: Around Hoveringham Lakes  14 km Page 70

Walk 129: Colwick Country Park to Netherfield Lagoons   12 km Page 73

Walk 130: Netherfield to Gunthorpe   20 km Page 75

Walk 131: Stoke Bardolph to Gunthorpe   9.5 km Page 77

Walk 132: Gunthorpe to Bleasby   12 km Page 79

Walk 133: Bleasby to Fiskerton Circuit on the River Trent   6 km Page 81

Walk 134: Bleasby to Farndon on the River Trent   14 km Page 83

Walk 135: Fiskerton to Farndon Circuit on the River Trent   8 km Page 85

Walk 136: Farndon River Trent Circuit   5 km Page 88

Walk 137: Three Villages of the Trent Valley   12 km Page 89

Walk 138: The Entire Trent Valley North – from Colwick to Newark   30 km Page 92

E. Charnwood Forest and Beyond

Walk 139: An Exploration of Beacon Hill  ☺ Variable Page 96

Walk 140: An Exploration of Bradgate Park  ☺ Variable Page 98

Walk 141: An Exploration of The Outwoods ☺ Variable Page 100

Walk 142: Around Beacon Hill 5.5 km Page 102

Walk 143: Mount St Bernard Abbey – Circular Walk 7 km Page 103

Walk 144: Beacon Hill and The Outwoods 7.5 km Page 106

Walk 145: Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir  10 km Page 108 8

Walk 146: The Icons of Charnwood Forest - Old John and Beacon Hill 9 km Page 110

Walk 147: Hoby to Ragdale – Circular Walk 9.5 km Page 113

Walk 148: Burrough Hill – one of Leicestershire’s highest hills 9 km Page 115

Walk 149: Burrough Hill – short circuit 6 km Page 117

F. The White Peak

Walk 150: Thorpe Cloud – our nearest Mountain! 9 Km Page 119

A. Close to Home

Walk 102: An Exploration of Rushcliffe Country Park   ☺

Description

Before World War Two, the Rushcliffe Country Park site was open farmland. Hedgerows bounded arable fields and grassland with a small stream flowing through. This provided a rich habitat for a wide range of wildlife. The War Office needed ‘filling factories’ for making bombs and acquired the land in 1938. It was an ideal site, close to a railway, a supply of workers and had a water source. The factory consisted of 87 buildings spread over the site. Over the years, government departments changed, and the site was named Ordnance, Storage and Disposal Depot. The ministry announced the closure of the depot in 1981 and sold surplus stock. The gates closed and locked on 31 December 1983. Returning the land to agriculture was Ruddington Parish Council’s preferred option. As time passed, nature took over and wildlife returned. A country park was proposed, and a business park to make the site financially viable. Demolition began in January 1990 leaving a flat site like an ‘American prairie’. The lake was dug out; Severn Trent filled it with water. Workers and volunteers planted over 140,000 trees. Workers moved 60 Norwegian Maple trees (30 years old at the time) and re-planted around the business park.

The park is set in beautiful countryside just south of Ruddington. It is an ideal place for many activities, with a network of over 8 kilometres of footpaths. Visitors can do many things including: walking, cycling, running and jogging, dog walking, wildlife spotting, exercising dogs, including a dog agility course, picnics, space for children to play, and a large play area, skateboarding in the skate park, 4x / BMX track, adult exercise equipment, two table tennis tables.

It is a haven for families of all ages.

Parking

The park has a visitor’s car park and street parking. Once you have passed the entrance gate and parking sign, you are in a pay-and-display area. The charge is £1 per day. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG11 6JS

Clues

A 5km walking/running route is indicated on the map below.

Distance: 5 km Walking Time: 1.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 15 minutes

Walk 102: An Exploration of Rushcliffe Country Park

Walk 103: Calverton – Fox Wood and Lamp Wood

Description

This walk gives outstanding views over the undulating countryside of The Nottinghamshire Dumbles, Sherwood Forest and beyond. This circular walk begins and ends in the village of Calverton which was the home of William and James Lee who invited the knitting frame that revolutionised the stocking knitting industry. There are still examples of knitters’ cottages in Calverton. They have characteristic wide windows designed to provide maximum light for the knitting frames. The colliery opened in 1952 and ceased production in 1999. The buildings and headgear had been demolished by 2000. This walk climbs the hill to the south of the village to give stunning 360-degree views of the county. At the top of the hill is Spindle Lane that runs alongside Fox Wood which was the site of a large hill fort during the iron age.

Parking

Park in Calverton. Park near the Library on Main Street or near the Gleaners Inn on Bonner Lane. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG14 6FS

Clues

From the Gleaners Inn walk along Bonner Lane and then Main Street towards the centre of the village. Just past the church, look for a green Public Footpath sign on the left. Take this path uphill between some houses. The path bends to the right at the top of the lane to a narrow jitty. Just before the end of the jitty, the path bends left and leads to a road: Renals Way. Turn left onto Renals Way and walk ahead to the road sign: Brickenell Road. Directly behind this road sign is a green and beyond this green is a cross-field path going uphill to Spindle Lane. Take the cross-field path and arrive at Spindle Lane: a track at the top. Turn right and walk along this track, passing the site of an iron age fort and a wind turbine along the way. Arrive at a small car park by George’s Lane. Continue straight ahead on the road for about 200m to a green Public Footpath sign next to the entrance to Oakdene on the right-hand side of the road. Take this path, going through a kissing gate and along a narrow path next to a green fence. Eventually, the path bends right and to another kissing gate, bringing you to open country. The view north from here is stunning!” Cross the field to a yellow waymarker and to another kissing gate. Go through this gate and turn right and follow the path along the fence-line which then bends left, parallel to a road: George’s Lane. Eventually, the path comes out at the road. Cross this road and take the footpath directly opposite. This path takes you along a track, across some playing fields, and through a squeeze gate at the other side. Beyond the squeeze gate is another track. Continue straight ahead along this track and past a primary school, where the path bends left and onto Main Street in Calverton. Turn right at Main Street and walk back to the library / pub.

Distance: 5 km Walking Time: 1.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 25 minutes

Walk 103: Calverton – Fox Wood and Lamp Wood

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Walk 104: Wymeswold Village – Circular Walk

Description

Wymeswold is a beautiful village near to Loughborough up on the Leicestershire - Nottinghamshire border. The village lies in a shallow valley in the rolling area known as the Wolds. The village is a compact settlement built around the 14th century Church. Several fine Georgian properties can be found in Far Street, and in Brook Street along the banks of the River Mantle. This is a circular walk across rolling fields with great views over to the Charnwood Hills. Wymeswold is home to two award winning pubs: The Windmill and The Three Crowns.

Parking

Park near the village church on Far Street. Post Code for Sat Nav: LE12 6TZ

Clues

Keeping the front of the church on your right, walk past the church on Far Street. Turn right along Church Street to a T junction. Turn left along Brook Street. Walk past the Windmill Pub and continue along Narrow Lane. You will soon pass The Wymeswold Meadows Nature Reserve indicator board on your right. Continue along Narrow Lane until you get to the second Wymeswold Meadows Nature Reserve indicator board. Take the footpath right into the field and cross the field diagonally left to some gravel steps and a wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and climb the steps on the other side. Cross the field ahead to a yellow post and stile on the other side. Continue straight ahead on a cross-field-path. At a yellow post turn left and walk the periphery of the field with the hedge on your left. Continue straight ahead and come to a yellow post by a gap in the hedge. Go through the gap. Do not take the obvious path right here but go straight ahead along the side of the field. Ignore the arrows on the yellow post in the hedge further along and continue ahead along the side of the field. At the end of this field turn right and continue to a telegraph pole where the hedge ends. Leave the hedge and go straight across the field here – aiming for the water tower in the distance. At the other side you will see a yellow post. Continue heading in the direction of the water tower along the field edge with the hedge on your left. Continue to the corner of the field. Cross a wooden stile and continue along the next field edge. Cross another wooden stile. Once over the stile and through the hedge, turn right and follow the path edge with the hedge on your right. Follow the edge of the field anticlockwise until you come to a gap in the hedge marked by two yellow posts. Go between the posts and continue on the field edge path with the hedge on your right. Enter a small copse with a solar farm on your left. At the other side of the copse, go over a stile by a metal gate and continue until you get to a yellow post and kissing gate on your left. Turn right here and take a faint path across the field to another yellow post and wooden kissing gate. You are now heading back to the village – you should now be able to see the church in the distance. Once through the gate, turn left and head for the road. Turn right along the road and walk to the Wymeswold village sign. Just past the sign take the footpath right, turn left at the path T junction and then head straight ahead and into the village. The path brings you out just by the church in Wymeswold.

Distance: 6 kms Walking Time: 2 hours Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough Drive Time from the Poppy and Pint: 25 minutes

Walk 104: Wymeswold Village – Circular Walk

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Walk 105: The Two Cropwells 

Description

This is a varied two-hour walk going through the two Cropwells: Cropwell Bishop and Cropwell Butler. The Landscape varies between canal, footpath, farmland and semi-urban. It takes you past the world-renowned Cropwell Bishop Creamery and Cheesemaker’s Shop. Open: Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 1:00pm; Saturday 9:00am - 12:00pm

Parking

Park in the car park at Foss Bridge on the Grantham Canal, on the outskirts of Cropwell Bishop. From the Stragglethorpe Road, cross the A46. Take the first exit at the next roundabout onto the Fosse Road. Find the car park on the right just after the canal. If the car park is full, there are parking lay byes on the Fosse Road nearby.

Clues

Walk through the car park to the back where you will find a wooden gate leading to a gravel path on the left-hand side of the canal. Take this path, past the lock and onto a narrow path signed by yellow path arrows. Continue on this path to a metal kissing gate. Through the gate, take the made-up path right. Continue on this path to another wooden gate with a marked footpath on each side by Canal Bridge No. 20. Take the left-hand path and follow the black arrows of the Notts Wolds Way. The path is narrow and eventually bends to the left and continues through Hoe Hill Woods. Come to a T path junction and turn left onto a wider track, following the Notts Wolds Way arrows. At the next path junction, go straight ahead and then look for a path on the right that takes you through the hedge. This path is marked by a half-hidden yellow way marker post. Follow the black path arrows through the hedge via a wooden kissing gate and take the cross-field path diagonally left towards some houses in the distance. At the other side of this field, go through a wooden kissing gate and onto a narrow path. This narrow path takes you to a road at Butler Close on the outskirts of Cropwell Butler. Turn right here into the close. Opposite house number 18, look for a footpath left, marked by a green Public Footpath sign. (Note, you are no longer on the Notts Wolds Way). Take this narrow path onto a metal kissing gate and through some horse paddocks. Beyond the paddocks is another metal kissing gate. Go through the gate and head diagonally left across the field to a road via another metal kissing gate. Turn right onto the road, then almost immediately left through a hedge, and then turn right, parallel to the road. At the end of this field is a metal barrier on your right. Turn left at the barrier and walk along the edge of the field to a yellow waymarker post. Turn right at the waymarker and continue along the field edge. At the end of this field, turn right and keep the water dyke on your left as you walk around this field and past a water treatment works on your right. Continue to a cross path junction by another yellow waymarker. Go straight ahead aiming to the left of a school playing fields ahead. Go over a style and veer left and onto a field edge to a style that leads to a road (Fern Road in Cropwell Bishop). Turn right here and walk straight ahead along the road. Go past ‘The Veg Box’ farm shop, and the church. Continue straight ahead onto Nottingham Road, past the Wheatsheaf Pub and the Cropwell Bishop Creamery. Just beyond the speed limit sign, go past the entrance to a car park and

then look out for the Grantham Canal crossing. Turn right onto the towpath and walk with the canal on your right for about one kilometre. Pass canal bridge number 20 and then come to the car park on your right. Cross the canal by a lock bridge at this point and back to your car.

Distance: 7 km Walking Time: 2 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 15 Minutes

Walk 105: The Two Cropwells

Maps © www.thunderforest.com, Data © www.osm.org/copyright

Walk 106: Woolsthorpe Round by River, Canal and Locks  

Description

A neat circular walk by the Grantham Canal and River Devon. This walk follows part of the Viking Way as it runs alongside the Grantham Canal. The rest of the walk is along field paths in the valley of the River Devon. The final part of the walk back to Woolsthorpe follows the towpath from Stenwith Bridge and coincides with the Viking Way. This route is of interest because of the number of locks passed. These locks form part of the Woolsthorpe Flight, which is made up of seven locks numbered twelve to eighteen, all within 3 km and which between them raise the canal about 59 feet. The start and finish of the walk is The Dirty Duck Inn (Rutland Arms) which dates from the time of the canal’s heyday when it was much frequented by the bargees.

Parking

Park at or by the Dirty Duck Inn. To find the start, turn right off the Sedgebrook Road down the lane just north of Woolsthorpe village at the "Dirty Duck". Parking is possible on the verges along this approach lane or over the canal bridge. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG32 1NY

Clues

From the inn, go over the canal bridge and turn right onto the tow path. Walk past Woolsthorpe Top Lock No.18 to Bridge 62. Continue on the towpath to the next bridge which is a wooden footbridge – Bridge 63. Cross the bridge and take the footpath across a field to a track on the other side. Cross the track and continue along the footpath in the same direction with the hedge on your left. Come to a path T junction and turn left onto The Viking Way. Continue SW on The Viking Way. Pass a footpath on your left and then look out for the next footpath on your right. This path will take you to a road – Belvoir Road. Turn right along the road and go past Cliff Wood on your right. At the end of the wood, take a footpath right which takes you down to Sedgebrook Road, just outside Woolsthorpe. At Sedgebrook Road, turn left and then take the first footpath right by a footpath sign and a litter bin. Take this path diagonally right across a field. Cross an arable field on the worn path, going forward through the far hedge and maintaining the same line over a second field to join a farm track. Cross this track and continue along a grassy field edge with the tiny River Devon now on your left. Keep close by this river until the path enters some trees and comes to a grassy bridge over the river. Cross this bridge and turn right, now keeping the river on your right. Cross several stiles and kissing gates, always near the river until after a meadow you reach a stile at a road. Turn right at the road. Go straight ahead at the first junction, following signs to Sedgebrook and Grantham. Go over the canal bridge at Stenwith and then drop down immediately right onto the canal towpath. Walk back to the Dirty Duck along the towpath passing Woolsthorpe Middle Lock on the way. The towpath returns you to Woolsthorpe Wharf at Bridge No 61, by the Dirty Duck.

Distance: 8 km Walking Time: 2.75 hours Map: OS Landranger 130: Grantham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes

Walk 106: Woolsthorpe Round by River, Canal and Locks

Maps © www.thunderforest.com, Data © www.osm.org/copyright

Walk 107: Grantham Canal and Cotgrave Country Park via Cotgrave  

Description

A neat circuit around Cotgrave by canal, country park and footpaths. The highlight is the West Viewpoint in Cotgrave Country Park with amazing views across Nottingham and beyond.

Parking

Park at the Hollygate Lane Car Park. Follow signs to Cotgrave from A52, A606 or A46. The car park for the Cotgrave Country Park is on Hollygate Lane. The post code for Sat Nav is NG12 3HE

Clues

From the car park, turn right along Hollygate Lane towards Cotgrave. At the canal, turn right onto the towpath. Follow the towpath NW until a sign left to ‘Leaky Hollow and West Viewpoint’. Turn left here, following signs to West View Point all the way, keeping on the main paths. Arrive at the viewpoint. From the West Viewpoint, retrace your steps to a sign: ‘High Trail’ left; ‘Leaky Hollow and Mill Lane’ right. Take the left turn onto High Trail. Follow this path down to the canal towpath. At the towpath, turn left and continue along the towpath to a road: ‘Main Road’. Cross the road and continue along the towpath, now heading in a westerly direction. Pass Skinners Lock Farm on your left. At the next metal barrier, turn left off the towpath onto a footpath (unmarked) which doubles back on the canal towpath. Follow this path along a field edge to a hedge. Turn right at the hedge and walk along the path with the hedge on your left to a yellow waymarker post. Turn left at the waymarker post and take the next field edge path, this time with the border hedge on your right. Cross a track and continue along the path straight ahead. This path leads to a T junction. Turn right here and walk along a substantial track. Just past the Water Treatment Works you will see a wooden footpath sign right and a gap in the hedge on the left with a yellow waymarker post. Take the path left and cross several fields keeping the church spire in front of you all the way. Follow the yellow waymarker posts, go through a gap between the houses and find the church on Church Street. Turn left along Church Street and past the church. Turn left onto Plumtree Road, then immediately right onto Bingham Road. You will pass The Manvers Arms, and The Post Office on the way. At the right-hand bend onto Colston Gate, go straight ahead onto Hollygate Lane. Pass the News Shop and arrive back at the car park just beyond the canal.

Distance: 8 km Walking Time: 2 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 10 minutes

Walk 107: Grantham Canal and Cotgrave Country Park via Cotgrave

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Walk 108: Owthorpe and the Vimy Ridge 

Description

A beautiful walk in open countryside by canal and footpath. There are many points of interest. Owthorpe is a tiny village in the Wolds of Nottinghamshire. Owthorpe has an unusual Grade I listed Anglican church, dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, once considered a patron saint of pregnancy. It stands away from the village in farmland, surrounded by a low wall, next to the site where the manor stood. Access is only along a public footpath – a narrow grass track and through a timber gate. The first written mention of a church at Owthorpe dates from 1299. However, some features of St Margaret's date from the 12th century. There are several 18th-century slate tombstones in the churchyard, two of which are examples of the "Belvoir Angel" design found in many churchyards in the Vale of Belvoir. Vimy Ridge is a derelict farm located to the North East of Kinoulton in Nottinghamshire. The access road to the farm crosses the Grantham Canal towpath and at this intersection there is a notice board stating, “The original avenue of 184 Lombardy poplar trees were planted by Sir William Jesse Hind and dedicated to the memory of his son Lt. Francis Montagu Hind who was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme on 27th September 1916.”

