Walking the River Trent: Attenborough to Trent Bridge with an additional circular walk returning to Beeston Marina and Attenborough.

Now that the waters seem to finally be subsiding after the wettest six months on record it’s time to resume my walk along the river Trent. This stage fills in the gap in my route that I have left on the way going downstream into Nottingham from the west. This is a short stage and nearly all of it is on firm paths or tarmac. This means it can be done after wet weather with no danger of getting muddy. Direction finding is easy as you are by the river nearly all the way. I give a description of a walk back to the start using the canal.

Start: Attenborough station

Finish: Trent Bridge, Nottingham (or return to Beeston and Attenborough using my suggested route)

Distance: 10km (6.25 miles) from Attenborough to Trent Bridge plus 8.5km (5.3 miles) from Trent Bridge to Beeston Marina via Nottingham if you are doing the return walk.

Map of the walk

From Attenborough station to reach the Trent you should go along the road crossing the railway line in the direction going away from the main road through Attenborough or the railway platform for trains going to Nottingham. After 200m turn right onto Church Lane and almost immediately left onto The Strand. When you reach a sharp left bend by the cricket ground go straight on, leaving the road to enter Attenborough Nature reserve.You come to a main path junction near Attenborough cricket ground on the left and the end of the lake on the right of the path. Walk straight on for 400m along the track with lakes on either side of you.

You reach the Trent and turn left. After a kilometre you reach Beeston Marina and then Beeston Lock. Cross a short bridge on the right over the lock onto an island and almost immediately afterwards cross another short bridge on the left.

After crossing the bridge you reach a good firm path. Turn right and follow this alongside the river. This route is a cycle path route into Nottingham known as the Big Track. The path is close to the river on the right and a large sports field on the left with football pitches. The view to the river is occasionally blocked by trees but most of the time it’s clear.

After 300m the river makes a sharp turn left and so does the Big Track. To your left are arable fields and on the right you mostly have clear views of the river although you go through a few area of trees. You go past another playing field a little further from the river and after more arable fields come to the Riverside Sports Complex, a larger area of pitches. Just after that you walk along the quiet tarmac of Lenton Lane and close to Dunkirk Football club for 100m before returning to the track next to the river. Soon go past the Michelin star restaurant of Sat Bains and then under the busy Overpass road at Clifton Bridge, still staying by the river.

This bridge is an informal boundary between the more rural approach to Nottingham and the start of the city itself. Until now on this stage the view to the left has been open fields or sports fields but from here the infrastructure of the city means that things are more confined. Having said that, the next kilometre does have a good number of trees near the path, hiding some of the urban clutter.

After that kilometre you leave the Big Track and briefly the river as you come out onto the pavement by Queens Drive, a major route into Nottingham. Soon the river returns to view and the pavement stays close to it. After 500m Queens Drive bends away from the river but we bear right to stay with it on a quieter road. In another 300m you come to the old Wilford Toll Bridge. The path goes underneath it and you start the elegant bend and environment of the Victoria Embankment. This is one of the finest stretches of urban walking in Nottingham with a wide, almost traffic free, tree-lined road at the top by a grassy slope going down to the Trent. You can walk either right next to the river or along the road with both being pleasant. One thing to be aware of if you stay next to the water is the Canada geese and the droppings they leave behind.

Just after the crown of the bend as the river turns north you reach the Wilford Suspension Bridge, one of the best looking bridges anywhere on the Trent. This is a pedestrian bridge and you can feel it bouncing slightly if you walk across it. However we don’t cross the bridge, staying on this side of the river on the Victoria Embankment which soon brings you to Trent Bridge and the end of this stage of the Trent Walk. You can go under the bridge on a riverside path to reach the start of the next stage. Alternatively you can go up to the road for buses into Nottingham or walk into the city centre a mile away.

However, another option if you want to do a circular walk back to Beeston or Attenborough is to follow the route described below which follows the canal.

After going through the tunnel under Trent Bridge join a wide path next to the river. After 200m the path crosses a bridge over a canal to join the towpath. Turn left and follow the towpath for a kilometre towards the centre of Nottingham. You are below road level and go under several bridges. Go under the railway bridge and one more before you immediately turn right near Binks Yard and go up steps to the bridge from where you can see Nottingham railway station.

