NEW Nottinghamshire and Routes Rides 2 Trowell • Besthorpe • Farnsfield • Grantham Canal • Everton and Mattersey Gotham and West Leake • Tuxford • Hoveringham and Caythorpe Exploring Nottinghamshire’s countryside on foot, bike or horse FREE Get inspired, get online To help you explore beautiful Nottinghamshire, visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rightsofway • A variety of FREE walks suitable for all ages and abilities • Great routes on and off road for cyclists • Stunning bridleways for scenic horserides across the county • Detailed maps and descriptions of popular routes • References to the county’s historic gems • Links to other organisations for further FREE walks • Public transport information to help you get to the routes. Whether you fancy a gentle stroll or to be energetic and keep active, get online and see where Nottinghamshire’s public paths will lead you today. Nottinghamshire is a historic county with a diverse landscape. From the open, undulating Wolds in the south to Sherwood Forest in the north, there are over 2,000 miles of footpaths, cycle paths and bridleways for you to enjoy on foot, bike or horse. Discover delightful villages and beautiful countryside, mighty rivers and hidden lakes, fabulous fl owers and enchanting wildlife. This booklet contains routes suitable for all ages and abilities, so there’s something to tempt everyone to get out and explore beautiful Nottinghamshire. More FREE routes can be found online at: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rightsofway Contents Trowell’s Trails 5 miles (2 hours) 8 Besthorpe’s Winding River 7½ miles (3½ hours) 11 Farnsfi eld and the Robin Hood Way 3½ miles (1¾ hours) 14 Grantham Canal and Cotgrave Forest 9 miles (5 hours) 18 Everton and Mattersey 7 miles (3 hours) 21 Walking in the Wolds 7½ miles (4 hours) 26 Turn Around Tuxford 12 miles (2 hours) 31 Hoveringham and Caythorpe 8 miles (4½ hours) 37 3 About Rights of Way Nottinghamshire’s Public Paths What are rights of way? Rights of way are public paths. They criss-cross the UK, from town centres to remote countryside, providing great opportunities for everyone to get out and enjoy a walk, cycle or horse ride. There are four types of path and you can use different paths for different activities. They are signposted from the roadside, with markers along the route. You should always keep to the marked route. The different types of path and how to spot them: Activity Look out for Footpaths - marked with yellow Bridleways - marked with blue Restricted byways - marked with burgundy Byways - marked with red When you’re out you might also see waymarks for a particular circular walk or long distance route e.g. Trent Valley Way. 4 On a right of way you can: • Take a pram, pushchair or wheelchair, although this can be difficult if the surface is uneven or muddy. • Walk dogs on a lead or under close control (see over). • Take a short route around an illegal obstruction (e.g. fences, rubble and crops) or move it to get past. Surfaces Paths come in all shapes and sizes and may be uneven or muddy. Always wear the right footwear and clothing for the conditions. Fences, gates and stiles Fences, gates and stiles must be in good condition, easy to open and unlocked. If you come across a stile or gate on a path that is broken, locked or blocked, please let us know. Ploughing and cropping Many paths go across or around fields that contain crops or have been ploughed. If you find a path that’s ploughed over or covered in crops, please let us know. Please report any problems with a right of way in the county to us (see back page for contact details). 5 Open access • Open access land Areas of open access are special places where you can wander away from the path, explore, have picnics or play games. This special land is for walkers only – but you can cycle or ride across it if you’re following a bridleway. For more information on open access in Nottinghamshire, including where to find it, visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/openaccessland Walking the dog You may take your dog on any right of way but they must be under close control or on a lead. This is particularly important on paths which cross fields containing livestock. It is an offence to allow a dog to be at large in a field or enclosure where there are sheep. A farmer has the right to shoot a dog that is attacking or chasing livestock. • Always put your dog on its lead when crossing fields containing livestock. • Please remember to clean up after your dog, or you may be liable for a fine. 6 When out walking, always follow the country code • Be safe – plan ahead. • Leave gates and property as you find them. • Protect plants and animals, take your litter home. • Keep dogs under close control. • Consider other people. Public transport Each of these walks can be reached by using public transport, an environmentally friendly way to start and finish your walk. If you are planning a walk using public transport always bear in mind the time of buses and trains. For timetables and route information for buses and trains, ring Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit www.traveline.info The countryside and rights of way network are constantly changing – woodland may be planted, grass fields ploughed up or footpaths diverted. Nottinghamshire County Council is also replacing stiles with gates for easier access wherever possible. Therefore you may find some changes to the paths as described. While every attempt is made to ensure that the routes are clearly described, easily followed and signed on the ground, Nottinghamshire County Council cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors arising from this publication. We would like to thank everybody who contributed towards this booklet. 7 Route 1 1 Trowell’s Trails Take a wander through the nature trail along the Erewash Canal as well as the Transportation links of past and present. Distance: 5 miles (6 km) Parking: Erewash Valley Trail Car Park off Cossall Road Refreshments and toilets: Pubs in Trowell Village 8 1 From the car park off Cossal 4 On the right hand side of Road follow the wide track left Waterloo Lane after the first bend along the old canal which is now a you will see a wooden Bridleway nature reserve. This track will lead finger post. Follow the Bridleway you underneath the Nottingham along a grass verged track heading Road A609 Bridge. Nottingham initially left, and then heading uphill Road takes you towards Trowell alongside the hedgerow until you Village which is known as the meet a point where multiple paths Festival Village and won the cross. The farmland here is used County’s Village of the year award for producing arable crops such as in 2009. wheat and barley. 2 Keep following the track beyond 5 Take the left hand path signed the bridge with the canal now on to Cossal and head towards the your left hand side. Following the motorway. Walk this path downhill downhill stretch you will pass and then keep to the right and underneath the M1 beside the underneath the M1. Keep on A609. Stay on the path and follow it following the path admiring the up the slope and round to the right. views of the farmland and rolling At the top of the slope the path hills. Keep left beside the motorway divides into two; take the first path and then follow the path to the right, along the fence line which looks gently downhill, enjoy the tree lined like it has been created by previous path until it reaches Dead Lane. walkers. On your left hand side you will come across a stile leading in 6 Cross this road and turn right to a field which may contain horses, and immediately on your left you keep left along the fence line. At will come to a wooden gate. Walk the top of this field there is a metal through the footpath gap next to the kissing gate, after which head left gate and follow the path with the until you reach Nottingham Road. canal on your left, until you reach a wooden bridge. Cross the wooden 3 Cross Nottingham Road and bridge and turn left, keeping the follow it to the right. Turn left down canal on your left. Enjoy the walk Waterloo Lane. This road leads to alongside the canal keeping an eye the Trowell Service Station on the out for dragonflies, damsel flies, M1, which first opened in 1967. The butterflies and water vole. This path service station’s claim to fame is will lead you back to the car park that it once featured in an episode where your walk began. of Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Walk/Run No. 1 G Trowell’s Trails S 9 6 1 5 4 3 2 Maps reproduced from Ordnance Survey materials with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Offi ce © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution 10 or civil proceedings. (Nottinghamshire County Council) (100019713) (2018). Route 2 Besthorpe’s 2 Winding River Walk along the winding River Trent, making the most of the Nature Reserve’s birdwatching hot spots. Distance: 7½ miles (12 km) Parking: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Car Park off Trent Lane Refreshments and toilets: Pubs in Besthorpe 11 1 The walk begins at The Wildlife 3 This footpath takes you Trust’s car park off Trent Lane. alongside the RSPB Langford Enter the reserve through a green Lowfields Reserve which has the kissing gate, to the left of an benefit of a 360 degree viewing interpretation board.