Parking

Park at the canal car park on Cropwell Road, just outside of Owthorpe. From Owthorpe Village drive in the direction of Kinoulton. At the first set of crossroads, turn right onto Cropwell Road. The car park is at the canal intersection just after Mackley’s Farm. The approximate post code for Sat Nav is NG12 3GB

Clues

From the car park, cross the road and enter the canal towpath at Mackley’s Bridge. Continue SW past Bridge No 26, around Devil’s Elbow on a left bend and onto the next road intersection by Vimy Ridge Farm. Turn right here away from the towpath and walk along a track past Vimy Ridge Farm – now derelict. Continue to a woodland ahead of you. At the woodland, turn right and walk the perimeter following yellow waymarker posts. At the end of the woodland, go left through a gap and continue along a field edge with the hedge on your left following yellow waymarkers. Continue to another gap, now keeping the hedge on your right and proceed to a farm drive. When you get to a driveway, turn right, and walk towards Owthorpe Lodge. Just before the Lodge you will see a green bridleway path right. Follow this track and keep straight ahead until you get to a concrete block with red and white paint stripes. Here, walk diagonally right along a ‘cross field path’. You will see a lake and extensive views on your right. The ‘cross field path’ continues as a farm track which turns 90 degrees right then 90 degrees left to a road. At the road (Kinoulton Lane) go straight ahead to a crossroads. Go straight ahead onto Village Street and into Owthorpe Village. Take the grassy track right just after the Owthorpe Church Noticeboard. Continue along this track to Owthorpe Church. On the right- hand side of the church is a gate in the wall leading to a field. Go through the gate and cross the field slightly diagonally left to a stile on the other side.

Cross the stile and the wooden bridge onto Park Lane. Turn left here and walk to the crossroads. Turn right here onto Cropwell Road and back to the car park by the canal.

Distance: 8 km Walking Time: 2.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 15 minutes

Walk 108: Owthorpe and the Vimy Ridge

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Walk 109: Keyworth to Widmerpool – Circular walk

Description

A delightful walk through the Keyworth Wolds. This walk takes in the villages of Keyworth and Widmerpool. The walk passes St Peter and St Paul's Church, Widmerpool - A Baptist chapel and a Wesleyan Methodist chapel were built in the village by 1853.

Parking

Park in Keyworth – Lings Lane Car park. From the church in Keyworth take Main Street to the end. The Lings Lane Car Park is opposite the end of Main Street. Nearest Post Code for Sat Nav: NG12 5AU

Clues

From the car park, walk down Lings Lane for about 400 metres and come to a track junction. Take the left track marked as Wolds Lane on the map. Pass a footpath on your left and then look out for a path on the right. Follow the black Notts Wolds Way arrows all the way to Widmerpool. Go through the wooden gate and continue until you get to North Lodge Farm. Follow the path arrows right as the path skirts the farm in an anticlockwise direction. Once round the farm, go through a metal kissing gate and head across the paddock to another kissing gate. Once through the gate, go straight ahead along a track past yellow marker posts to a crush gate and on to another kissing gate. Turn right along a track and look out for the village church on the left. Continue to a turning circle and look out for a yellow marker post in the right-hand corner. Continue along the marked path and turn right onto a tarmac track which brings you out at a main road. Follow the road sign left to Keyworth and Nottingham. Go past the Widmerpool village sign and take the left turn at the bend sign posted to Keyworth and Nottingham. Follow this road out of Widmerpool and go past Station Road on the right. Just beyond this road is a footpath sign on the right through the hedge. Take this path. Firstly, it runs parallel to the road and then bends right at a wood. Continue with the wood on your left to the end of the wood where the path turns left. Continue with the wood on your left to the end of this section of the wood. Where the wood ends, the path continues straight ahead towards a pylon. Head for the pylon and then turn right and head for the next pylon. Beyond this pylon the path turns left over a wooden bridge and then onwards to another wooden bridge by a hamlet of houses. The path goes along a narrow ‘alleyway’ bordered by fences. At Stanton Lodge, follow the driveway right. A short distance along the driveway, you come to a metal gate on the right. Opposite this gate and on the left side of the driveway is a poorly marked path across the field. Take this path and head just to the right of a telegraph pole. Beyond this, the path goes through the hedge, over a stile, and into a newly planted vineyard area. Here, the path crosses several fences in succession, over a series of stiles. Eventually, you will arrive at a stile with two paths clearly marked left and right. Take the left path and walk along a narrow path through a wooded area and out to a road. Turn right and walk to a T junction. Then turn left, following the road sign to Keyworth – ¾ mile. Take this left turn along Selby Lane and walk along the road to the church at Keyworth. Turn left onto Main Street and back to your car at Lings Lane.

Distance: 9 km Walking Time: 2.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough and 260: Nottingham 24

Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 15 minutes

Walk 109: Keyworth to Widmerpool – Circular walk

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Walk 110: Wymeswold to Stanford by Ridge and Valley

Description

This is an exceptional walk in many ways. It follows the Cross Britain Way before taking a ridge all the way to Stanford on Soar. The return leg takes you along a distinct valley alongside the Stanford Hall Estate. At all times there are fine views of Stanford Hall before you.

Parking

Park in Wymeswold. Take the A6006 from the Rempstone crossroads into Wymeswold. Once in Wymeswold take the first right off Far Street onto London Lane. Park along the first section of London Lane. Sat Nav Post Code: LE12 6UB

Clues

Walk along London Lane to house number 46. Go right here onto Farriers Close. Go through the wooden gates at the far end of the close and continue straight ahead to a metal gate and stile. You are now on The Cross Britain Way. Go over the stile and straight ahead across the next field to another stile and then follow the clear path along the right-hand edge of the next field to a yellow waymarker by a wide track., Turn left along the track and continue to a kissing gate at the point where the track ends to the right. Go through the kissing gate and work your way diagonally left across several fields to a gate in the corner of a field by some trees Once through the gate take the field edge path with the boundary trees on your left and follow this path all the way to a road: the Rempstone Road. Cross this road and continue straight ahead along a well-marked path until you come to a new chicken farm building. Once past this building turn left at a waymarker post towards a small spinney. Head uphill past the spinney following yellow waymarkers. You are still on the Cross Britain Way. Turn right at the top of the spinney and continue straight ahead on this ridge all the way to a road: Stanford Lane. Turn right onto this lane to the first green footpath sign right. Stanford village is just in front of you. (A detour is recommended to the church in Stanford which has a south facing porch and makes an ideal resting point!). Turn right at this sign and follow the well-marked path on the return leg of this walk across several fields with the hedge and a stream (King’s Brook) on your left. Follow the yellow waymarker posts all the way, looking out for a point where the path deviates left and then right. You will soon pass the front of Stanford Hall and a lake on your left. Continue to another new chicken barn and onto the first new chicken barn that you passed on the outward leg. Arrive at the Rempstone Road, cross the road and take the footpath in front of you. Retrace your steps on this path (the Cross Britain Way) back to Wymeswold and to your car.

Distance: 13 km Walking Time: 4 hours Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 25 minutes

Walk 110: Wymeswold to Stanford by Ridge and Valley

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Walk 111: Rushcliffe Country Park, Bunny and Bradmore 

Description

A delightful walk giving you the opportunity to explore Rushcliffe Country Park as well as walk beyond the park to see the unique and beautiful countryside and scenery in this part of South Nottinghamshire

Parking

Park at Rushcliffe Country Park. The park has a visitor’s car park and street parking. Once you have passed the entrance gate and parking sign, you are in a pay-and-display area. The charge is £1 per day. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG11 6JS

Clues

From the Visitors’ Centre walk ahead to the lake and turn right. Follow signs to the play area. Keep to the wide path as you head west. Keep walking in this direction keeping the play area on your right. Go straight past the sign to ‘Dog Agility’ towards a copse alongside the steam train railway line. Keep going to a yellow barrier and gate. Go through the gate and turn left. Go along the track to a white metal gate. Go through the gate and take the signposted track straight ahead, past some garages on your left. This track bends right and over a railway bridge. Just after the bridge, turn left and follow the direction of the wooden fingerpost alongside the railway line. Keep to this path with the railway line on your left for just over a kilometre. Come to a bridge and walk around the lane leading up to it and back to the railway line on the other side. Continue on this path southward. Come to a railway pedestrian crossing on your left after another half a kilometre by bridge number 302. Cross the railway line at this point. Take the path in front of you eastward. Go through a gap in the hedge and turn immediately left. Keep the hedge on your left and follow yellow waymarker posts as you walk eastward across fields to a left and a right turn to a wooden footbridge. Over the footbridge, turn right and follow the obvious path alongside a dyke to a signposted path T junction. Turn left and head along a track northward all the way to a road. On this section, aim for the blue house on the hillside in front of you. At the road, you are on the edge of Bradmore village. Turn left at the road then turn right at the wooden signpost in front of you, opposite Littlemoor Lane. The path goes through a gap in the hedge and then goes around a field. Follow this path around the field clockwise, and under some electricity cables by a pylon. Eventually you come to a track by a yellow wooden waymarker. In front of you is an entrance to the Rushcliffe Country Park. Go through the gate here and turn left. Follow the path around a wood. Come to a wooden signpost. Turn right here towards the ‘Visitors’ Centre’. Keep on this path past the lake on your left and back to the Visitors’ Centre.

Distance: 9 km Walking Time: 2 hours Map: OS Explorer 260 Nottingham and OS Explorer 246: Loughborough

Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 15 minutes

Walk 111: Rushcliffe Country Park, Bunny and Bradmore

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Walk 112: Bradmore and the Two Moors - Two Villages 

Description

This walk is a shorter version of Walk 113 below. It takes you from the village of Bradmore as far as the Great Central Railway line (Nottingham) and then back. This walk takes you across the wilds of two moors: Bradmore Moor, and Bunny Moor – and passes the villages of Bradmore, and Bunny. The Great Central Railway (Nottingham) offers over 10 miles of heritage railway running through the beautiful scenery of South Nottinghamshire and North-West Leicestershire. Journeys begin at Ruddington, right next to Rushcliffe Country Park, and continue through to East Leake and Loughborough.

This walk is in open countryside with wild open space around you and much birdlife along the way. We start in Bradmore, a village that is often passed on the A60, but rarely seen or visited. We walk to the steam train railway line by Gotham Moor and then return via Bunny.

Bradmore was, until quite recently, a farming community. Part of the village has been declared a conservation area to retain the visual character. Some of the old farmhouses were built by Sir Thomas Parkyn, the wrestling Baronet of Bunny Hall. The church was first built with a square tower in the thirteenth century and with an octagonal spire in the fourteenth century. It suffered badly in the fire of 1705 and only the tower and spire remained. The church was never rebuilt but a mission hall was built adjoining the tower in 1881, to form an incongruous mix of old and new co-joined.

Parking

Park in Bradmore. Park near the church on or around Main Street. Sat Nav Post Code: NG11 6PE

Clues

From the church, walk along Main Street in the direction away from the main A60. At the end of the road, find house number 40. Directly opposite is a footpath downhill marked by a single wooden fingerpost. Keep on this main path eastward until you get to a footpath going right by a commemorative bench and wooden fingerpost. Turn right here and continue along the wide grassy track between hedgerows. At a yellow waymarker post, go diagonally left across two fields. At the end of the second field, go over a wooden plank and turn left. The path takes you along the field edge to a track and another yellow waymarker post. Turn right here and pass along a track with a dyke on the left. Continue along this path to a pipe bridge. Go over the bridge and continue on the track in front of you to a path T junction. Turn right and head for the railway line in front of you. Just before the railway line, the path turns right and then bends left, taking you to the pedestrian railway crossing. Cross the railway line and then go left, alongside the railway line for about 300m where the path deviates away from the railway line to pass the embankment leading to the bridge. Once past the embankment return to the railway line. Look for a path left, through the hedge, waymarked by a yellow post. Turn left here and follow the path as it joins the side of the railway line. Continue alongside the railway, over a style and to a pedestrian railway tunnel on the left. Go through the tunnel. At the other side, follow the yellow waymarker posts eastward with a small dyke on your right. Follow the waymarkers carefully here. Halfway along a field, see the waymarker indicate right, away from the hedge, across 30

the field. Aim for the large log on the other side of the field. Once on the other side of this field, you will come to a three-junction wooden fingerpost! Go over the bridge behind the fingerposts and continue eastward on clearly marked paths towards Bunny. Aim for the church spire in front of you along this section. Walk along the wide tracks and arrive at the outskirts of Bunny at a road. Turn left here and take the track northward. Pass a path on the left indicated by a three- point green fingerpost. Go straight ahead all the way back to Bradmore, aiming for the blue house on the hillside on the way. At the road, turn right along Main Road and back to your car.

Distance: 9 km Walking Time: 2.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260 Nottingham and OS Explorer 246: Loughborough

Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 15 minutes

Walk 112: Bradmore and the Two Moors - Two Villages

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Walk 113: Bradmore and the Three Moors - Three Villages 

Description

This walk takes you across the wilds of three moors: Bradmore Moor, Gotham Moor and Bunny Moor – and passes the villages of Bradmore, Gotham and Bunny. This walk is in open countryside with wild open space around you and much birdlife along the way. We start in Bradmore, a village that is often passed on the A60, but rarely seen or visited. We walk to Gotham and return via Bunny. Bradmore was, until quite recently, a farming community. Part of the village has been declared a conservation area to retain the visual character. Some of the old farmhouses were built by Sir Thomas Parkyn, the wrestling Baronet of Bunny Hall. The church was first built with a square tower in the thirteenth century and with an octagonal spire in the fourteenth century. It suffered badly in the fire of 1705 and only the tower and spire remained. The church was never rebuilt but a mission hall was built adjoining the tower in 1881, to form an incongruous mix of old and new co-joined.

Parking

Park in Bradmore. Park near the church on or around Main Street. Sat Nav Post Code: NG11 6PE

Clues

From the church, walk along Main Street in the direction away from the main A60. At the end of the road, find house number 40. Directly opposite is a footpath downhill marked by a single wooden fingerpost. Keep on this main path eastward until you get to a footpath going right by a commemorative bench and wooden fingerpost. Turn right here and continue along the wide grassy track between hedgerows. At a yellow waymarker post, go diagonally left across two fields. At the end of the second field, go over a wooden plank and turn left. The path takes you along the field edge to a track and another yellow waymarker post. Turn right here and pass along a track with a dyke on the left. Continue along this path to a pipe bridge. Go over the bridge and continue on the track in front of you to a path T junction. Turn right and head for the railway line in front of you. Just before the railway line, the path turns right and then bends left, taking you to the pedestrian railway crossing. Cross the railway line and then go left, over a bridge and then immediately right with a large dyke now on your right. Take this path and keep the dyke on your right and head towards a small copse of poplar trees. Just past these trees is a yellow waymarker post. Go left here and away from the dyke. Follow the yellow waymarkers heading in the direction of the large chimney of the Radcliffe Power Station! Waymarker posts indicate the changes in direction and eventually you go over a small dyke and then right alongside it as you now head towards Gotham, aiming for the church spire ahead of you. Walk around the fields until the path narrows into a tight path by a farm. Go through two kissing gates and then turn right and head to a road via a third kissing gate. You are now on Moor Lane. Turn left and follow this lane out of the village and past Gotham Moor Farm, the water treatment works and Fairholme Farm. Next, come to a gate across the road, where the road is relegated to a muddy track. Follow this track all the way back to the railway line. About 200m before the railway line, look for a path right, through the hedge, waymarked by a yellow post. Turn right here and follow the path as it joins the side of the railway line. Continue alongside the railway, over a style and to a pedestrian railway tunnel on

the left. Go through the tunnel. At the other side, follow the yellow waymarker posts eastward with a small dyke on your right. Follow the waymarkers carefully here. Halfway along a field, see the waymarker indicate right, away from the hedge, across the field. Aim for the large log on the other side of the field. Once on the other side of this field, you will come to a three-junction wooden fingerpost! Go over the bridge behind the fingerposts and continue eastward on clearly marked paths towards Bunny. Aim for the church spire in front of you along this section. Walk along the wide tracks and arrive at the outskirts of Bunny at a road. Turn left here and take the track northward. Pass a path on the left indicated by a three- point green fingerpost. Go straight ahead all the way back to Bradmore, aiming for the blue house on the hillside on the way. At the road, turn right along Main Road and back to your car.

Distance: 13 km Walking Time: 3.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260 Nottingham and OS Explorer 246: Loughborough

Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 15 minutes

Walk 113: Bradmore and the Three Moors - Three Villages

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B. North of Nottingham

Walk 114: Through Langford Lowfields RSPB Reserve  

Description

A delightful circular walk and birdwatching tour taking you through the reserve. There are many interesting points along the way: the beach hut, 360 degree Viewing Area, the floating bridge, and other viewpoints. The habitats at Langford Lowfields are constantly developing as the site continues to establish. Large areas of reedbed are complemented by wildflower-rich meadows, areas of dense thorny scrub and a small block of mature woodland. Langford Lowfields provides an incredible haven for nature. For more information got to: Langford Lowfields Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire - The RSPB

There is an excellent map of the area on the Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers website: www.nottsbirders.net/langford.html

Parking

Park at Langford Lowfields Car Park. At the Newark Showground roundabout, take the A1133 exit signposted towards Gainsborough and Collingham. After 2.5 miles, immediately after the level crossing, turn left into Cottage Lane. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG23 7QL. The gated entrance to the car park is 50m along the lane. Please note: there is a height restriction barrier of 2.2m. Honesty box: day parking £2 or free to RSPB members.