Go over the bridge you just went beneath and then turn right to go down to the canal again. Almost straight away the canal turns ninety degrees to the left and you follow it. Go under a bridge and stay alongside the canal as it goes past new hotels and apartments. Next you walk under Trent Street and the bridge taking trams to the station before going beneath Carrington Street. Go past the Law Court building on the left but stay by the canal as you go below Wilford Street.

The next few miles of the walk are all along the canal towpath, which has a proper hard surface for most of the way.  The first stretch is close to the hustle and bustle of the city yet is still quite quiet with plenty of greenery around and with ducks, geese and other water birds in reasonable numbers.

After around half a mile you reach see the Water’s Edge pub on the left.  Go straight along over a footbridge that goes up over the entrance to Castle Marina and then down under a wide road where you rejoin the towpath at canal level.

On your left here is Castle Marina containing many boats and a retail park with amenities.  Carry on along the towpath under a railway bridge and after 200m a road bridge.

Castle Marina

The towpath now bends to the left.  We are now going South. After 400m go under a big flyover (Clifton Boulevard), where the Robin Hood Way leaves the towpath, and in another 100m go under a bridge which carries a railway.

After another 400m go under a road bridge. There have been some industrial buildings on the far bank but soon things become a little more attractive as in the 800m to the next bridge you start to see more trees on the far bank of the canal. On our side the towpath is still very good for walking and well surfaced although there is either a bank or wall to the left so not much of a view. This is a quiet area and you will probably just meet a few others along the towpath.

After this bridge there is a kilometre before another one and a distinctly rural feel to things.  You will see a sign  to the left showing that you are near the large Boots complex.

Just before the next bridge we follow the towpath which leaves the canalside to go up a small slope. The bridge over the canal here goes across to a residential area but we stay on this side and stay along a path on an embankment.   There is a wooden signpost showing that we have joined the Trent Valley Way, Nottinghamshire’s second long-distance path. The view on the left opens up for the first time and you can see some low hills. Continue along this good firm path with playing fields ahead just below you to the left and the canal on the right.

After 600m you come to the end of the playing fields near a building and return to Beeston Lock from where you can retrace your steps to the start of the walk.

Nottinghamshire Walks – Walk 74: Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, The Major Oak and Budby South Forest

This walk takes you north from the Sherwood Forest visitor centre near the village of Edwinstowe into the forest, past the famous Major Oak tree and out onto the open heathland of Budby Forest. The tracks are good in all weathers, with a few small hills.

Start and finish: Sherwood Forest visitor centre

Distance: 6.2km (3.8 miles)

Map of the Route

The walk is from the Sherwood Forest visitor centre which has a bus stop outside that most buses to Edwinstowe call at during the day. Check if your bus calls at the Centre. If it doesn’t it is only a short walk from the village to the visitor centre.

From the crossroads in the centre of Edwinstowe head north along a quiet road (Church Street) past the church going away from the village. The church, where Robin Hood married Maid Marian according to the stories, is the official end of the Robin Hood Way (or the start), which goes all the way to Nottingham castle if you decide to tackle it from this direction. After 200m on the left you come to the road to the new Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, which you may well wish to visit before doing the walk .  Turn left along the road. On the right is a cricket pitch. The road to also leads to the Sherwood Forest Youth Hostel.

The Walk

After the seemingly endless days of rain and overcast skies of this winter a sunny Friday morning beckoned me out for my first proper walk of the year. The aforementioned rain has turned many of my local paths into quagmire or puddles, transforming leggings and shoes into mud stiffened repositories for grime. Walks by a river are frought with danger as you may find the path disappearing into the water so I planned a walk somewhere that I knew would drain well and provide a more pleasant experience.

As a keen, although not obsessive, bird watcher I had noted in recent weeks that a Great Grey shrike has been seen around Budby Forest for a few weeks. I’ve never seen one of those and this gave me the motivation to get out for this walk.

