WALKERS AND THE NEW A46 I have kept an eye on the A46 ever since its course was changed and a dual carriageway inserted. The following notes may be helpful to walkers in Newark & Sherwood Farndon - Thorpe This used to be a pleasant route between St Peter's Church in Farndon and St Laurence's Church in Thorpe. The Farndon end of the walk is unchanged until you reach the old A46. And then BIG PROBLEMS! Technically the new path layout should allow you to continue across the next field travelling due south up to the new carriageway. From there you should be able to turn left parallel to the carriageway until you emerge on the minor road between The Farm Shop and Hawton. Unfortunately the landowner has not marked out the path and it is severely obstructed by crops. However, the section of the path from the minor road is well laid out and clearly a lot of money has been spent on the installation of a stairway, stiles and waymarking signs - all useless because of the large obstructed stretch of right of way. The situation is exactly the same on the opposite side of the highway. The route from the minor road is well laid-out but the final stretch of the path is unwalkable because once more the landowner has allowed crops to grow right up to the edge of the new road and it is impossible to follow the final stages of the path into Thorpe - interesting to note that the landowner has nonetheless found the time to erect a large wind turbine in this field! I have alerted the Countryside Access Team at Nottinghamshire County Council to this lamentable state of affairs but no action has been taken. All it takes is identification of the landowner and, if no cooperation is forthcoming, the serving of an Enforcement Order. I will continue to exert pressure - please feel free to contact the County Council yourselves. Elston There is a footpath from the old A46 on the Nottingham side of East Stoke which runs south to Elston Lane. It is no longer possible to walk into Elston via this route as Elston Lane has been blocked by the new route. There is some compensation, however, as a new footpath has been constructed which provides a pleasant circular route around Elston. You leave the village by Low Street and then Elston Lane. Turn right at the dual carriageway and follow the new track parallel to the road until you reach the minor road. Turn right and after about 0.5 miles turn right again along the public footpath which passes Stoke Fields Farm on your right. This will bring you into Elston by way of Elston Chapel - this is an absolute gem, a tiny mediaeval place of worship that retains an air of mystery. Elston - Syerston This route has been only minimally affected by the new road. There is a pleasant short circular walk between Syerston and Elston. You leave Syerston by the signed footpath besides All Saints Church. Follow the little lane but where it bears left you need to cross a tiny stream and keep the hedge close on your right. Walk between the hedge and a wire fence until the hedge turns left. You will then need to go through an obvious gap in the hedge and turn left. Follow the field edges, crossing a couple of stiles until you reach Lodge Lane, the minor road to Elston. Turn right here and after about 400 yards you will find a footpath on your right which will lead you back to Syerston. Flintham - Kneeton There is a major diversion affecting this route which used to run due west across the grounds of Flintham Hall, crossing the A46 and continuing to Kneeton along Slack's Lane. The first section of the route is unchanged and leaves Flintham at Spring Lane (the minor road to Screveton). When you reach the A46, however, you will have to turn right along a new footpath (which is clearly waymarked with yellow posts). You will eventually reach a new footbridge with plentiful footpath signs. Cross the A46 here and then turn left along the new multi-user track to reach Slack's Lane which leads down towards Kneeton and the River Trent. James McGill April 2016 .