Clues

From the car park, walk towards the path junction and main noticeboard. Take the path straight ahead, through the woodland and cross a metal bridge. Continue straight on until you get to a gate on your left by a wooden signpost indicating: ‘RSPB Langford Lowfields Beach Hut and Trails’. Take this path left and arrive at a Beach Hut by a large Lake. Turn left here and follow signs for The Cromwell Trial. Follow this meandering path, past the 360 degree Viewing Area. Come to a post with a white arrow and follow the direction of this arrow and others as you make a clockwise circuit of the main lake and reed beds. Eventually, come to a wooden signpost and follow the sign to ‘North Trail’. Keep on this route as it nears a fisherman’s car park and then curves right and past the floating bridge. Keep following the posts with white arrows. Eventually come to a signpost indicating ‘Beach Hut’. Take the route back to the Beach Hut and then re-trace your steps back to the main car park.

Distance: 4.5 km Walking Time: 1.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 271: Newark on Trent Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes

Walk 114: Through Langford Lowfields RSPB Reserve

Langford Lowfields

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Walk 115: Around Langford Lowfields RSPB Reserve  

Description

This is a sensational walk around the entire perimeter of the RSPB reserve. The walk has such variety: footpaths, open fields, the River Trent with its weirs and locks, vast lakes, gravel pits and reed beds. Look out for the elusive Tree Sparrows in the seed crops. Spot a Marsh Harrier gliding low over the reed beds. Listen to the whistling of the Wigeon. Look out for the highly impressive White Egrets. Langford Lowfields is a flagship partnership project involving the RSPB and Tarmac, showcasing wetland habitat creation on a large scale. A thriving reedbed sits at the heart of this expanding reserve, with wildlife highlights including bitterns, brown hares, bearded tits, marsh harriers, avocets, wintering wildfowl, starling murmuration and colourful wildflowers. For more information go to: Langford Lowfields Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire - The RSPB

There is an excellent map of the area on the Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers website: www.nottsbirders.net/langford.html

Parking

Clues

From the car park, walk towards the path junction and main noticeboard. Turn right, follow the yellow arrows, and walk along the field edge towards the electricity pylon in front of you. Continue past the pylon, to another path junction at a wooden finger post. Turn left here and then almost immediately right through some horses’ paddocks following the yellow waymarker posts. Proceed on the wide grassy path and onto another field. Carry on with the boundary hedge on your right, following more yellow waymarker posts to a track. Turn left along the track and go straight ahead all the way to a fisherman’s car park. Climb the metal steps in front of you by a gate and come to the river. Turn left and walk on the embankment alongside the River Trent. Pass the Cromwell Lock and Weir on your right. As the embankment bends right to a metal sluice gate, look for a path going off left towards the lake at the bend. Take this path and follow it, keeping the lakes on your left and a hedge on your right. There are occasional waymarker posts hidden in the undergrowth. The path bends right and left and then under a bridge carrying a conveyor belt from the gravel pits. The path leads onto a wider track – turn left here and follow the track all the way to the main entrance to the gravel pit. This path is marked ‘Cycleway 64’. Keep on this cycleway past the gravel pits and all the way back to the car park by the path junction where you first started.

Distance: 8 km Walking Time: 2.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 271: Newark on Trent Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes

Walk 115: Around Langford Lowfields RSPB Reserve

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Walk 116: Langford Lowfields to Holme by River  

Description

A delightful walk, taking you around the south side of Langford Lowfields Nature Reserve along the River Trent and into the village of Holme. Holme has a renowned parish church which is an Early Tudor rebuild of a 13th-century church. The Lancashire wool merchant John Barton was responsible for the rebuilding. He died in 1491 and is buried in the chancel with his wife. Until about 1575 Holme village lay on the west side of the River Trent, but there was then a cataclysmic flood which changed the course of the river. Holme was therefore separated by the river from the rest of the parish. In 1866 Holme became a separate civil parish. The last known catch of a sturgeon on the Trent occurred in 1902 near the village, the fish was eight and a half feet long and weighed 250 pounds!

There is an excellent map of the area on the Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers website: www.nottsbirders.net/langford.html

Parking

Clues

From the car park, walk towards the path junction and main noticeboard. Take the path straight ahead, through the woodland and cross a metal bridge. Continue straight on this path to its very end. Go through the wooden kissing gate and turn left along a track leading to a fisherman’s car park and the River Trent. Climb the metal steps over a fence in front of you by a gate and come to the river. Turn left and walk on the embankment alongside the River Trent. Pass the Cromwell Lock and Weir on your right. As the embankment bends right you will come to a metal sluice gate. Go through the gate and head diagonally left to the hedge where the path bends to the right alongside the hedge towards the river. Come to a track, turn left, and go through a kissing gate at the right-hand side of a large metal gate. Continue along the track southwards. Eventually you will arrive at the edge of the village Holme. Pass through a metal gate and continue on the track through the village. At a red phone box turn left. Go past the church and continue past a speed limit sign. Go straight ahead, passing a road junction on the right. Continue to a cycle path on the left, just before a railway line and level crossing. The Cycle path is marked by a blue sign indicating Cycle Path 64. Keep on this Cycleway 64 past the gravel pits and all the way back to the car park by the path junction where you first started.

Distance: 10 km Walking Time: 2.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 271: Newark on Trent Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint 30: minutes

Walk 116: Langford Lowfields to Holme by River

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Walk 117: An Exploration of Bestwood Country Park and Mill Lakes 

Description

Bestwood is approximately four miles north of Nottingham, between Arnold and Bestwood Village. The 650 acres of Bestwood have a richly varied landscape, wildlife and industrial heritage. This country park, now popular with walkers, cyclists and birdwatchers, was once home to one of Britain’s busiest coal mines. You have the chance to explore Nottinghamshire’s industrial heritage at the Winding Engine House, spot water birds on the Mill Lakes and enjoy the peace of the park and woods. The park is on Route 6 of the National Cycle Network. For a comprehensive map of the Bestwood Park and Mill Lakes go to Map - Bestwood CP & Mill Lakes (nottsbirders.net)

Parking

Park in the free car park on Park Road. For sat-nav use postcode NG6 8ZA

Clues

Walk out of the car park back onto Park Road. Turn right and walk along Park Road. Follow the brown sign towards ‘Alexandra Lodge’. Go past the riding stables and continue along the lane. Turn left into a field via a kissing gate by a discreet public footpath sign. Head diagonally left across the field to a kissing gate in the hedge in front of you. Continue across the next field and head for the right-hand end of a row of houses. Go through another kissing gate by a wooden footpath sign and come to an alleyway by the side of some houses. At the end of the alleyway, cross a mini pedestrian crossing and carry on to a T path junction by a school. Turn right, then left, and come to a loop road that leads onto a road called ‘The Spinney’. Walk down The Spinney to the main road: B683: Moor Road. At the main road turn left then immediately right across the road to the entrance of Mill Lakes. Take the driveway which bends to the right to a main path junction: The No 6 Cycle Network by a blue cycleway sign. Take the path left towards Nottingham and walk anti clockwise around the lake. Stay on this path and get to a bridge walkway over the main road. Follow the No. 6 Cycle way signs to Nottingham until you get to a discreet wooden signpost on the left with a Number 6 clearly marked on it. Take the left turn signed ‘Bestwood Country Park’ and head along this path. Follow signs to Bestwood Country Park; come to a kissing gate and onto a T junction. Turn right and continue up a hill to a multi path junction indicated by a sign left to ‘Engine House’ and ‘Horse Trail’. Take the second path left here which goes uphill to the highest point in the park. Continue down the other side, keeping left at the next junction and onto the Engine House and back the car park.

Distance: 6.5 km Walking Time: 2.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes

Walk 117: An Exploration of Bestwood Country Park and Mill Lakes

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Walk 118: Eastwood – The Country of my Heart

Description

A superlative walk, full of interest and variety. It takes you from Brinsley Headstocks across ‘Lawrence Country’ to Greasley Church and castle remains, through High Park Wood and along the entire length of Moorgreen Reservoir before taking the disused pit line back to Brinsley. Brinsley Headstocks is an internationally recognised site of mining heritage and nature reserve. Alongside the imposing Headstocks stands a carved tree, a unique natural record created by chainsaw sculptor Peter Leadbeater featuring the area’s quest for coal and its subsequent return to nature. The author DH Lawrence was born in 1885 just down the road in Eastwood. His birthplace has become a fascinating Victorian museum. Lawrence’s father worked at Brinsley Colliery (1853-1867) and his uncle, James, was killed there in an accident in 1880, aged 29 – an event portrayed in Lawrence’s 1914 play ‘The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd’. James’ widow, Aunt Polly lived on in Vine Cottage, now derelict, situated near the site’s entrance. Lawrence’s love of nature is evident in his semi-autobiographic novel ‘Sons and Lovers’ published in 1913, based on his early life in Eastwood. The area of this walk has long been associated with DH Lawrence. During his youth he spent much of his free time discovering the countryside and it is easy to understand the writer’s affection for the surrounding landscape which he called ‘the country of my heart’. Lawrence was so influenced by this area that he often used local characters, events and settings as the inspiration for many of his most famous works. The fields surrounding Greasley Church were the setting for the short story ‘Love Among the Haystacks’. Moorgreen Reservoir was the setting for the drowning tragedy in ‘Women in Love’, which was based on a real incident at the Reservoir in 1892. Felley Mill was renamed Strelley Mill in Lawrence’s first novel ‘The White Peacock’.

Parking

Park in Brinsley at Brinsley Headstocks Car Park. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG16 5AE. The car park is located on the A608 approximately 1 mile north of Eastwood, next to the Brinsley Lodge public house.

Clues

Go back to the road from the car park and turn left. Walk along the road on the direction of Eastwood. After about 400m come to a green footpath sign on the left-hand side. Take this footpath down a short lane and then to the left of a large wooden gate. The path leads out to open country via a metal kissing gate. Head out across the paddocks to a wooden gate with two kissing gates. Take the kissing gate left and proceed across fields with the hedge on your right to a stile between two gates. Once over the stile, skirt around Coneygrey Farm in a clockwise direction on the main driveway. Once round the farm, come off the driveway by a metal gate and stile on the left. Walk across the fields on a grassy track, then a grassy footpath all the way to a house on the other side. Take the stile by the house and proceed to a lane by some industrial units. Follow the green footpath signs and work your way around the industrial units in a clockwise direction. Come to a road and turn right. Head towards an orange height barrier across the road. Turn left here into Colliers Wood Nature Reserve via a metal kissing gate. Follow the main path to a junction by a black litter bin. Turn left here and carry on to just before a fence

where you turn right and through a wooden kissing gate. Head straight along the field edge path with the hedge on your left and then switch so the hedge is on your right. Continue on the path straight ahead to a road. At the road, turn left then immediately right onto a marked path to Greasley Church. Head straight for the church across several fields. At the church, by the church gate, turn left and take the path down some steps to the road. Turn right along the road and after about 200m turn left onto a marked path by a metal kissing gate. Take this path straight ahead, following yellow waymarker posts all the way to a farm. Skirt clockwise around the farm and come to a road. Turn left along the road and walk for about 500m to a car park just by High Park Wood. At the car park, turn right and walk along a marked path towards the motorway alongside the wood. At the motorway, turn left and work your way to the wood ahead. Enter the wood and take the main path to a T junction. Turn right and head to another T junction. Turn left and then take the marked path right through the woods to the wood edge, where you turn left and walk along the edge of the wood in a westerly direction. When the main path veers away from the wood and right, take the narrow path left that continues along the edge of the wood. Come to a wooden signpost and turn right. Go downhill, through some trees and meet the main path left to right running along the side of Moorgreen Reservoir. Turn left here and walk alongside the reservoir in a southerly direction to the B600 road. Turn right onto the road and walk on the narrow verge for around 1.5km. Go past the head of Moorgreen Reservoir and past Oaks Farm on the right. Beyond the farm entrance is a ‘Road Bends’ road sign. Beyond this sign, on the left is a footpath marked by a green sign: ‘Public Bridleway – Brinsley 2 miles’. Take this path left to a driveway and turn right. Continue for about 100m and then turn right through a metal gate and walk NW on a grassy track, then a narrow path straight ahead and all the way to a kissing gate by a disused railway line. Turn left here and walk along the disused railway line all the way to Brinsley and the car park. Just before Brinsley, look right for the Brinsley Headstocks. Take a short detour right to explore them.

Distance: 14 km Walking Time: 3.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham and OS Explorer map 269: Chesterfield & Alfreton

Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 118: Eastwood – The Country of my Heart

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Walk 119: The Monks Way - in Strelley, Cossall and Ilkeston 

Description

Monks Way, Monks Path, Monks Steps, and Pilgrims Path are all terms used locally to describe the traces of stone paving or causeway which can be found in Cossall, Strelley, Ilkeston and beyond. The term 'Monks Way' is a general term frequently used to describe the network of ancient tracks which often linked monasteries and settlements to facilitate trade and communication. The monastic connection for the paths around Cossall, Strelley, and Ilkeston is not clear, but it is known that the monks of Dale Abbey, Newstead Priory, Lenton Abbey, Felly Priory, and Beauvale Priory had land and mining interests in the areas around the Erewash Valley as early as the 14th Century. It is therefore possible that the stones are all that is left of the routeways that perhaps linked the monasteries and provided access to Nottingham and the River Trent. Legend has it that the stones were laid by monks who brought a slab on the back of a mule each time they used the path. This may be true but equally there are theories that the stones are more recent having been laid for the transport of coal by packhorses during the 18th Century. No one knows for sure the origins of the Monks Way, although the stone paths almost certainly pre-date the canal era (the Nottingham Canal was built in 1796) and may well be laid over an ancient route. For more information, go to The Monks Way : Broxtowe Borough Council . The stones are easily seen in Strelley village as they are incorporated into the footpath between the Broad Oak public house and All Saints Church. The churchyard provides a good view of Strelley Hall which was originally constructed on the site of a mansion house by Sir Sampson de Strelley in 1356.

A short excursion away from the Monks Way to explore Cossall is worthwhile as most of the village lies in a conservation area. Cossall has ancient origins, with parts of the church dating back to the 13th century. The village also has many links with the works of author D H Lawrence. His book "The Rainbow" features "Cossethay", which is easily identifiable as Cossall. The Willoughby Almshouses located near the church are said to have once been a chapel, the loft of which was supposedly used to accommodate weary travellers.

Parking

Park at or near Strelley Hall - on Main Street, Strelley, Nottingham. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG8 6PD

Clues

Walk to the furthest entrance / exit to Strelley Hall in the direction away from Nottingham city. Opposite this entrance/exit is a green Public Bridleway sign indicating a path left off Main Street. Take this wide track west. Go over the M1 Motorway and continue straight ahead. Pass a wide metal entrance gate on the right and continue on the wide path going straight ahead and past a small metal gate across the path. Pass Oddmoor Farmhouse on the left and continue along the path to a path junction by a green metal gate on the right. Take the wide track left here. Pass a white gate across the track and continue to a 30-mph sign and a road T junction. Turn right here and into Cossall village on Robinettes Lane. At the first right hand bend, go straight ahead onto Mill Lane. Continue past a metal barrier across the track. Carry on along this track to a wide junction by the disused Nottingham Canal. Turn left here, through a squeeze gate and onto the towpath with the canal on your left. Walk along the towpath. Pass the first footbridge, cross the second footbridge and continue 46

on the path alongside the other side of the canal. After a few hundred metres, come to a canal junction. The path bends left here. Walk the path to a road. Turn right along the road then almost immediately left onto a track signposted: ‘Bridle Road to Trowell and Balloon House’. Take this track all the way back to the M1 motorway. Go under the motorway and then follow the track as it bends left and onto a cross paths junction. Take the path left signposted: ’Strelley ¾’. Take this track past a small coppice (Shaw’s Plantation) on the left and onto another path T junction. Look out for views of Wollaton Hall on the horizon on your right. Turn left at the path junction and follow the track to Main Street, Strelley. Turn left at the road and walk past the church and on to Strelley Hall.

Distance: 8 km Walking Time: 2.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260 Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint 20 minutes

Walk 119: The Monks Way - in Strelley, Cossall and Ilkeston

Strelley Hall

Strelley

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Walk 120: An Exploration of Laxton – a medieval village

Description

This is a shorter and more straightforward walk than Walk 121, Kneesal to Laxton, and allows more time to explore Laxton village. The walk enjoys fine views especially on Golden Hill and includes pastures, farmland, and woodlands. Laxton is the only village in England that still operates the medieval ‘open field’ farming system whereby the fields are divided into strips. These strips are worked by the farmers of the village under the jurisdiction of a Court Leet and jury. The court ensures that the three-year crop rotation continues and that the farmers maintain the boundaries of their strips. On the northern edge of the village is a very well-preserved motte and bailey castle dating from the late 11th century. Panoramic views of the village, the open fields and the surrounding woodlands can be seen from the castle remains. Standing in a prominent position in the village is the church of St Michael the Archangel. The nave and the pillars are amongst parts of the church which have been dated to about 1190. The village visitor and heritage centre can be found in the grounds of the village pub, The Dovecote. It has displays showing the history of the open fields system, aerial shots of the village, a description of how the system is operated and suggestions as to why it still exists in Laxton. 220m south west of St Michaels Church are a series of fishponds situated in the bottom of a slight valley. The fishponds, a series of at least seven compartments, are arranged in a linear pattern running roughly east to west through the valley. The tradition of constructing and using fishponds in England began during the medieval period and peaked in the 12th century. They were largely built by the wealthy sectors of society with monastic institutions and royal residences often having large and complex fishponds. The difficulties of obtaining fresh meat in the winter and the value placed on fish in terms of its protein content and as a status food may have been factors which favoured the development of fishponds and which made them so valuable.