The sunny morning had brought out decent numbers of people to Sherwood Forest and from the car park and bus stop area I went into the still quite new visitor centre and down stairs to where you leave the centre and enter a sort of amphitheatre area. Go to a large wooden pole which is sculpted with some of the features of local interest. There are children’s playground areas here too.

The first important task of the walk is to make your way to the Major Oak, about a kilometre away. There are two main paths, both very obvious and well signposted. I took the most direct route which bears slightly to the left of the wooden pole but then goes pretty straight on into the forest. It goes gently uphill at first before descending through the deciduous woodland to the clearing where the Major Oak stands, the branches largely supported these days by struts. There are information boards and picnic tables too.

Carry on past the Oak, keeping it to your right, and leave the clearing on a good path. Ignore the path signed Robin Hood Way going off to the left and continue along our path for another 100m as it bends to the right. You reach a crossroads of signposted paths and turn left along the bridleway track towards Budby Reserve. Follow this wide track through the trees. Soon it goes downhill for a short distance. At the bottom look to the trees just ahead of you on the right. When I was there a bird feeder attracted several species including nuthatch and marsh tit.

Carry on uphill for 300m until you reach the end of the forest and reach the open heathland. As you reach a gate entering the heath you will see a sign with the proclamation “NATURISTS” and a warning to naturists to be respectful of other users of the heath. I have to say that I was a little bit surprised to see this notice, which also appears at other boundaries to the heath, as I wasn’t aware this area was a hotbed for naturists. I don’t know how frequently you are likely to encounter them but I certainly saw no sign on a chilly February morning. In my experience you are much more likely to meet birdwatchers or dog walkers.

The path onto the heath, aka Budby Forest, although there aren’t that many trees, is a wide, quite sandy and dry one for the next kilometre. There are good views across the heath here as you are at the high point of the Forest. The path soon descends and at this point I was lucky enough to see a woodlark for the first time ever, thanks to the identification skills of some serious birders with telescopes.

From the bottom of the dip you go past benches which you may wish to make use of as we near the midpoint of the walk. The path climbs again and soon comes to a gate near an information board and map of the forest. Don’t go through the gate but turn and follow the path angling across the heath to the right. This path is a little less formal than the one you have been following up to now and feels a bit more like you are in the heart of the heathland. There is some scrubby vegetation to either side and gorse bushes proliferating. Having said that the path is obvious and is very straight. There are paths coming across at a few points, plenty more in the forest near the Major Oak and you can devise your own route with the aid of a map should you wish.

My route keeps things simple and goes straight on all the way across the heath for 800m ignoring the paths coming across, past a cattle grid on the left after 500m.

The path reaches the trees again and a wide track. Go straight across this wide track and follow another good path going into the forest. This path may have a few puddles but they are easily negotiated. You reach a signpost after 200m and follow the path straight on heading for the Major Oak. Just past this you will see a small footpath sign directing you to the right. This path soon reaches another crossroads where you turn left and rejoin the path you just came off!

Follow this good path pretty straight for 600m until you go down to a path junction and signposts. Going straight on here takes you directly back to the visitor centre but my choice was to return to the Major Oak by turning left. This path follows the Robin Hood Way, the most popular of Nottinghamshire long distance footpaths, which I have described in detail in other walks on this blog. You soon reach the Major Oak and can return to the visitor centre either by retracing your steps from the start of the walk or like me take the slightly longer route (about 1200m long) following the Robin Hood Way.

For my route walk past the Oak and turn left along a wide track with the Oak on your left following the signs for the visitor centre. Follow this track slightly uphill past wooden signs with names for parts of the forest relating to the Merry Men as you make your way through glades of silver birch trees. The path starts to bend to the right as you approach the old car park for the earlier incarnation of the visitor centre, now vanished. Ahead you see the Edwinstowe cricket field. Follow the main path which goes to the right of the cricket field. You can now see the visitor centre again and it’s a short walk downhill then across to the Centre. There is also a cafe and gift shop.

I reached the end of the path after having failed to see the shrike but pleased with the woodlark. As I waited for the bus home with my binoculars in my hand a man with a telescope over his shoulder told me that he had seen a woodlark for the first time after sixty years of trying.

Updates on paths – February 2024

As is usual at this time of year many paths across fields and in woods can become muddy and not pleasant to walk. Surprisingly, given the extremely wet weather at the end of last year and early January, these paths aren’t generally too bad. We have had four relatively dry weeks since and things have improved greatly.

However, the storms of 2023 have left their mark with several paths still closed or borderline impassible. Near Farnsfield the main path through Combs Wood (walk 4) was tricky due to fallen trees but these have now been cleared. The path is very muddy at the top. 

Just south east of Farnsfield is Cotton Mill Farm. One of the paths to Greaves Lane (Walk 14 and Mansfield to Newark stage 4) is closed because a bridge fell down in a storm (notices are up about this). It must be said that the bridge is a small one over a beck so hopefully the path will be restored soon. Note however that one of the other paths by another farm by Greaves Lane (walk 33) is yet to be restored after more than three years. That really should have been done by now as it was quite a small job and there are no excuses for the delay.

Talking of closed paths and shaky bridges brings me to the narrow bridge over Halam Beck near Manor Fields at the southern end of the village (walks 10 and 28). Officially this path and bridges were closed after a storm last autumn and the last time I went that way in early January the path closed notice was still up. Being an awkward character I went to have a look at the bridge. It was no longer taped off and it was possible to cross it. The bridge seemed stable enough but it was at a slight angle so care should be taken if crossing as it is a drop of a metre to the beck below.

One other paths that isn’t great is the one from Edingley heading to Allesford Lane west of the village (walk 3). One of the fields has always been susceptible to wet weather by a gate as standing water accumulated there. It used to be possible to go around it but recently a fence with barbed wire on the has been erected on either side of the path and you have to go straight on through ankle deep water or turn back. With a few more dry weeks this should be clear again.

These are the problems I’ve found but if you have any of your own updates please let me know.

Walking the River Trent: Collingham to Dunham-on-Trent

This walk continues my walk along the course of the River Trent, taking you north from Collingham continuing on from the stage from Newark. This section is almost completely flat and much of it is along grassy embankments or fields by the Trent which makes a few large bends. Route finding is easy as most of the time you are next to the river. The main problem is how to do it using public transport. Getting to Collingham is easy enough by train or bus from Newark but returning from Dunham there is only one bus a day which only runs on school days and is mainly for school children returning home. You may want to break the stage into circular walks so you can use a car and return to your start point. I will give a description of some of them at a later date on this site.

Start: The centre of Collingham

Finish: Dunham on Trent

Distance: 21.5 km (13.5 miles)

Map of the Route

The Route

If using the bus to reach Collingham start from the little grassy island under trees on the main road through the village about 300m north of the cricket ground as you go into Collingham from the south (The Green). From Collingham you must retrace the route back to the Trent along the Trent Valley Way done in the stage from Newark. You go away from the main road for 100m bearing left . Turn left onto Church Lane and then right very soon afterwards. You join Westfield Lane which eventually becomes a track where you continue straight on until you climb the embankment next to the Trent about a mile from Collingham. On your left as you face the river you can see the lakes of the Langford RSPB reserve.

To continue with the River Trent walk turn right along the grassy embankment. For much of this stage the Trent is the preserve of local angling clubs and you may well find anglers at regular intervals. A sign by the field on your right warns the anglers not to use the field as a toilet. After the track leaves the riverside for a short time as you follow a firm track that bends to the right . For the early part of the walk if using Google maps you will see the way by the river marked as Trent Lane. Don’t be fooled by this as nearly all is just a path.

The path then goes out to meet the River Trent again and resumes its course on the grassy embankment. You go through the garden of quite a new house and then approach an elevated structure looking like a bridge which has been aborted just as the builders reached the River . In fact it’s a chute for carrying gravel and other material dredged from the surrounding area. Go under the chute, and probably past anglers nearby. At this point there are trees on the opposite side of the river. This is the apex of a bend in the river and now you turn west as it turns back again. Ahead you can see and hear traffic on the A1, not far away but on the other side of the river. I faced a buffeting from a strong south westerly wind on this next stretch which is on a bank with arable fields on the right.