Parking

Park in the car park on School Lane, Kneesall just by the church. Post Code for Sat Nav; NG22 0AD

Clues

junction by a wooden signpost and wooden bridge. Do not go over the bridge but take the path ahead of you which curves to the right to meet a road. At the road, turn left and walk 1.75 km in an easterly direction, past Westwood Farm and straight into Laxton village.

To visit the Motte and Bailey Castle, turn left off ‘High Street’ opposite the church and go up the lane just before Timothy Road. At the top of the lane, you will see the castle and have views of the ‘open fields’. The Dovecote is at the crossroads in the village.

To exit the village, take a green signposted footpath right, by the church, into the church grounds and then immediately right alongside the boundary wall of the church. Go through a series of gates and across a field past ‘the fishponds’ and then across another field via a kissing gate onto a road. At the road, turn right and then look for a path on the right. This path is unmarked and is opposite a gated track on the left. Turn right off the road, go through the metal gate and walk westwards along a narrow path with hedges on both sides. Continue up the hill and keep going straight ahead along the narrow path as is goes through a wooded area. Once through the woods, carry on westwards and upwards along a grassy track with a hedge on your left. Come to a yellow waymarker and an empty information board at the top of the hill. At this waymarker, turn left and head south on a clearly marked track all the way back to Kneesall. Stay on the main track and keep going straight ahead to a road. At the road, turn right and then take the first left along School Lane and back to the car park in Kneesall.

Distance: 8 km Walking Time: 2.25 hours Map: OS Explorer 271: Newark on Trent Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes

Walk 120: An Exploration of Laxton – a medieval village

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Walk 121: Kneesall to Laxton

Description

This walk takes you from the village of Kneesall to the historical village of Laxton. The walk enjoys fine views especially on Golden Hill and includes pastures, farmland and woodlands. This walk provides the opportunity to explore the village of Laxton. Laxton is the only village in England that still operates the medieval ‘open field’ farming system whereby the fields are divided into strips. These strips are worked by the farmers of the village under the jurisdiction of a Court Leet and jury. The court ensures that the three-year crop rotation continues and that the farmers maintain the boundaries of their strips. On the northern edge of the village is a very well-preserved motte and bailey castle dating from the late 11th century. Panoramic views of the village, the open fields and the surrounding woodlands can be seen from the castle remains. Standing in a prominent position in the village is the church of St Michael the Archangel. The nave and the pillars are amongst parts of the church which have been dated to about 1190. The village visitor and heritage centre can be found in the grounds of the village pub, The Dovecote. It has displays showing the history of the open fields system, aerial shots of the village, a description of how the system is operated and suggestions as to why it still exists in Laxton.

Parking

Park in the car park on School Lane, Kneesall just by the church. Post Code for Sat Nav; NG22 0AD

Clues

Walk out of the car park back onto School Lane. Turn right and walk to the main road: Newark Road. Take the first right onto Ossington Road. At the crossroads, go straight ahead onto Baulk Lane. The lane heads northwards and becomes a track as it leaves the village. Just before the electricity pylon look right and see the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral on the horizon, 20 miles away! Just after the Pylon, bear left at a path junction and stay on the main track. Just past a farm, take the path marked right and cross two fields following the yellow waymarker posts as the path meanders right and left. After the second field, turn left along the hedge and then follow the right-hand hedge around a telegraph pole and then go straight ahead to a wood at Cocking Moor. Enter the wood and then turn immediately right. Leave the wood and cross a field to a road. Cross the road and take the track opposite towards the aerial on Golden Hill. Walk to a green Public Bridleway sign pointing right. Go straight ahead here if you wish to take a small deviation to the Trig Point on Golden Hill to enjoy some stunning views. Otherwise, take the path right and around the left of a small coppice. Once around the coppice, take the left- hand path across a field to a wooden signpost and wooden bridge. Over the bridge, go straight ahead on a cross field path to a gap in the hedge opposite, to the right of a lone tree. Through the gap, go straight ahead across the next field diagonally left to a wooden gate and yellow waymarker on the other side. Go through the gate and head leftwards along a grassy field edge continuing onwards following yellow waymarker posts. Continue along the field edge with the hedge on your left until you come to a stile on the left by a wooden signpost. Do not cross this stile but follow the direction of the fingerpost up the field and then diagonally left to another fingerpost and stile on the other side of the field. Once over the stile, cross the field diagonally right to a hedge on the

other side. At the hedge, turn right and walk alongside it to the end of the field; then turn right and walk to another yellow waymarker post. Here, walk across the next field diagonally right to a low hedge. At the low hedge, turn right and walk alongside this hedge to a gap in the corner. Go through the gap and follow the narrow path in front to another yellow waymarker post. Follow the direction arrow on this post to the left-hand side of the hedge and then walk along this hedge to a metal gate and another yellow waymarker. Follow the waymarkers all the way to the edge of Laxton Village. Eventually, come to a road and turn left. Just before the church, take a green signposted footpath right into the church grounds and then immediately right alongside the boundary wall of the church. Go through a series of gates and across a field past ‘the fishponds’ and then across another field via a kissing gate onto a road. At the road, turn right and then look for a path on the right. This path is unmarked and is opposite a gated track on the left. Turn right off the road, go through the metal gate, and walk westwards along a narrow path with hedges on both sides. Continue up the hill and keep going straight ahead along the narrow path as is goes through a wooded area. Once through the woods, carry on westwards and upwards along a grassy track with a hedge on your left. Come to a yellow waymarker and an empty information board at the top of the hill. At this waymarker, turn left and head south on a clearly marked track all the way back to Kneesall. Stay on the main track and keep going straight ahead to a road. At the road, turn right and then take the first left along School Lane and back to the car park in Kneesall.

Distance: 12 km Walking Time: 3.25 hours Map: OS Explorer 271: Newark on Trent Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes

Walk 121: Kneesall to Laxton

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C. South Derbyshire

Walk 122: A Walk alongside Staunton Harold Reservoir  ☺

Description

Staunton Harold Reservoir near Melbourne, Derbyshire is in the heart of the National Forest. There are several outdoor and leisure activities available at this wildlife reserve, such as an adventure playground, fishing, bird watching, sailing and cycling, as well as countryside walks for those who want to explore the region. Public footpaths lead to Calke Abbey and beyond to Foremark Reservoir. There is also a Visitor Centre, which includes an information room and overlooks the adventure playground and the spectacular views that surround it. The National Trust Café is open all the year round and is dog friendly. This walk takes you along the west side of Staunton Harold Reservoir and back.

Parking

Park in the Staunton Reservoir Visitor’s Centre car park - £3.00 per day. Sat Nav: Calke Road, Windmill Hill, Melbourne Derbyshire. DE73 8DN

Clues

Walk down the hill from the car park keeping the reservoir on your left and come to a wide path that takes you anticlockwise around the reservoir. Walk past the sailing club alongside the reservoir on the tarmac track. Eventually, you will come to a wooden gate. This is the end of the tarmac track. At this point, turn around and retrace your steps back to the Visitor’s Centre car park.

Distance: 2.5 km Walking Time: 1 hour Map: OS Explorer 245: The National Forest Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 122: A Walk alongside Staunton Harold Reservoir

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Walk 123: Calke Abbey to Staunton Harold Reservoir Café and Return 

Description

Enjoy a leisurely walk from Calke Abbey to Staunton Harold Reservoir, with fine views over the reservoir, fields and woodland. Stop at the Staunton Harold Visitor Centre for refreshments and then retrace your steps to Calke. Calke Abbey is a Grade I listed country house near Ticknall, Derbyshire, in the care of the National Trust. The site was an Augustinian priory from the 12th century until its dissolution by Henry VIII.

The Staunton Harold Reservoir was built in 1964, meant to serve Leicester and the towns of northern Leicestershire. The dam wall is a clay core construction, similar to the dam wall at Ladybower Reservoir. Part of the shoreline border is the Calke Abbey estate, as well as the National Forest. Staunton Harold hosts a natural habitat for much bird and plant life, and is also home to Dimmingsdale Nature Reserve.

Parking

Park at Calke Abbey on the main car park. On A514 at Ticknall between Swadlincote and Melbourne. Entry via Ticknall main entrance only. Post Code for SatNav: DE73 7JF

Important: during COVID restrictions – The Calke Abbey parkland and gardens remain open. If you wish to explore the gardens please book your visit to Calke Abbey in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends and bank holidays. To book a visit, go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke-abbey. Otherwise stick to the public rights of way across the estate.

Clues

From the back of the main car park, take the gravel path down towards Mere Pond. Turn right at a stepped path and continue to the bottom next to the pond. Turn right at the bottom of the steps and follow the path alongside Mere Pond. At the end of the pond, the path turns left going steadily uphill, with the deer park on your right. You are now walking on the ‘National Forest Way’. You will reach an information board at the top of the hill. Turn left, then walk for 15 metres until you reach a gate on your right. Go through the gate, then turn left and walk a short distance to cross a squeeze stile. Bear right and follow the path across a field. Look out for Staunton Harold Reservoir to your right. When you reach the edge of the field, cross the two squeeze stiles either side of a private drive. Continue along the field until you get to a Y path junction. Take the right fork downhill across a field until you reach a bridge crossing a stream. Cross the bridge and bear right to follow the narrow track across the field to a stile by a gate leading to a minor road. Follow this road to a small car parking area. At the car parking area, turn left and walk through a wooden gate onto a tarmac footpath that follows the edge of the reservoir on your right. Continue along this path past the Staunton Harold Sailing Club. Continue on the tarmac path until you get to Staunton Harold Visitors Centre. Here there is a café and toilets. Look out for the derelict windmill. Then retrace your steps back to Calke Abbey.

Distance: 6.5 km Walking Time: 2.25 hours Map: OS Explorer 245: The National Forest Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 123: Calke Abbey to Staunton Harold Reservoir Café and Return

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Walk 124: Staunton Harold Visitor Centre to Calke Abbey and Return 

Description

Parking

Park in the Staunton Reservoir Visitor’s Centre car park - £3.00 per day. Sat Nav: Calke Road, Windmill Hill, Melbourne Derbyshire. DE73 8DN

Clues

Walk down the hill from the car park keeping the reservoir on your left and come to a wide path that takes you anticlockwise around the reservoir. Walk past the sailing club alongside the reservoir. Eventually, you will come to a wooden gate. Go through the gate to a small parking area. Turn right and walk up the road to a footpath with signs left and right. Take the left-hand path through a kissing gate and then diagonally right across a field to a wooden bridge and stream below. Cross the wooden bridge and proceed across the field on the other side in the same direction. At a T path junction, turn left and continue on the wide path across a field, over a double stile and onto a squeeze stile in the hedge on the other side of the field. Once through the stile, walk on the path with the hedge on your right for a few metres to a wooden gate on the right. Go through the gate, turn left and come to an information board about Calke abbey. You are now entering the deer park. Turn right at the information board and proceed on the path downhill with the deer park on your left. At the bottom of the path, come to a small lake – Mere Pond. Swing right around the head of the lake and walk alongside the lake to a path with steps on your left. Take this path uphill to the main Calke Abbey Car Park. Here there are picnic table for a rest stop, by the deer park. Explore the grounds of Calke Abbey if you wish and then retrace your steps back to Staunton Harold Visitor’s Centre.

Distance: 6.5 km Walking Time: 2.25 hours Map: OS Explorer 245: The National Forest Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 124: Staunton Harold Visitor Centre to Calke Abbey and Return

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Walk 125: Melbourne to Calke Abbey via Staunton Harold Reservoir 

Description

This walk takes you along the west side of Staunton Harold Reservoir and into the Calke Abbey Deer Park starting from Melbourne. Starting at Melbourne saves you the parking fees at Staunton Harold Visitor’s Centre and gives you the chance to explore Melbourne Village after the walk. This is a beautiful walk with fine views over the reservoir and beyond. It takes you to Calke Abbey Deer Park where you will find red and fallow deer roaming free.

Parking

Start by the parish church in Melbourne – St Michael and St Mary, on Blackwell Lane – next to Melbourne Hall. Post Code for Sat Nav: DE73 8EN. Important: during COVID restrictions – The Calke Abbey parkland and gardens remain open. If you wish to explore the gardens please book your visit to Calke Abbey in advance, especially at busier times such as weekends and bank holidays. To book a visit, go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke-abbey. Otherwise stick to the public rights of way across the estate.

Clues

From the church, turn left onto Blackwell Lane towards Melbourne Village. Walk past the Spirit Vaults pub. Take the first left along Penn Lane. Walk up the lane to Melbourne Medical Centre on the right. Take the footpath left, opposite the medical centre, along a footpath marked by a green sign; ‘Public Footpath to Woodhouses’. Go through the wooden gate and follow the path as it sweeps right and then downhill to a fork. Take the right fork and continue along this path with houses on your right to a road. Turn left here onto Ashby Road. Take the second road on the right onto Calke Road signposted Staunton Harold Reservoir. Walk up the driveway and into the entrance of the reservoir. Walk past the café and down the hill from the car park keeping the reservoir on your left and come to a wide path that takes you anticlockwise around the reservoir. Walk past the sailing club alongside the reservoir. Eventually, you will come to a wooden gate. Go through the gate to a small parking area. Turn right and walk up the road to a footpath with signs left and right. Take the left-hand path through a kissing gate and then diagonally right across a field to a wooden bridge and stream below. Cross the wooden bridge and proceed across the field on the other side in the same direction. At a T path junction, turn left and continue on the wide path across a field, over a double stile and onto a squeeze stile in the hedge on the other side of the field. Once through the stile, walk on the path with the hedge on your right for a few metres to a wooden gate on the right. Go through the gate, turn left, and come to an information board about Calke abbey. You are now entering the deer park. Turn right at the information board and proceed on the path downhill with the deer park on your left. At the bottom of the path, come to a small lake – Mere Pond. Swing right around the head of the lake and walk alongside the lake to a path with steps on your left. Take this path uphill to the main Calke Abbey Car Park. Here there are picnic table for a rest stop, by the deer park. Explore the grounds of Calke Abbey if you wish and then retrace your steps back to Staunton Harold Visitor’s Centre.

Distance: 10.5 km Walking Time: 3.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 245: The National Forest Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes 61

Walk 125: Melbourne to Calke Abbey via Staunton Harold Reservoir

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Walk 126: Around Staunton Harold Reservoir and Calke Abbey Deer Park from Melbourne 

Description

A varied and interesting circular walk which explores the area to the south of the Derbyshire town of Melbourne. It is a very pretty area with parkland and lots of iconic places to see. There’s Melbourne Pool, Staunton Harold Reservoir and last but not least, the grounds of Calke Abbey Deer Park, before finishing on the Severn Trent track alongside the reservoir and back to Melbourne.

Parking

Start by the parish church in Melbourne – St Michael and St Mary, on Blackwell Lane – next to Melbourne Hall. Post Code for Sat Nav: DE73 8EN. Start the walk at the church at the southern fringes of the town of Melbourne where you can pick up a public footpath heading around Melbourne Pool.

Clues

Facing the church from the road, take the minor road to the left of the church (Pool Road), to Melbourne Pool situated just behind the church. Go through a gateway marked ‘Private Road’ by the church. Walk down the side of the pool and pass the residential home on your right where the road is then bounded by a wall on the left and a hedge on the right. At the first left hand bend look out for a Wooden Public Footpath Sign on the right. Turn right here, through a wooden kissing gate and along a series of cross fields paths. Go through two stiles and then continue with the hedge on your left. Look out for a stile on your left down some steps which pass through the hedge. From this stile, turn right and take the grassy path to a track. Join the track and continue southwards. Keep going straight on until the path veers away from the track to a stile in the hedge just on your right. Cross this stile and walk along the grassy path with the hedge on your right. Go over another stile to a muddy path which takes you to an open gate. Cross a small stream and look for a yellow wooden waymarker in front of you. Be careful here, as the path forks at this point. To the left of this post, the left-hand path leads to a metal gate. To the right of the post, the right-hand path leads to a squeeze stile next to another yellow waymarker in the hedge. Take the right fork and make your way to the squeeze stile. Cross the stile and turn immediately right. Take the path next to the hedge to a yellow waymarker on the right-hand side. Go right at this point, through the hedge and through the first in a series of inscribed squeeze stiles! Cross a wooden bridge, go through a kissing gate, and then take the grassy path uphill with the hedge to your left to another squeeze stile. Beyond this stile is a road. Cross the road and follow the well-marked path opposite through Springwood. The path skirts around Springwood Farm. This path takes you through several inscribed squeeze stiles through the wood. At a path junction, turn left by a yellow waymarker and along a track that eventually takes you to a road. Turn right and walk down the road to the inlet of Staunton Reservoir just past the reservoir car park. Continue along the road and past the entrance to Dimminsdale Nature Reserve on your left. Beyond this, the road 63

takes you to a T junction. Turn right towards Calke Village. Pass the village sign. Opposite a thatched cottage you will come to the exit road to Calke Abbey Grounds. (SEE MAP DETAIL BELOW). Walk down the driveway or take the path to the left. Pass the church and then the abbey. Come to the main car park. From the back of the main car park, take the gravel path down towards Mere Pond. Turn right at a stepped path and continue to the bottom next to the pond. Turn right at the bottom of the steps and follow the path alongside Mere Pond. At the end of the pond, the path turns left going steadily uphill, with the deer park on your right. You are now walking on the ‘National Forest Way’. You will reach an information board at the top of the hill. Turn left, then walk for 15 metres until you reach a gate on your right. Go through the gate, then turn left and walk a short distance to cross a squeeze stile. Bear right and follow the path across a field. Look out for Staunton Harold Reservoir to your right. When you reach the edge of the field, cross the two squeeze stiles either side of a private drive. Continue along the field until you get to a Y path junction. Take the right fork downhill across a field until you reach a bridge crossing a stream. Cross the bridge and bear right to follow the narrow track across the field to a stile by a gate leading to a minor road. Follow this road to a small car parking area. At the car parking area, turn left and walk through a wooden gate onto a tarmac footpath that follows the edge of the reservoir on your right. Continue along this path past the Staunton Harold Sailing Club. Continue on the tarmac path until you get to Staunton Harold Visitors Centre. Here there is a café and toilets. Look out for the derelict windmill. Take the main driveway to the right of the windmill where you will pass the dam wall of the reservoir. Continue to a T junction and turn left. Continue past a left-hand turn (The B587 to Derby) and on to a bus stop on the right-hand side next to a green Public Footpath sign. Take this path right and continue along this path back to Melbourne. The path will take you to a road, where you turn right. Continue past a No Entry sign on Penn Lane to another T junction. Turn right here onto Church Street and find the church and Melbourne Hall car park on your right.

Distance: 10 km Walking Time: 3 hours Map: OS Explorer 245: The National Forest Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 126: Around Staunton Harold Reservoir and Calke Abbey Deer Park from Melbourne

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Walk 126: Detail of route through Calke Abbey Grounds

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Walk 127: Melbourne to Swarkestone by Path, River, Canal and Railway   

Description

An extraordinarily interesting walk taking in Melbourne, Swarkestone and Stanton by Bridge. This walk utilises the ‘Cloud Trail’ - a dismantled railway path. The route passes Melbourne, Swarkestone, the Trent Viaduct, the Trent and Mersey Canal and the River Trent. It is a lovely route with waterside sections and great views of the surrounding countryside to enjoy. There is also the chance to explore Melbourne Village with many points of interest. Melbourne parish church has been described as a "cathedral in miniature". Built about 1120, and most of the original masonry is intact, except for the eastern end which has been refurbished. The roofs, naves, aisles, and the aisle windows date from the restoration of the 1630s. Melbourne Hall was originally the rectory house for the Bishop of Carlisle but was substantially rebuilt by Thomas and George Coke in the early 18th century. The hall's gardens were laid out with the assistance of royal gardeners in 1704. They contain examples of the work of Derby ironsmith Robert Bakewell. Melbourne Pool was originally used by the nearby mill. The Thomas Cook Memorial Cottages in High Street were built by Thomas Cook who started popular travel in England. Cook was born in Melbourne in 1808. The buildings built in 1890–91 include fourteen cottages, a bakehouse, a laundry, and mission hall.

Parking

Park by the parish church in Melbourne – St Michael and St Mary, on Blackwell Lane – next to Melbourne Hall. Post Code for Sat Nav: DE73 8EN

Clues

Walk away from the church, cross Blackwell Lane and head up Castle Street, past the White Swan on the left and the Fire Station on the right. At the green, turn right onto Station road and continue to Jawbone Lane on the left. Turn left along Jawbone Lane to the War Memorial by Trent Lane. Walk down Trent Lane, past a white house on the right. Pass a green Public Footpath sign and Chantry farm on the left. Just before the bridge, take the path left onto the disused railway line. Go down the access path and join the main path at the bottom. Turn left and walk along the disused railway line. Go over the River Trent and then turn left at a National Cycle Network sign to Derby. (At Sarson’s Bridge on the map). Join the Towpath of the Trent and Mersey Canal and walk about 1 km to the next bridge: Massey’s Bridge. Turn left by the bridge and look for a Yellow waymarker post below left. Cross the electric fence and take the cross-field path towards Swarkestone. This section of the path is well marked – just head towards the church in front of you. On the way you will pass the remains of an old hall (Swarkestone Hall) on the left and a Landmark Trust building (Swarkestone Pavilion) on the right. Just past Swarkestone Pavilion take the tarmac Drive for a few metres and then take the grassy path ahead to a wall in front of you and still aiming for the church. At the wall, walk with it on your left to a stile which leads to the church. Walk around the church to the main entrance. Opposite is a gate and a signpost. Take this path as it crosses ‘Hollies Farm’ past the left-hand side of the two large green Dutch barns. Continue along a narrow path by some houses and out at the main road (A514) by Swarkestone Bridge opposite the Crewe and Harpur Pub. Turn left onto the main road (CAUTION) and cross the bridge. Take the first turning on the right signposted Ingleby. Take this road for a couple of hundred metres to a green footpath sign (Melbourne 3m) on the left. Go through the kissing

gate and walk across the field towards the wall of the road. Walk parallel to the road through two wicket gates. When you come to the end of the last field, follow the path round to the right. Pass a metal gate to a narrow path bounded by hedges on both sides. Continue to a metal gate with a sign ‘Please keep to the Public Footpath’. Go through the gate and continue along an obvious path to a concrete bridge over a ‘pond’ on your left. Over the bridge go through a wicket gate and walk to a telegraph pole, where you turn left and then follow the grassy path uphill through two wicket gates and onto a stile leading out to a road by Stanton Church. This section of the path is marked by yellow waymarkers. At the church, turn right and walk around the church to a green footpath sign. Take the path left marked ‘Public Footpath’ and NOT the bridleway. Go up the track which swings right past some houses and to a metal gate by another green footpath sign. Here, take the public footpath left, alongside a hedge. Keep the hedge on your left and continue to a stile just left in front of you, by a telegraph pole and below an electricity junction box. Take the stile and continue by the side of a field to another stile. Cross this stile and continue along a narrow path bounded by a hedge on the right and a fence on the left. This path takes you round to a wicket fence beyond which it passes a field edge to a wicket gate to the right of a metal gate. Through the gate, turn left to a minor road. Cross the road and continue along a track marked by a wooden footpath sign. Follow the yellow arrow left along a gravel drive to a clear alleyway leading to the road by a small green. Turn right and walk along the road, past a phone box, to a junction. Take the road left to Melbourne B587. Immediately, take the footpath left towards ‘King’s Newton 1 mile’. After 100m, look out for a gate right and onto a clear path uphill and onwards SW towards Melbourne. The path leads to a track – turn right and take the track, marked ‘Restricted Byway’ all the way back to Melbourne. Pass the Holy Well on the left. Beyond this is a road. Take ‘Pack Horse Road’ and continue to Melbourne. At a small green turn left and then immediately right onto Castle Street. Go past the Fire Station and the White Swan and back to your car by the church in Melbourne.

Distance: 12 km Walking Time: 3.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 245: The National Forest Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 127: Melbourne to Swarkestone by Path, River, Canal and Railway

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D. Along the Trent Valley

Walk 128: Around Hoveringham Lakes 

Description

This is a splendid walk, full of variety and rich in bird life. The Hoveringham Lakes comprise of mature gravel pits and farmland with a number of relatively small woods and copses. There are two main lakes: the Railway Lake to the east next to the railway line and the Sailing Lake to the west next to the River Trent. The Sailing Lake is best known as one of the premier gull roosts in the midlands. The total number of species seen on the Hoveringham complex is 228. During most visits to this area, I can see over 40! This walk starts in Hoveringham and takes you past both main lakes via the village of Bleasby. Then. there is a fantastic 4 kms return leg with the Sailing Lake on one side of the path and the River Trent immediately on the other. There is an excellent map of the area on The Nottingham Birdwatchers website: www.nottsbirders.net/hoveringham_pits.html

Parking

Park in Hoveringham – in the car park on Hoveringham Road opposite the Ferry Farm Country Park and adjacent to the River Trent. Post Code for sat Nav: NG14 7JP

Clues

Walk downstream from the car park, along Hoveringham Road. Past the Ferry Farm Park, the road bends left, away from the river. Continue along the road on Boat Lane towards Hoveringham village. At the T junction, turn right along Main Street. Take the footpath on the left which heads down an alley way towards the Reindeer Pub. Go through the gate and onto the cricket ground. Head diagonally right across the field to the pavilion and then take the field- edge path NW, and over a wooden bridge to a main path T junction. Turn left here and walk to a road. At the road cross over and take the poorly marked bridleway straight ahead. Take the first path right and walk alongside a wired fence. At a green public footpath sign pointing ahead, turn off this path right, through a wooden gate onto the road. Here the footpath continues alongside the road on the other side. Continue on this clear path alongside the road to the railway line. The path bends right here and runs NE alongside the railway line. Continue along this path all the way to Thurgarten Railway Station. Note that on this section, the path loops right alongside a wood before re-joining the railway line after this loop. At the railway station, come onto the road, turn left, and follow the road over the railway line to a green Public Footpath sign on your right. Take the cross-field path to the bend in the road on the other side. Go up Becky Street, turn first right onto Priory Park, then turn left at the end to a wooden finger post. Take this alleyway, then the first path right, taking you past a small orchard and out onto open fields. At the path T junction, turn right. Cross the railway line, then turn immediately left and walk parallel to the railway line. The path then bends right at right angles away from the line, and then left towards Bleasby village. This section of the path is clearly discernible as it wends left then right and then past a primary school on your left to a road. At the road, turn right and walk all the way through

Bleasby village. Go past the Waggon and Horses Pub and the church, both on the left. At a crossroads go straight ahead onto Boat Lane signposted to Hazelford. At the river, turn right and take the clearly marked Trent Valley Way up stream all the way to the Hoveringham Road and back to your car. This return section is around 4 kms and will take about one hour to complete.

Distance: 14 km Walking Time: 4 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 25 minutes

Walk 128: Around Hoveringham Lakes

Railway

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Walk 129: Colwick Country Park to Netherfield Lagoons  

Description

A fantastic and fascinating ‘out and back’ walk along the River Trent from Colwick to the Netherfield Lagoons. If you keep looking over the river on your right on the outward leg, you will see the familiar sights of Lady Bay, the Sailing Club, the Rugby Club, the Canoe Slalom, the Regatta Lake, the back lane to Radcliffe, the railway line and the Cliffs of Radcliffe. All from a different perspective. There is much of interest – even the section through Colwick industrial Estate is intriguing! There is a plethora of birdlife: on the Colwick lakes, along the bushes on the riverside and at the Lagoon itself. There is so much to commend this walk – a local walk not to be missed!

Parking

Park on Racecourse Road. Go over Lady Bay Bridge, turn right onto Meadow Lane and right again at the roundabout onto the A612 Daleside Lane. At the racecourse roundabout (with the horse sculptures) turn right onto Racecourse Road. Park on the road, near to the first Public Bridleway sign on the right, just before Colwick Hall. Sat Nav Post Code: NG2 4BH

Clues

Take the first footpath on the right along Racecourse Road marked with a green ’Public Bridleway’ sign. Take the track eastwards to a metal gate. Go through the metal gate. The path takes you close to the River Trent. Follow this path alongside the Trent. Go through a wooden gate and continue straight ahead. The lake is close to the left of the path and the river is close to the right along this section. Pass a wind turbine and Adventure Centre. Come to a yellow metal gate and turn right. Keep on this path past the marina. Come to a public toilet and playground and turn left. Pass the Holme Sluices on your right. Continue on the path alongside the river. Eventually, the path bends to the left by a series of small bollards on the right-hand side. Take the path right off the main drive in the middle section of these bollards. Cross a bridge and climb up the embankment to a wide path on the top of the embankment. Turn right and continue with the river on your right and houses on your left. Just past a red public telephone box (in someone’s garden), follow the path as it bends left and then take the narrow path right off the drive going alongside the houses. Take this path straight ahead, with house gardens and fences on the left, all the way to a road. Turn right at the road onto ‘Crosslands Meadow’ and then right again onto ‘Colwick Estates Private Road No 2.’ Continue on this road for about a kilometre past the industrial units. Pass a road on the left (to Nottingham), then a small roundabout keeping straight ahead throughout. At the roundabout, take the path on the right-hand side of the road past ‘Truck and Bus Engineering’. Just after ‘Armitage Pet Care’ you will find a blue cycle way sign to Stoke Bardolph. Take this path on the right between two industrial units and back to the River Trent. Turn left at the river and follow this path all the way to a railway bridge. Go under the railway bridge, through a squeeze gate to a cross paths and a green path sign. Opposite the river here is the beginning of the Cliffs of Radcliffe. Continue a few more metres on the path towards Stoke Bardolph and you will find some steps on the left leading up to the Netherfield Lagoons. Explore the lagoons and then retrace your steps from this point back to Colwick. On the return leg, there is a

confusing junction in Colwick Park by the toilets and playground. Take the path diagonally right NOT straight on here or you will come to a dead end at the marina.

Distance: 12 km Walking Time: 3 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 10 minutes

Walk 129: Colwick Country Park to Netherfield Lagoons

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Walk 130: Netherfield to Gunthorpe  

Description

This is a neat circuit starting at the Netherfield Lagoons and following the River Trent all the way to Gunthorpe. The walk returns via Burton Meadows and then via a countryside route behind Stoke Bardolph and back to Netherfield. This walk will be of great interest to birders as there are a great variety of birds in the Netherfield Lagoons, along the river and on Burton Meadows. The route takes you on the opposite bank to The Cliffs of Radcliffe with some great views of Shelford Church for most of the way.

Parking

Park as if for the Netherfield Lagoons. This is best approached from the Colwick Loop Road via the Victoria Retail Park. From A612 Colwick Loop Road, turn right into the Victoria Retail Park. Take Teal Close left off the second round-about and park near the end of the road opposite the back entrance to B and M Stores and Halfords!

Clues

Take the footpath by a black rubbish bin on the pavement opposite Halfords’ back entrance. Cross the Ouse Dyke and walk right, along its north bank until you reach the foot bridge (about ½ km). Cross back across the foot bridge and enter the nature reserve. At the main information board, follow the path straight ahead. (To see the Netherfield Lagoons, turn left up the steps by the information board to reach the elevated perimeter path). Otherwise, continue on the main path straight ahead which is in a cutting. This path will eventually bring you to the River Trent via some stepping-stones over a small stream. At the River Trent you will find a fingerpost by the railway bridge: left to Stoke Bardolph and right to Colwick. Turn left and follow the riverside path all the way to Gunthorpe. You will first come to a squeeze gate at the boundary of the Netherfield Lagoons. Pass a lock (St Bardolph Lock No. 6) and continue to Stoke Bardolph. You will pass a car park and The Ferry Boat Pub on the way. Continue past the pub on the road until you come to a green fingerpost indicating a Public Footpath right, through some trees. This fingerpost is just before a ‘Weak Bridge’ road sign. Take this path right, through a kissing gate, and onto a wide grassy area. Continue on the path next to the river. Come to a kissing gate at the other end of this grassy area and turn right onto a track. Follow this track until you get to a Y junction at a sign: ‘Ashfield Angling’. Take the right-hand path keeping close to the river on your right. Continue to a wooden kissing gate, and onto another path junction marked with a green fingerpost. Make a note of this junction as you will come back to this on the return leg. Take the right turn onto the public footpath. Continue on the riverside track until you get to Gunthorpe Bridge. The footpath takes you under the bridge and main road to a car park by The Unicorn Hotel with some picnic areas.

On the return leg, retrace your steps to the path junction mentioned above. This time take the right-hand path, signposted Public Bridleway along ‘Trent Lane’ as marked on the map. You will then pass Burton Meadows on your left. Continue on this straight path through a long avenue of trees. At the end of the avenue take the metal kissing gate left, off the main track and follow the grassy path in front of Burton Joyce. Come to the road again and walk along 75

the road and back to Stoke Bardolph. Just before the Ferry Boat Pub, take the stile right by a wooden fingerpost, and walk along the left-hand side of a culvert on an embankment. After about 400m, look for a path diagonally left, taking you away from the embankment to a dyke. Keep the dyke on your left and continue to a road. Take the road left to a track/road junction. Take the path ahead just to the right of a telegraph pole. Continue straight ahead and across a road. Continue on the other side, along a field edge with the hedge on your right. Keep going straight ahead, over a stile by a metal gate, straight over a track, and back to the metal bridge by the entrance to Netherfield lagoons. Turn right here and follow the track back to Teal Close and your car.

Distance: 20 km Walking Time: 5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 15 minutes

Walk 130: Netherfield to Gunthorpe

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Walk 131: Stoke Bardolph to Gunthorpe  

Description

This is a delightful and neat circuit along the River Trent. There is plenty of variety along this straightforward walk, with the possibility of refreshments at either end. Gunthorpe Bridge was an important river crossing on the River Trent for many years, the first Gunthorpe Bridge was built in 1875. Before this a ferry was the only means of crossing the river here. There are some great views across the river to The Cliffs of Radcliffe and the church at Shelford.

Parking

From the A612 Nottingham to Southwell road, turn off right at traffic lights shortly after passing Victoria Retail Park. At the traffic lights the road is signposted for Stoke Bardolph. Follow the road through the village to the Ferry Boat Inn which will be found overlooking the riverside on your left. Leave your car in public car park by the river opposite the pub. Approximate Post Code for Sat Nav: NG14 5HX

Clues

Walk on the road downstream and past The Ferry Boat pub until you come to a green fingerpost indicating a Public Footpath right, through some trees. This fingerpost is just before a ‘Weak Bridge’ road sign. Take this path right, through a kissing gate, and onto a wide grassy area. Continue on the path next to the river. Come to a kissing Gate at the other end of this grassy area and turn right onto a track. Follow this track until you get to a Y junction at a sign: ‘Ashfield Angling’. Take the right-hand path keeping close to the river on your right. Continue to a wooden kissing gate, and onto another path junction marked with a green fingerpost. Make a note of this junction as you will come back to this on the return leg. Take the right turn onto the public footpath. Continue on the riverside track until you get to Gunthorpe Bridge. The footpath takes you under the bridge and main road to a car park by The Unicorn Hotel with some picnic areas.