Relieved to have the wind behind me again as the Trent turned back east, I saw a little egret on the far bank which flew up ahead of me a few times as I walked alongside the river. Here you may find it easier to walk at the edge of the field rather than the slightly longer grass. On the opposite side of the river is the village of Carlton on Trent with its church spire and disused windmill the most prominent features.

Just as the river is about to turn again after a mile, on the right of the grassy embankment you have reached again you will see a lake. This is the Besthorpe Nature Reserve and you can leave the river briefly to go down to a path by the reserve. If you do this, return to the river and follow it again soon reaching a firm track.

The firmer track takes you to the last part of the Besthorpe reserve. Just past a barrier is a gate that you can go through onto a path slightly away from the river for 200m to a viewing point above another lake.

Return to the river and continue downstream from the crown of this bend. After 300m the path leaves the bank of the river for the longest stretch on this stage of the walk. The area ahead by the river is called Sutton Marsh and presumably is impassable so the path bears right cutting across the meander in the river ahead. You are higher than the river here and can see it ahead. You soon descend a little to the edge of an arable field where you turn right. The next mile is the first time you have really lost sight of the river. Follow the field edge for then go right for a short way to reach another field. Look to the left and you should see a yellow post at the end of the field. Head along the left edge of the field and then to the yellow post.

At the post go up a bank, slightly overgrown when I walked it, to leave the field. Cross the bank and go down into another field. Follow the left hand edge of the field close to a stream. At the end of the field you reach a track and turn right along it. After bending to the left the track reaches a farm gate. When I walked it the gate was padlocked with barbed wire on top although on a public footpath. I had to step onto the low wall to the left of the gate and walk along to reach the track on the other side of it. Go right to meet a wide rough road by a large lake. This is Girton Lakes.

Turn left along the track with the lake just through the trees on your right. Follow the road out to the river again and turn right out of the car parking area. You again join a grassy path above the river and the route stays like this for the next 3km. It’s pleasant enough but much of the way is quite similar with fields on the right and river to your left as you walk along the bank of slightly long grass.

About 3km from where you rejoined the river the path very briefly comes away from the river near the village of South Clifton and if you want you can go into the village where there is a pub. Back on the river bank resume your way north. An impressive looking church with a tower appears ahead to the right. This church isn’t part of a village and there doesn’t seem any logical reason for its location but in fact it is half way between South and North Clifton.

Ahead on the river itself your attention is drawn to a railway bridge crossing the Trent. This is the Fledborough Viaduct. Go on under the viaduct as the grass becomes shorter. 600m further on a path to the right goes into the small village of North Clifton but we continue along the river, also the Trent Valley Way once more, for another three kilometres round a bend or two. Go under a metal bridge and immediately after we reach Dunham Toll Bridge. Go up quite a long flight of stairs on this side of the bridge to reach the road across the bridge. Turn left along the pavement and cross the bridge. Continue into Dunham and cross the road to the pub where you can call in or just possibly catch the only bus of the day to Collingham or Newark.

Nottinghamshire Walks 74 : Southwell, Morton and Brackenhurst

This walk goes from Southwell eastwards to the small village of Morton and returns via the Brackenhurst College campus. There are a couple of small hills that give decent views of the surrounding countryside.

Start and Finish: Bus stop on Church Street in Southwell near the Minster

Distance: 10.8km (7 miles)

Map of the Route

From the bus stops on Church Street by the Minster make sure you are on the same side of the road as the Minster.  Turn so that you have the Minster on your right hand side and walk along the pavement going slightly downhill on Church Street away from the main junction in Southwell.  After 200m the road bends to the right and then left before it crosses the Potwell Dyke.  Immediately after this you should see a sign on the right for Harvey’s Field where there is a narrow path going from Church Road.  

Take this path which runs alongside the Potwell Dyke, under trees for 100m before coming to a large grassy field.  Here you should bear left away from the dyke aiming for the obvious exit from the field about 100m away on the left (not the one at the far end of the field).  The path from the field takes you between houses and out to a road (Farthingate).  Cross this road and turn right then almost immediately left up the next road (Farthingate Close).  After fifty yards this starts to bend to the left.  As it does so you should cross the road and look for a narrow alley going off to the right.