Distance: 9.5 km Walking Time: 3 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 20 minutes

Walk 131: Stoke Bardolph to Gunthorpe

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Walk 132: Gunthorpe to Bleasby  

Description

A visit to Gunthorpe Lock on the outskirts of Nottingham is a blissful way to spend a day and be sure to pack a picnic if the weather is good. An important river crossing on the River Trent for many years, the first Gunthorpe Bridge was built in 1875. Before this a ferry was the only means of crossing the river here.

This ‘out and back’ walk follows a section of the River Trent and explores the adjoining countryside to the north of the river. The route takes you down the Trent Valley and uses generally well-signed paths and tracks. With the route occupying the flood plain of the Trent there are no gradients to contend with.

Parking

Take the A52 Radcliffe Road towards Radcliffe on Trent. At the second traffic lights after the Lings Bar Roundabout, turn left into Radcliffe. Turn left again at the Co-op mini roundabout onto Shelthorpe Road. Drive out of Radcliffe. Turn left onto Shelford Hill signposted Shelford. Keep ahead and continue through Shelford to the A 6097. Turn left over Gunthorpe Bridge and take the very first right into Gunthorpe. Park at the car park in Gunthorpe, by the bridge and opposite the Unicorn Pub. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG14 7FB

Clues

Start at the Car Park at Gunthorpe by the bridge. Follow the river path NE and follow the river downstream until you reach the slipway at Bleasby at the end of Boat Lane. At Bleasby retrace your steps to Gunthorpe.

Distance: 12 km Walking Time: 3.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 260: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 20 minutes

Walk 132: Gunthorpe to Bleasby

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Walk 133: Bleasby to Fiskerton Circuit on the River Trent  

Description

This is an exploration of a particularly beautiful section of the River Trent, just south of Newark. The river is broad and gentle; the scenery is wide and open; the wildlife are many and varied and the paths are clear and straightforward. Start in the village of Bleasby and walk to the beautiful quayside of Fiskerton on the Trent Valley Way. Before the building of the first Gunthorpe Bridge in 1875, Bleasby was an important crossing point over the River Trent at the Hazelford Ferry. The Ferry operated until well after the second world war as a recreational facility as it was adjacent to The Star & Garter public house. The public house has now been converted to a residential home for the elderly and the ferry has ceased operation although the winding gear has been preserved on the north bank. This location was thought to be the point where King Charles I crossed the Trent on his way to negotiate with the Scots at Southwell, prior to his eventual capture.

Parking

Park by the slipway adjacent to the River Trent at the end of Boat Lane in Bleasby – off the main Nottingham to Southwell Road. This is marked by ‘Hazelford Ferry’ and PH on the OS map. Approximate Post Code for Sat Nav: NG14 7FT

Clues

To return, retrace your steps, this time walking upstream along the Trent Valley Way. From Fiskerton Quay go through three wooden gates. At the third gate, you will see a green ‘Public Footpath’ sign with a path indicated right. Take this path away from the river and continue through a gate by a car park and onwards through another gate by a yellow arrow. Continue along the track. At a T junction, go left following yellow waymarkers. The path swings right, then left, then right. Carry on along a field and you will get back to the river and the weir, just before Bleasby. At the Weir, turn right and return along the Trent Valley Way back to Bleasby slipway and your car.

Distance: 6 km Walking Time: 2 hours Map: OS Landranger 120: Mansfield and Worksop Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 25 minutes

Walk 133: Bleasby to Fiskerton Circuit on the River Trent

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Walk 134: Bleasby to Farndon on the River Trent  

Description

This is an exploration of a particularly beautiful section of the River Trent, just south of Newark. The river is broad and gentle; the scenery is wide and open; the wildlife are many and varied and the paths are clear and straightforward. Start in the village of Bleasby and walk all the way to Farndon along the Trent Valley Way. Before the building of the first Gunthorpe Bridge in 1875, Bleasby was an important crossing point over the River Trent at the Hazelford Ferry. The Ferry operated until well after the second world war as a recreational facility as it was adjacent to The Star & Garter public house. The public house has now been converted to a residential home for the elderly and the ferry has ceased operation although the winding gear has been preserved on the north bank. This location was thought to be the point where King Charles I crossed the Trent on his way to negotiate with the Scots at Southwell, prior to his eventual capture.

Parking

Clues

From the slipway, turn left and take the path by the fence heading by the River Trent downstream. Go through the white gate onto a clear path adjacent to the river. Pass the moorings on the right. Soon you will come to a weir. Continue past the weir and keep to the main path straight ahead, with the river by your right side. Go through a series of gates and keep to the river. After about an hour you will come to Fiskerton Quay. Pass ‘The Bromley’ Pub and continue by the railings and river through Fiskerton Quay. Just past a car park, the path joins the road for a short section. Cross a small bridge and then turn right off the road onto a narrow path by a green ‘Public Footpath’ sign. This narrow path soon opens up onto a grassy embankment. Continue along this path, which changes to a muddy track keeping the river on your right side. You will soon pass under the first of four sets of electricity cables from four rows of pylons. You will then go through a kissing gate and past a ’31 kms’ marker. Just beyond this marker is a white gate. Go through the gate you will arrive at a muddy track going from left to right in front of you. This is the extent of our walk out, just before Farndon and will take about 2 hours from the start. Turn left here and go along the track heading Westwards. Stay on the track, through a wicket gate and under four sets of electricity lines. At the last set of electricity lines, the track forks. Take the left fork and continue along a grassy path with hedges on both sides. This path joins a gravel track at which point, turn right. Continue on the gravel track to a road. Turn left and walk back into Fiskerton. Retrace your steps through Fiskerton and onwards through three wooden gates. At the third gate, you will see a green ‘Public Footpath’ sign with a path indicated right. Take this path away from the river and continue through a gate by a car park and onwards through another gate by a yellow arrow. Continue along the track. At a T junction, go left following yellow

waymarkers. The path swings right, then left, then right. Carry on along a field and you will get back to the river and the weir, just before Bleasby. At the Weir, turn right and return along the Trent Valley Way back to Bleasby slipway and your car.

Distance: 14 km Walking Time: 4 hours Map: OS Landranger 120: Mansfield and Worksop Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 25 minutes

Walk 134: Bleasby to Farndon on the River Trent

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Walk 135: Fiskerton to Farndon Circuit on the River Trent  

Description

Fiskerton is a village on the west bank of the River Trent about 3 miles southeast of Southwell. The waterfront is home to million-pound residential properties, previously residences of merchants and businessmen who commuted in the 1800s to nearby Nottingham by rail from Fiskerton Station. The village's location beside the Trent attracts walkers, picnickers and casual visitors in summer, centred on the riverside pub/restaurant, which was called the Bromley Arms, renamed as The Bromley at Fiskerton in 2014 and used as a friendly cafe-type base also serving snacks and refreshments. Fishing and agriculture remained important, but with close proximity to the River Trent, Fiskerton developed other industries. By 1842 there were wharfs, coal yards and warehouses along the river front together with a large malthouse owned by Newark brewer, James Hole. There was a watermill on the River Greet and a windmill on what is now Station Road. Altogether this makes for a very attractive scene. This walk takes you from Fiskerton to Farndon on a loop by a particularly beautiful section of the River Trent.

Parking

Park at the car park by Fiskerton Quay downstream from the Bromley Pub. From Fiskerton Railway Station take Station Road to the river. Turn left and the car park is on the right by the river. Approximate Post Code for Sat Nav: NG25 0UL

Clues

From the car park, take the path downstream along the River Trent next to some railings. This path joins the road for a short section. Cross a small bridge and then turn right onto a narrow path by a green ‘Public Footpath’ sign. This narrow path soon opens up onto a grassy embankment. Continue along this path, which changes to a muddy track keeping the river on your right side. You will soon pass under the first of four sets of electricity cables from four rows of pylons. You will then go through a kissing gate and past a ’31 kms’ marker. Just beyond this marker is a white gate. Go through the gate you will arrive at a muddy track going left to right in front of you. This is the extent of our walk out, just before Farndon. Turn left here and go along the track heading Westwards. Stay on the track, through a wicket gate and under four sets of electricity lines. At the last set of electricity lines, the track forks. Take the left fork and continue along a grassy path with hedges on both sides. This path joins a gravel track at which point, turn right. Continue on the gravel track to a road. Turn left and walk back into Fiskerton.

Distance: 6 km Walking Time: 2.5 hours Map: OS Landranger 129: Nottingham Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes

Walk 135: Fiskerton to Farndon Circuit on the River Trent

Walk 136: Farndon – River Trent Circuit  

Description

There is plenty to enjoy on this walk. The pretty village of Farndon nestles on the south bank of the River Trent close to the market town of Newark. Farndon has a long and interesting history and has three environmentally significant nature reserves: Farndon Park Woodland; Farndon Ponds and Cottage Lane Nature Reserve; and Farndon Willow Holt and Water Meadow, which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). They attract a huge diversity of wildlife and are one of the last remaining sites of the working willow holts, an ancient feature of many Trent side villages, where the willow is famously used for making cricket bats and basket weaving. This walk takes you from Farndon along the River Trent with a good many viewpoints en route.

Parking

Park at the car park at the bottom of Chapel Lane/Wyke Lane in Farndon – Next to the side Pub. Sat Nav Post Code: NG24 3SX

Clues

From the public car park, walk through the car parks belonging to the Riverside Pub and The Boathouse with the River Trent on your left. Come to a green. Here, walk diagonally right across the green to a wide path that takes you past some houses on your right, to a footpath sign by the entrance to the marina. Turn right here and then almost immediately left, following another footpath sign taking you past a row of garages to a kissing gate. Go through the kissing gate and continue straight ahead with a wooden fence on your right. At the next kissing gate, continue straight ahead, across some meadows with more houses on the right-hand side. Carry on to another kissing gate. Go through this gate and continue straight ahead on a made-up path to a T junction and signpost. Turn right here and continue to a crossroad with a mini roundabout. Turn left onto Marsh Lane and walk straight ahead. The road eventually narrows to a single-track road. Come to a red waste bin and take the narrow path straight ahead. Walk past ‘Riverbank House’ and onwards to the remains of a windmill and to the embankment of the river. At the river, turn left and go through a white gate onto a path in the garden of a house. Keep the river on your right-hand side and follow the riverside path for about 3 km. On this section, you will go through several wooden gates. You will pass the river opposite the Staythorpe Gas Powered Power Station and come to The Averham Weir at a right angle in the river. Continue on the riverside path. Pass the Farndon Nature Reserve on your left and come to the white bridge of the marina. Continue over this bridge, walk past the Newark Sea Scout Building and through another gate. Cross the meadow and arrive at the Boathouse and Riverside Pub Car Parks and back to your car.

Distance: 5 km Walking Time: 1.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 271: Newark on Trent Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes

Walk 136: Farndon – River Trent Circuit

Staythorpe

Walk 137: Three Villages of the Trent Valley  

Description

An exceptionally good walk, full of variety and interest. The three villages are Rolleston, Averham and Staythorpe. The Trent Valley is really wide here and so there are fantastic views and aspects. The route is flat and includes fields and riverside paths, tracks and quiet lanes. The river stretch is highly attractive and passes directly in front of Staythorpe Power Station. Look out for Peregrine Falcons nesting part-way up one of the cooling towers of the power station, and for Little Owl along the section just past Orchard Farm.

Averham church is situated at the end of Church Lane, on a bluff overlooking the River Trent. There was certainly a wooden church here in Saxon times, and it is thought that the first stone building and foundations of the present-day church were laid in the late Saxon period. However, the main body of the building that can be seen today was begun during the Norman period and altered and extended during the 14th and 15th centuries. It is, indeed, likely to be the oldest church still holding regular worship in Nottinghamshire today. Averham church makes a good resting place on this walk and provides a good vantage point to see the Peregrine Falcons soaring over the power station cooling towers.

Parking

Park in Rolleston, by the church on Station Road. Post Code for Sat Nav: NG23 5SE.

Clues

From the church walk back to the main road, turn right and walk through Rolleston village on the Fiskerton Road. Go past the speed limit sign out of the village and come to a right-hand bend in the road. Turn left here onto a made-up track marked as a no through road. Walk down the track and come to a path T junction. Turn left and walk over a cattle grid, through a fisherman’s car park, to a gate with lots of fishing notices. Go through the gate and continue on the track to the River Trent. Follow this track along the River Trent until you come to a yellow waymarker post on the left just before some metal gates block the track. Turn left at this yellow waymarker, following signs to Staythorpe and Averham. Cross the stile and turn immediately right onto a grassy track. Follow this track around the edge of the field, eventually coming back to the river. Continue alongside the river and come to a wooden gate that marks the beginning of the section past Staythorpe Power Station. Continue straight ahead, alongside the river, and look out for Trent Valley Way path markings. Keep to the well-signposted path that goes in front of the power station. Just past the power station, look out for yellow arrows on signposts indicating a left turn. Take this path left for a few metres and then immediately right which takes you by the edge of a field with the hedge on the right. The path is well marked along this section as it swings left alongside the weir and river. This path takes you underneath a low railway bridge and onwards towards the church in Averham. Just before the church, the path bends left, alongside a dyke to a brick bridge. Cross the bridge and come to a road by a sign to the Robin Hood Theatre. Turn left along the road on Church Lane, then left again onto Staythorpe Road. At the junction with the main road, turn left and continue on the main road past the power station. Just past a sewage pumping station, and beyond some buildings, is a footpath on the right by a half- 89

hidden green footpath sign. Take this footpath straight ahead across a field aiming for a yellow post ahead of you and to the right of the telegraph poles. At the yellow waymarker, turn right and walk along a grassy path between two fields to another yellow waymarker post next to a fence. Turn left here and take the meandering path to a path T junction. Turn left here and continue along the track to a dyke. At the dyke, take the path left and continue towards the electricity pylons. Continue along this grassy path with fields on both side to a yellow waymarker in the hedge in front of you. Turn right here and follow the path as it meanders underneath the electricity wires again. Come to another dyke and turn right to a concrete bridge over the dyke. Cross the bridge and aim straight across the field to a yellow waymarker post on the other side. Cross the field and then turn left along a track. Now keep straight ahead all the way back to Rolleston. After a concrete bridge, the path switches left and then right and continues with the hedge on your right-hand side. Carry on straight ahead. Cross a cross-field path to a golf course. At the golf course, turn right, come to a dyke and then turn left. Southwell racecourse is on your right. Carry on alongside the dyke to a wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and then turn immediately left. Come to a lane. Cross the railway line on the right and continue to a road. Turn left onto the road, past the church and back to your car.

Distance: 12 km Walking Time: 3.5 hours Map: OS Explorer 271: Newark on Trent Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 137: Three Villages of the Trent Valley

Walk 138: The Entire Trent Valley North – from Colwick to Newark  

Description

This is a linear walk taking in the entire Trent Valley following the path all the way from Colwick to Averham – just before Newark. It is the culmination of walks 129 to 135 and walk 137. It is fascinating to track to course of the River Trent beyond the familiar territory of West Bridgford. This long walk enables you to do just that. On reaching West Bridgford, The Trent flows beneath Trent Bridge near the cricket ground of the same name, and beside The City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest, until it reaches Holme Sluices. Downstream of Nottingham it passes Radcliffe on Trent, Stoke Bardolph and Burton Joyce before reaching Gunthorpe with its bridge, lock and weir. The river now flows north-east below the Toot and Trent Hills before reaching Hazelford Ferry, Fiskerton and Farndon. To the north of Farndon, beside the Staythorpe Power Station, the river splits, with one arm passing Averham and Kelham, and the other arm, which is navigable, being joined by the River Devon before passing through the market town of Newark-on-Trent and beneath the town's castle walls. The two arms recombine at Crankley Point beyond the town, where the river turns due north to pass North Muskham and Holme to reach Cromwell Weir, below which the Trent becomes tidal. This walk takes you from Colwick as far as Averham, just south of Newark.

Parking

Meeting point at the end:

Clues

Colwick to Netherfield

the left, all the way to a road. Turn right at the road onto ‘Crosslands Meadow’ and then right again onto ‘Colwick Estates Private Road No 2.’ Continue on this road for about a kilometre past the industrial units. Pass a road on the left (to Nottingham), then a small roundabout keeping straight ahead throughout. At the roundabout, take the path on the right-hand side of the road past ‘Truck and Bus Engineering’. Just after ‘Armitage Pet Care’ you will find a blue cycle way sign to Stoke Bardolph. Take this path on the right between two industrial units and back to the River Trent. Turn left at the river and follow this path all the way to a railway bridge. Go under the railway bridge, through a squeeze gate to a cross paths and a green footpath sign. Opposite the river here is the beginning of the Cliffs of Radcliffe. Continue a few more metres on the path towards Stoke Bardolph and you will find some steps on the left leading up to the Netherfield Lagoons.

Netherfield to Gunthorpe

Now, follow the riverside path all the way to Gunthorpe. You will first come to a squeeze gate at the boundary of the Netherfield Lagoons. Pass a lock (St Bardolph Lock No. 6) and continue to Stoke Bardolph. You will pass a car park and The Ferry Boat Pub on the way. Continue past the pub on the road until you come to a green fingerpost indicating a Public Footpath right, through some trees. This fingerpost is just before a ‘Weak Bridge’ road sign. Take this path right, through a kissing gate, and onto a wide grassy area. Continue on the path next to the river. Come to a kissing Gate at the other end of this grassy area and turn right onto a track. Follow this track until you get to a Y junction at a sign: ‘Ashfield Angling’. Take the right-hand path keeping close to the river on your right. Continue to a wooden kissing gate, and onto another path junction marked with a green fingerpost. Make a note of this junction as you will come back to this on the return leg. Take the right turn onto the public footpath. Continue on the riverside track until you get to Gunthorpe Bridge. The footpath takes you under the bridge and main road to a car park by The Unicorn Hotel with some picnic areas.

Gunthorpe to Bleasby

Follow the river path NE and follow the river downstream until you reach the slipway at Bleasby at the end of Boat Lane.

Bleasby to Farndon

From the slipway at Bleasby, continue on the path by the fence heading by the River Trent downstream. Go through the white gate onto a clear path adjacent to the river. Pass the moorings on the right. Soon you will come to a Weir. Continue past the weir and keep to the main path straight ahead, with the river by your right side. Go through a series of gates and keep to the river. After about an hour you will come to Fiskerton Quay. Pass ‘The Bromley’ Pub and continue by the railings and river through Fiskerton Quay. Just past a car park, the path joins the road for a short section. Cross a small bridge and then turn right off the road onto a narrow path by a green ‘Public Footpath’ sign. This narrow path soon opens up onto a grassy embankment. Continue along this path, which changes to a muddy track keeping the river on your right side. You will soon pass under the first of four sets of electricity cables from four rows of pylons. You will then go through a kissing gate and past a ’31 kms’ marker. Just beyond this marker is a white gate. Go through the gate you will arrive at a muddy track going from left to right in front of you.

Farndon to Averham

Continue alongside the river and come to a wooden gate that marks the beginning of the section past Staythorpe Power Station. Continue straight ahead, alongside the river, and look out for Trent Valley Way path markings. Keep to the well-signposted path that goes in front of the power station. Just past the power station, look out for yellow arrows on signposts indicating a left turn. Take this path left for a few metres and then immediately right which takes you by the edge of a field with the hedge on the right. The path is well marked along this section as it swings left alongside the weir and river. This path takes you underneath a low railway bridge and onwards towards the church in Averham. Just before the church, the path bends left, alongside a dyke to a brick bridge. Cross the bridge and come to a road by a sign to the Robin Hood Theatre. Turn right along the road on Church Lane, then come to the church and the end of this long-distance walk!

Distance: approx. 30 km Walking Time: 8-9 hours Map: OS Landranger 120 and 129; OS Explorer 260 and 271

Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 10 minutes to drop off at Colwick; 30 minutes to pick up at Averham

Walk 138: The Entire Trent Valley North – from Colwick to Newark

E. Charnwood Forest and Beyond

Walk 139: An Exploration of Beacon Hill  ☺

Description

Parking

Park at the Lower Car Park off Breakback Road: LE12 8TA. Cost £4 per day. The car park has its own café which is operating a takeaway service.

Clues

For a map of Beacon Hill, go to Beacon Hill Country Park Visitor Information Times and Maps | Leicestershire Country Parks (leicscountryparks.org.uk)

Red Route: Distance: 0.75 km Walking Time: 20 minutes Surface: Hard surface path, suitable for pushchairs/wheelchairs

Purple Route: Distance: 2.25 km Walking Time: 40 minutes Surface: Hard surface path, suitable for pushchairs/wheelchairs

Blue Route: Distance 3.5 km Walking Time: 50 Minutes Surface: Hard surface path with steep sloping sections

Yellow Route: Distance: 5.25 km Walking Time: 1.25 hours Surface: Multiuse, surfaced path with some sandy sections

Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 139: An Exploration of Beacon Hill

Walk 140: An Exploration of Bradgate Park  ☺

Description

Bradgate Park was first enclosed as a deer park around 800 years ago. It provides 830 acres of publicly accessible countryside close to Loughborough. The Park offers a wild and rugged landscape with dramatic rocky outcrops and gnarled old oak trees, many of which are well over 500 years old. The landscape offers some of the finest views in Leicestershire and is rich in change throughout the seasons. If you do not fancy exploring the hills, the lower part of the Park is easily accessible, with a tarmac carriageway running through this area that is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. A Visitor Centre is in the heart of the Park, alongside the carriageway at the Deer Barns, where you will also find a Tearoom. Old John, the 18th Century folly sits on the highest point of the Park and is one of Leicestershire’s most famous landmarks. It is often referred to as the 'Icon of Leicestershire'. The Leicestershire Yeomanry War Memorial, which stands on the hill next to Old John, commemorates the men of the Leicestershire Yeomanry who died in the Boer War and the two World Wars. The Memorial, erected 1924, is an obelisk containing two bronze tablets. You will also find Bradgate House in the park. This was one of the earliest brick-built country houses in England, and childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for Nine Days in 1553. The Ruins are protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England. The Park supports, Red and Fallow Deer, with a herd size of around 550 animals, of which three quarters are Fallow Deer. The deer roam free and mix with visitors.

Parking

Park at the Hunt’s Hill Car Park on Sharpley Hill. This is less crowded than the main car park at Newton Linford. Daily charge: £3.00. Post Code for Sat Nav: LE6 0AH - off Sharpley Hill/Warren Hill and opposite the turn into Benscliffe Road. This is the closest car park to Old John and the War Memorial and is the best car park for exploring the Upper Park and getting some peace and quiet. Toilets are by the park entrance.

Clues

For a map of Bradgate Park, go to Visit Bradgate Park | The Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood Charity

Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 140: An Exploration of Bradgate Park

Walk 141: Exploration of The Outwoods ☺

Description

The Outwoods are owned and managed by Charnwood Borough Council. This woodland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Classed as an Ancient Woodland, the Outwoods supports a rich variety of plants, insects, and birds typical of such old woodlands. Wet alder and dry oak/birch woodland is interspersed with blocks of conifer planting, evidence of the extensive clear felling and commercial replanting which took place in the 1940's. The pre- Cambrian rocky outcrops are a characteristic feature of the Charnwood area.

Parking

Park at The Outwoods Car Park on Woodhouse Lane, Woodhouse Eaves, LE11 3YG. Cost £1 per day.

Clues

For a map of The Outwoods, go to Layout 1 (Page 1) (charnwood.gov.uk)

Blue Walk: Distance: 1.3 km Walking Time: 20 minutes

Orange Walk: Distance 3 km Walking Time: 1 hour

Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

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Walk 141: Exploration of The Outwoods

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Walk 142: Around Beacon Hill

Description

Parking

Park at the Lower Car Park off Breakback Road: LE12 8TA. Cost £4 per day. The car park has its own café which is operating a takeaway service.

Clues

Head for the far-left hand side of the car park and come to a life size wooden sculpture of a ‘woodman’. Take the narrow path straight ahead, ignoring the obvious path right. At a wooden signpost marked ‘Labyrinth’, turn right and proceed along the wide track gently uphill all the way to Beacon Hill summit, passing a car park and a metal gate on the way. The summit is marked by a trig point and a viewpoint. Return to the metal gate and turn right at the tarmac track in a NW direction. Take the first gate on the left through a wall opposite an information board about volcanoes and head for a wooden seat in front. Cut through the crags beyond the wooden seat and aim for the left-hand corner of the field straight in front of you. Through the gate, turn right and keep to the wide path with the wall on your left-hand side. Continue along this path for just over one kilometre. At a T junction by a seat, turn left and follow the path around to the right and back to the Woodhouse Lane. Just before Woodhouse Lane, turn right and continue along a path parallel to the road. Head back to the car park in front of you, passing a picnic area, a children’s play area and a café on the way.

Distance: 5.5 km Walking Time: 1.75 hours Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

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Walk 142: Around Beacon Hill

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Walk 143: Mount St Bernard Abbey – Circular Walk

Description

Mount St Bernard Abbey is a Roman Catholic, Trappist monastery near Whitwick, Leicestershire. The abbey was the first permanent monastery to be founded in England since the Reformation and is the only Trappist house in England. Until 2014 the monks ran a 200-acre dairy farm, but this was hit by falling milk prices. This deprived the abbey of its principal source of revenue and the monks established a brewery as an alternative enterprise, in line with the tradition of other monasteries in Europe. The monks brew the only Trappist beer in Britain. The Abbey and grounds make an excellent start and to this delightful walk through Charnwood Forest. The Abbey is well worth a visit. Be sure to visit the Abbey Church, the gardens, and the shop. This walk takes you through the abbey grounds and into the woodlands around Whitwick Quarry. Return along the Ivanhoe Way.

Parking

Start at Mount St Bernard Abbey on Oaks Road. Sat Nav Post Code: LE67 5UL. Look for the wide entrance to the Abbey. The car Park is at the end of the driveway. Park at Mount St Bernard Abbey car park – honesty box for a donation. Toilets in car park.

Clues

Walk to the rear of the car park. Just past the toilets, look for the first yellow waymarker post. Turn right here and walk up along track past the farm buildings. At the end of the track, follow the waymarker signs right and then immediately left. Walk up the track, past a house to a gate and a waymarker right. Go through the wall and turn right along a straight path. On the right are panoramic views of Mount St Bernard Abbey. Continue along this path following waymarkers to a yellow sign right (The Geological Way). Continue to a forked junction. Turn right and continue along the path to a wall. Keep the wall on your right and follow the yellow waymarkers straight ahead. You will see Whitwick Quarry below on your left. Soon, the main path goes right, away from the quarry fence, and down to a low wall. Keep this wall on your right and continue past a path on your left to a distinct waymarker post pointing left. Turn left here and continue past a farm and horse stables on the right. You will soon see two waymarkers side by side. Go straight ahead here and past the entrance to Forest Rock Wood. The path bends to the left and continues in a south westerly direction. Follow the yellow waymarkers all the way to a road (Leicester Road) by a Scout Headquarters. Turn right and walk along the road, past Hogarth Road, to a green footpath sign indicating the Ivanhoe Way right. Turn left opposite here onto St Bernard’s Way and walk along St Bernard’s Way. The road bends to the left. Just after this bend, look out for a green footpath sign right: Ivanhoe Way. Take this footpath and walk straight ahead on the gravelly path to a road. Turn left at the road, walk past Castle Rock School and The Forest Rock Offices to a crossroad. Go straight over along Abbey Road and continue walking on this road, past Hillside and Charnwood Gate Cottage to a red post box on your right. Opposite here is a footpath left, indicated by a wooden path sign adjacent to Abbey Lodge. Take this path through a metal gate to another metal gate. Turn right here and walk back down the track by the side of the farm buildings and back to the Abbey Car Park.

Distance: 7 km Walking Time: 2 hours Map: OS Explorer 245: The National Forest Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes 104

Walk 143: Mount St Bernard Abbey – Circular Walk

Mount St Bernard Abbey

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Walk 144: Beacon Hill and The Outwoods

Description

Beacon Hill Country Park, close to Woodhouse Eaves, is owned and managed by Leicestershire County Council. Rising to a height of 245m, Beacon Hill is one of the highest points in Leicestershire and boasts spectacular views of Charnwood Forest and the Soar Valley. The Country Park consists of mixed woodland, grassland, open heathland, wetlands and rocky outcrops. It has a range of interesting features. The Country Park supports an important range of plants and animals and is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Beacon Hill is also the site of a Bronze Age hill fort believed to be up to 3,000 years old. The Outwoods are owned and managed by Charnwood Borough Council. This woodland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Classed as an Ancient Woodland, the Outwoods supports a rich variety of plants, insects, and birds typical of such old woodlands. Wet alder and dry oak/birch woodland is interspersed with blocks of conifer planting, evidence of the extensive clear felling and commercial replanting which took place in the 1940's. The pre-Cambrian rocky outcrops are a characteristic feature of the Charnwood area. This walk takes you through both areas.

Parking

Park at The Outwoods Car Park on Woodhouse Lane, Woodhouse Eaves, LE11 3YG. Cost £1 per day.

Clues

From the Car Park, take the path to the right of the toilets and follow the Blue Route all the way to a shelter. At the shelter, follow the blue route right. The Blue Route and the Orange Route merge along this section. Continue to the point where the two routes diverge. Carry on along the orange route for about 100m looking for a gate on your left that takes you on a path that leaves the woods and goes onto open land. Go through the gate and straight ahead on a cross field path to a T path junction by the corner of a hedge. Turn right at this junction and take the path past Pocket Gate Farm, following yellow post waymarkers to the farm drive. Turn left along this drive and walk to a road (Woodhouse Lane). Turn left and walk along the road. Come to Beacon Hill Country Park East Gate on your right. Go through this gate, turn immediately left and continue along a path parallel to the road. Head for the car park in front of you, passing a picnic area, a children’s play area and a café on the way. Head across the car park and come to a life size wooden sculpture of a ‘woodman’. Take the narrow path straight ahead, ignoring the obvious path right. At a wooden signpost marked ‘Labyrinth’, turn right, and proceed along the wide track gently uphill all the way to Beacon Hill summit, passing a car park and a metal gate on the way. The summit is marked by a trig point and a viewpoint. Return to the metal gate and turn right at the tarmac track in a NW direction. Take the first gate on the left through a wall opposite an information board about volcanoes and head for a wooden seat in front. Cut through the crags beyond the wooden seat and aim for the left-hand corner of the field straight in front of you. Through the gate, turn right and keep to the wide path with the wall on your left-hand side. Continue along this path for just over one kilometre. At a T junction by a seat, turn left and follow the path around to the right and back to the Woodhouse Lane. Turn Left and walk

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along the road to an entrance to The Outwards on your right. Go through this entrance, turn left immediately and walk parallel to the road, back to The Outwoods Car Park.

Distance: 7.5 km Walking Time: 2 hours Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

Walk 144: Beacon Hill and The Outwoods

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Walk 145: Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir 

Description

A classic walk around Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir taking in some prominent Leicestershire landmarks. Old John Tower is an iconic folly at the highest point of Bradgate Park, a former medieval deer park north of Leicester. The tower is one of the most famous landmarks in Leicestershire and looks down over the ruins of Bradgate House, a Tudor mansion that was the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey. The mansion was completed in 1520 and was one of the first great unfortified country houses in England. It was also one of the first buildings since Roman times to be built using brick. Look out for herds of deer in this area of the park. Finally, enjoy a waterside walk along Cropston Reservoir with nice views of the surrounding countryside and woodland. Look out for a variety of water loving wildlife on the lake. Keep your eyes peeled for Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe and Canada Goose.

Parking

Park at the Hunt’s Hill Car Park on Sharpley Hill. This is less crowded than the main car park at Newton Linford. Daily charge: £3.00. Sat Nav: LE6 0AH - off Sharpley Hill/Warren Hill and opposite the turn into Benscliffe Road. This is the closest car park to Old John and the War Memorial and is the best car park for exploring the Upper Park and getting some peace and quiet. Toilets are by the park entrance.

Clues

From the park gate by the car park head up to the Old John Tower which is straight in front of you. Here, there are fine 360-degree views. Turn right and head down to the wall below. Go through the gateway in the wall and continue along the path to the war memorial. From here continue westwards to the perimeter wall and take the ‘Horse Track’ left. Walk along this track until you get to the main car park in Newton Linford. Do not go into the car park but turn left and take the track that leads to the main tarmac path in the park. Turn left along the tarmac track and walk all the way to the ruins of Bradgate House. At the first wooden signpost by the house, turn right towards Cropston and Anstey. Go over a bridge and at the next wooden signpost go left to Cropston. Follow the clear grassy path to a park gate. Beyond the gate is a track leading to a yellow marker post and kissing gate. Through the kissing gate turn left and continue along the path with the hedge on your left. At the next yellow marker post, go left through a gate and continue along a track with Cropston Reservoir on your left. Take this path through a metal gate, and onto a muddy track to the tarmac road at Cropston Village. Take the first turning left along Reservoir Road, towards Woodhouse Eaves. This road takes you across the head of Cropston Reservoir. On the other side, carry on to the car park at ‘Hallgates’. Continue a little further along this road. Opposite Horseshoe Cottage Farm take the footpath left marked by a green metal footpath sign. Take this path along the side of Bradgate Park and keep the wall to your left. Continue uphill along the edge of a Hallgate Hill Spinney. Eventually, come to a footpath on the right and a gate on your left back into Bradgate Park. Go left through this gate back into the park and walk up the hill, now with the wall on your right. This path takes you back to Hunt’s Hill Car Park by Old John Tower and to your car.

Distance: 10 km Walking Time: 3 hours Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes 108

Walk 145: Bradgate Park and Cropston Reservoir

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Walk 146: The Icons of Charnwood Forest - Old John and Beacon Hill

Description

This circular walk in Rural Leicestershire climbs two of the county’s most popular hills: Old John in Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill. We also visit Ulverscroft Priory and Newton Linford village. The priory at Ulverscroft retains extensive ruined buildings which, together with a long water-filled moat and three large fishponds comprise the finest surviving monastic site in the county. This superlative walk wraps these four icons in the Charnwood Forest into a single day’s walk. Delicious!

Parking

Park at the Hunt’s Hill Car Park on Sharpley Hill. Daily charge: £3.00. Sat Nav: LE6 0AH - off Sharpley Hill/Warren Hill and opposite the turn into Benscliffe Road. This is the closest car park to Old John and the War Memorial. Toilets are by the park entrance.

Clues

Walk back to the road from the car park. Walk down Benscliffe Road opposite for about 200m. Turn right at the fingerpost: ‘Leicestershire Round. Footpath to Woodhouse 1 ½ m’. Take the wide track ahead through Bough Hill Woodlands. Come to the entranceway to Lingdale Golf Course. Continue across the golf course following yellow waymarker posts. Come to Joe Moore’s Lane. Cross this lane and take the footpath opposite, marked by a finger post: ‘Leicestershire Round. Footpath to Woodhouse 1 ¼m’. Continue across the second section of the golf course following the yellow waymarker posts. Eventually, leave the golf course by a kissing gate in a left-hand hedge. Take the path diagonally across the field in front of you to an open gate, a stile and a yellow waymarker. Go through the open gate and continue along the path ahead and through another kissing gate by a yellow ‘Leicestershire Round’ sticker. Continue along the track, past a stables to a road. Turn right and follow the road to the entrance to Broombriggs Farm just after house number 100 on the left. Go through the gate into Broombriggs Farm and take the main path ahead all the way to a wooden gate and kissing gate in the left-hand corner of the final hedge on the left. Go through the gate and follow the cross-field path diagonally right to a metal gate at the other side. Go through the gate and onto a small lane. Turn right and follow the lane to a main road: Beacon Road. Cross the road and enter Beacon Hill Country Park via a wooden gate. Cross a bridleway track and go straight ahead via another wooden gate to a T path junction. Turn left and follow this path as it wends uphill, past a car park on your left, then past a metal gate and up to Beacon Hill summit. The summit is marked by a Trig Point and a Viewpoint at 802 feet! Descend the hill back to the car park. Here there are a children’s play area and toilets. Follow the car park driveway to Beacon Road and turn right. Follow the road to Beacon Hill Crossroads. Go straight across the crossroads and continue on Beacon Road to a green fingerpost on the left by the entrance to Blackhill farm. Turn left and walk down the farm driveway for about 500m. Turn right off the farm drive by a yellow footpath arrow right, over a stile. Walk along a series of field edges with the hedge on your left to a wider path with hedges on both sides. At the end of this path come to a complex three-way path junction by a farm. Go over the stile and then go left through a metal gate. Then take the path immediately in front of you, by a water trough. Aim for the yellow marker post

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ahead, across the field and past a barn on your left. At the next yellow marker post, go through a kissing gate and swing right onto another tarmac driveway. Follow this driveway all the way down to a road: Priory Lane, passing Ulverscroft Priory on the way. At the road, cross over onto Ulverscroft Lane and walk down the lane past Polly Botts Lane on the right, to a green fingerpost pointing right to ‘Newton Linford 1 mile’. Turn right here over a stile and follow the well-marked path to a stile and a yellow marker indicating a path left and right. Take the left-hand path and head across the field to a gate on the other side. Through the gate, keep on the main path through the woods. Follow the yellow waymarkers carefully and go over two wooden footbridges. Continue along the clearly marked path to a path junction by another footbridge near a signpost to Markfield. Go right over this footbridge and head across a series of fields to a stile by a house. Go over the stile and follow the lane to a main road in Newton Linford. Turn right and walk along the road, past The Bradgate Pub, a mini roundabout and some tea rooms. Come to the main entrance to Bradgate Park by a blue Police Box! Turn left into the park, cross the car park to the main park entrance. Go through the entrance and turn immediately left. Continue on this path along the edge of the park on a ‘Horse Track’. At a Y junction, take the right-hand path and head directly uphill to a clump of trees on a ridge ahead of you. Walk through this clump of trees and you will see ahead of you another ridge with a war memorial on the top. Head directly for this war memorial. At the war memorial turn right. Go through a gap in the wall and onto another wall with an open doorway. This doorway leads directly to ‘Old John’. At old John, turn 90 degrees left and head downhill directly to the Hunt’s Hill entrance to Bradgate Park. Go through the entrance and straight ahead and back to the car park.

Distance: 15 km Walking Time: 4 hours Total Ascent: 259m Map: OS Explorer 246: Loughborough

Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 35 minutes

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Walk 146: The Icons of Charnwood Forest - Old John and Beacon Hill

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Walk 147: Hoby to Ragdale – Circular Walk

Description

The village of Hoby stands on the River Wreak, adjacent to Brooksby Station on the Birmingham to Peterborough railway line. The village boasts a 13th century church and a CAMRA award winning pub – the Blue Bell Inn. The Church building at Ragdale also dates from the early 13th century and is made of ironstone. There are fine views across the undulating Leicestershire countryside from the elevated ground near Ragdale Hall. The route and footpaths are well maintained and well-marked with yellow waymarkers.

Parking

Park at the church in Hoby or near to the Blue Bell Inn. Approximate Post Code for Sat Nav: LE14 3DT

Clues

From the church, walk up the main road back towards Ragdale. Pass the Blue Bell Inn. The road then bends to the left. By house number 56 you will find a footpath sign right. Follow this path down the driveway of house 56 and then skirt left around house number 58. Go through a gate into a back garden, then across the garden to another gate. Once through the gate, follow the path to the Asfordby Road. Cross the road and take the signed path opposite, tracking diagonally right across a field. You are now on the Midshires Way. At the other side of the field, you will find a yellow waymarker post and gate just to the right of the far corner. Continue across a series of fields following the yellow waymarker posts. You will skirt left round Barn Farm and onwards until you reach the A6006 Loughborough Road, adjacent to Shoby village. Here you will see a green signpost. Turn left here onto the public bridleway, away from Shoby Village along the drive of a farm. Just before the farm, the path diverts right and takes you around the farm. Follow the yellow waymarkers westwards. Eventually you take a cross-field path to the Ragdale Road. At Ragdale Road turn right and follow road into the Ragdale Village Main Street. At the junction with Six Hills Road, turn left onto Main Street. After about 50m on the left, opposite house number two, you will find a short drive to a metal gate with a stile on the left-hand side. Cross the stile and proceed along the grassy drive to another gate, this time with a stile on the right of the gate. Cross this stile and follow the path south westwards. The path runs alongside a hedge on the right and then strikes out away from the hedge directly across a large field. Cross this field to a yellow waymarker, turn right and now walk with the hedge on your left-hand side. Cross a wooden bridge and continue across the next field. You will arrive at a yellow waymarker post on the other side of the field directly under some telegraph wires. Carry on across the next field and up a slight hill. JUST BEFORE YOU GET TO THE BROW OF THE HILL, look out for a path T junction. Note that the path to the left is very faint. At this point, you should just see a farm to your right but note, there is NO waymarker here. Turn left and follow the waymarkers, going South East, through a series of cross-field paths, heading for Hoby. Aim for the church spire at all times. On entering Church Lane, follow the road around past the church, and back to your car.

Distance: 9.5 km Walking Time: 3 hours Map: OS Explorer 246 Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 30 minutes 113

Walk 147: Hoby to Ragdale – Circular Walk

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Walk 148: Burrough Hill – one of Leicestershire’s highest hills

Description

Burrough Hill is an Iron Age hillfort in Burrough on the Hill, 7 miles (11 km) south of Melton Mowbray. Situated on a promontory about 210 metres (690 ft) above sea level, the site commands views over the surrounding countryside for miles around. There has been human activity in the area since at least the Mesolithic age, and the hillfort was founded in the early Iron Age. In the medieval period, after the hillfort was abandoned, the hill was used as farmland. This ended in the 17th century. Traces of ridge and furrow show where the medieval fields were ploughed. Since the 1930s the site has been the subject of archaeological investigations and renewed excavations under the auspices of the University of Leicester began in 2010. Part of Burrough Hill Country Park is open to the public. The hillfort is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. A triangulation point stands on the summit near to a viewpoint and both are clearly visible on the skyline. This circular walk takes you to Burrough Hill via the villages of Somerby and Burrough on the Hill. PLEASE NOTE: this walk is not suitable after heavy rain as the paths become very muddy.

Parking

Park in Somerby. Park near to the Stilton Cheese Inn or the Village Hall on High Street, Somerby. Post Code for Sat Nav LE14 2QB

Clues

From the Stilton and Cheese Inn, walk down the road towards Burrough on the Hill. Just past house No. 88, turn right onto ‘The Field’. At the end of ‘The Field’, turn right onto Burrough Road and then left off the road onto a waymarked path: ‘To Burrough on the Hill – 1 mile’. Follow the yellow waymarker posts and take the cross-field path to a kissing gate. From here, follow the fence line on your right. Just beyond a metal gate and stile, is the corner of the field. Turn left here and continue to follow the fence line to the next field corner where the path bends left to a pair of metal gates on your right. Go through the metal gates and through the second gate just behind. Continue along the field with the fence to your left. At the end of this field, go through a metal gate by a yellow waymarker post and go down the hill, through a wooden kissing gate and through a spinney to another metal kissing gate. Continue on the cross-field path in front of you, When the direction of this path becomes unclear, head for the house with the large bay windows at the top of the hill to the left. Come to this house and on the left is yellow waymarker post by some wooden steps. Climb the steps and come to a road: The Somerby Road. Turn right onto the road, then take the waymarked path left, just past a white cottage. Go through a metal gate and follow the yellow posts along a narrow path to a field. Cross this field and come to a waymarker post on the other side. Continue to a second field with the path on the left of the hedge. Come to a waymarker and a wooden bridge on your right. Cross the wooden bridge and take the cross-field path to the other side. At the next field, follow the perimeter anti clockwise to a double gate on the right-hand side directly underneath the viewpoint on Burrough Hill. Take the zig, zag path from here to the viewpoint. From the viewpoint, head east to the Triangulation Point and then return to the Viewpoint. Then head NE along the ridge and aim for a fence around some trees on the ridge. Follow yellow waymarker posts with ‘Leicestershire Round’ arrows, steeply downhill and then up the other side. Now

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traverse the side of the hill and come to the entrance to a wood with a welcome sign about the Dalby Hills Path. Follow this path through the wood as it traverses the hill and come to a path junction at the far edge of the wood. Turn right and follow yellow ‘Leicestershire Round’ waymarker posts uphill. When you come to a kissing gate at the top of some steps take care. The path goes diagonally right across the field, but there are no waymarkings here. It is therefore easier to skirt around the perimeter of the field anti-clockwise always keeping the hedge to your right. Go through the gap at the bottom of the field, keeping the hedge to your right, when you will pick up yellow Leicestershire Round waymarkers again. Follow the path and these clear waymarkers back to Somerby village, crossing a short section of cross-field path on the way.

Distance: 9 km Walking Time: 3 hours Map: OS Explorer 246 Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 50 minutes

Walk 148: Burrough Hill – one of Leicestershire’s highest hills

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Walk 149: Burrough Hill – short circuit

Description

Burrough Hill is an Iron Age hillfort in Burrough on the Hill, 7 miles (11 km) south of Melton Mowbray. Situated on a promontory about 210 metres (690 ft) above sea level, the site commands views over the surrounding countryside for miles around. There has been human activity in the area since at least the Mesolithic, and the hillfort was founded in the early Iron Age. In the medieval period, after the hillfort was abandoned, the hill was used as farmland. This ended in the 17th century. Traces of ridge and furrow show where the medieval fields were ploughed. Since the 1930s the site has been the subject of archaeological investigations and renewed excavations under the auspices of the University of Leicester began in 2010. Part of Burrough Hill Country Park is open to the public. The hillfort is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. A trig. point stands on the summit near to a viewpoint and both are clearly visible on the skyline. This circular walk takes you to Burrough Hill via the villages of Somerby and Burrough on the Hill. It is a shorter walk than the one previously, giving more time to explore the iron age fort on the summit and avoids the muddy paths on the Dalby Hills Path.

Parking

Park in Somerby. Park near to the Stilton Cheese Inn or the Village Hall on High Street, Somerby. Post Code for Sat Nav LE14 2QB.

Clues

From the Stilton and Cheese Inn, walk down the road towards Burrough on the Hill. Just past house No. 88, turn right onto ‘The Field’. At the end of ‘The Field’, turn right onto Burrough Road and then left off the road onto a waymarked path: ‘To Burrough on the Hill – 1 mile’. Follow the yellow waymarker posts and take the cross-field path to a kissing gate. From here, follow the fence line on your right. Just beyond a metal gate and stile, is the corner of the field. Turn left here and continue to follow the fence line to the next field corner where the path bends left to a pair of metal gates on your right. Go through the metal gates and through the second gate just behind. Continue along the field with the fence to your left. At the end of this field, go through a metal gate by a yellow waymarker post and go down the hill, through a wooden kissing gate and through a spinney to another metal kissing gate. Continue on the cross-field path in front of you, When the direction of this path becomes unclear, head for the house with the large bay windows at the top of the hill to the left. Come to this house and on the left is yellow waymarker post by some wooden steps. Climb the steps and come to a road: The Somerby Road. Turn right onto the road, then take the waymarked path left, just past a white cottage. Go through a metal gate and follow the yellow posts along a narrow path to a field. Cross this field and come to a waymarker post on the other side. Continue to a second field with the path on the left of the hedge. Come to a waymarker and a wooden bridge on your right. Cross the wooden bridge and take the cross-field path to the other side. At the next field, follow the perimeter anti clockwise to a double gate on the right-hand side directly underneath the viewpoint on Burrough Hill. Take the zig, zag path from here to the viewpoint. From the viewpoint, head east to the Triangulation Point along a ridge. From the Triangulation Point look ahead and see a gate below you and

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slightly on your right, leading to a lane. The gate is marked by a yellow post. Head down to the gate and walk along the path (The Jubilee Way). The path joins a road – The Burrough Road which takes you back down to Somerby village.

Distance: 6 km Walking Time: 2 hours Map: OS Explorer 246 Loughborough Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 50 minutes

Walk 149: Burrough Hill – short circuit

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Walk 150: Thorpe Cloud - our nearest Mountain!

Description

Thorpe Cloud is an isolated limestone hill lying between the villages of Thorpe and Ilam on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border at the southern end of Dovedale. Thorpe Cloud rises straight up from the River Dove at Dovedale and reaches a height of 589m (942ft). Its distinctive conical shape viewed from Dovedale gives the hill a mountainous feel. It is a popular hill amongst the day-trippers who visit the area and provides a fine viewpoint north up the dale and south across the Midland plain. Like much of the dale, it is in the ownership of the National Trust. Thorpe Cloud and Dovedale were used as locations in the 2010 film of Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe. Thorpe Cloud can be clearly made out in several scenes towards the end of the film.

Thorpe Cloud is a fine summit. Whether it is a mountain, depends on which definition we use. There is no universally accepted definition of a mountain. Elevation, volume, relief, steepness, spacing and continuity have been used as criteria for defining a mountain. In the Oxford English Dictionary, a mountain is defined as "a natural elevation of the earth surface rising more or less abruptly from the surrounding level and attaining an altitude which, relatively to the adjacent elevation, is impressive or notable”. By this definition, this is certainly the nearest mountain to us in Lady Bay! This makes for a great family day out – walking on paths across fields and by farms, on disused railway lines and of course, on limestone outcrops to a summit peak.

Parking

Park at Tissington Car park in Tissington Village. Approximate Post Code for Sat Nav: DE6 1RA. Pay and Display - £4.75 for whole day.

Clues

From Tissington car park, walk back along the road into Tissington village. Walk on The Green road, past Green farm and the duck pond on the left. At the road junction, follow signs to Dovedale and Ashbourne left and walk onwards along ‘The Avenue’ to the A515 main road. Cross this road and continue along ‘Washbrook Lane’ opposite (Road sign to Thorpe and Ilam). Soon, the road dips down to a river. At this point, look out for a wooden fingerpost with a ‘Limestone Way Arrow’ on it. Take this path left and follow this path diagonally right across the field to the far end of the field by a road. There is a stile to the left of a metal gate. Cross the stile and cross the road to another fingerpost and ‘Limestone Way Arrow’. Cross the stile by this fingerpost and enter Hollington End Farm. Cross the camping area, diagonally left, and come to the first in a series of wicket gates in the wall in front of you. Cross a series of fields with wicket gates in the wall, walking in approximately the same direction until you get to a road. The last wicket gate is to the right of a metal gate. At the road, turn left and then look for a green ‘Public Footpath to Thorpe’ sign pointing right. Along this section of the road, you will catch a first glimpse of Thorpe Cloud rising out of the hillside on your right. Take this footpath right and walk down the field with the wall immediately on your right. Go through the first wicket gate and enter the next field. Continue down the field , looking for a path and gate going through the right-hand wall/hedge. Take this path through the hedge and swing left , now walking in the same direction as before, but on the other side (right hand side) of the hedge. Take this path all the way to a double gate system leading onto open land. You are now entering Thorpe Pastures – National Trust land. Walk with the wall close to your left-hand 119

side and continue past a green fingerpost pointing to Dovedale, past a yellow painted hotel and onwards to a small gravel track passing across the path. Make a note of this point as you will need to return to here later. Looking ahead you will see Thorpe Cloud rising high out of the ground as a large pyramid. Aim for the middle of the base of the pyramid and you will come to gate in a wall. Through the wall, the path rises steeply above you. Take this path and follow the blue waymarker posts all the way to the top of Thorpe Cloud. You are now standing at just under 1,000ft above sea level. A good spot for lunch! To descend, continue along the ridge to a path going steeply right and down the side of the ‘mountain’ back the way you came, flagged by more blue waymarker posts. Follow these waymarker posts all the way back down to a wall. Turn right at the wall and look out for the gate you entered on your way here, on your left. Go left through the gate and return across the pasture to the to the small gravel track that you passed earlier. Go right along this track, through a gate and onto a road leading into Thorpe village. At the crossroads, turn left onto Wintercroft Lane. Take this lane all the way down to a minor road on the right by a blue sign: ‘Access Only Do not follow Sat Nav’. Turn right onto this road and follow this downhill and then uphill, past Broadlow Ash Farm and up to a T junction by ‘The Firs’ house. Cross the road here and take the well-marked path straight ahead through the gate. Follow the path down, alongside a wooden fence to a second gate. Then cross the next field all the way down to a gate leading to the Tissington Trail – disused railway line. Turn left onto the trail and walk for approximately 3 kms directly to the car park where you started.

Distance: 9 km Walking Time: 3 hours Map: OS Explorer OL 24 The Peak District White Peak Area

Drive Time from The Poppy and Pint: 70 minutes

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Walk 150: Thorpe Cloud - our nearest Mountain!

Tissington Village

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NB: Some of these walks are in country parks that may be closed. Similarly, some walks may not be on rights of way. In these cases, do get the landowners permission. This author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occurring on these walks. These routes are provided in good faith. While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the route directions, the author cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for changes in details given. Also, paths that are easy to walk in fine conditions may become slippery, muddy, and difficult in wet weather. If you find an inaccuracy in either the text or maps, please let the author know.

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