Take this short path between the houses which soon comes to a grassy field.  Enter the field and keep to the right alongside the fence as the path starts to rise slightly.  After fifty yards go through a gate in the fence to the right and go into a large arable field.  You should aim diagonally across the field up the hill towards a stile about 200m away by a wood.  The path across the field may be well-defined but depending on the time of year the field could be ploughed or have crops in it making the route less clear.  At the top of the path go over a stile into the wood.  Carry on through the wood in roughly the same direction as the path across the field.  The path twists and turns a little through the trees but should be quite easy to follow.  The only slight problem could be in autumn if fallen leaves cover the path.  In any case keeping in the same direction up the hill should bring you to the far end of the wood not far from the right spot.  The wood can be a little muddy after wet weather.  The path flattens out towards the top of the wood and you emerge at the far end through a gate.

Take care as you leave the wood as the gate leads straight onto Crink Lane.  There isn’t much traffic but you are coming out at a sharp bend in the road.  On the other side of the lane to the right is a house but we want to go into the field of allotments just to the left of us.  Cross the road carefully and enter the field which has a wide entrance.  Follow the track for twenty yards but look for a path on the right in the hedge.  Take this  path, which can be a little overgrown, and come out a few yards later in an open grassy field.  There is a line of short posts across the field which provides quite a good guide for our route.  Follow them for 200m across the field until you see a gate in a hedge at the far end of the field.  Go through the gate onto a small lane (Pollard’s Lane).  Again the gate comes straight onto the lane so take care, although this is even less busy than Crink Lane.

Turn right along the lane . The road runs relatively straight for four hundred yards and the surface becomes shale.   Follow it past some houses on the right.  On the left you will be able to have your first view of the Trent Valley.   Then there is a sharp bend to the left and another soon after to the right before another straight section for 200m past a few houses on the right.  Another very sharp bend to the left is followed by a right turn 200m later as the lane follows the edges of the fields.  One hundred yards after this right turn look on the left of the lane for a footpath sign and a rather large lump of concrete by the field entrance.

Turn left to go into the field and walk straight ahead down the hill.  The field is a large one used for growing crops but the bridleway we are following is a wide one and there should be no difficulty with the path being overgrown.  After 400m at the end of the field turn left and cross a small bridge.  The path then almost immediately turns right.  In the field you have now reached go down the hill for 200m until you reach the bottom of the hill.  Turn right alongside the hedge and after thirty yards turn left at a bridge which crosses a tree-lined stream.

Stream at the bottom of the hill

Cross the bridge and then immediately start a steady climb along the bridleway going straight ahead up the hill.  After 300m you reach the top of the rise.  Continue straight ahead as the bridleway becomes a wide track between hedges going downhill.  In a little while the path starts to change from grass to concrete and after a little right bend it becomes a road.  Keep going straight on along the very quiet road for 400m and cross the railway at a level crossing.  After this another straight 200m a slight right bend takes you into the village of Morton.   As you reach the village the road forms a three-way junction.  Bear left here so that you are still going in almost the same direction that you have followed for the last half mile.

You are now walking down a quiet village street in Morton (Middle Lane) which you should follow for the next 200m until you come to the junction with another road. (Main Street).  If you want a good place for a stop if you feel the need for refreshment the Full Moon pub is on your left.

If you want to continue walking without visiting the pub turn right along Main Street for 400m until reaching the end of the village and a junction where you take the right hand turn. Follow the road (Gorsy Lane) almost straight for nearly half a mile to the railway where you cross carefully. On the opposite side the road becomes a good track and continue walking straight on as you go uphill. At the top you reach a field and turn right for 30m before going left to resume the direction you followed from Morton.

Go all the way to the bottom of the hill and the corner of the field by trees. Turn left for a short distance and then right, down a path into the trees. Go across a footbridge over Halloughton Dumble amidst the trees. Emerge at the bottom of a field as you reach the Brackenhurst agricultural college campus (see map below).

From here (point 11 on the map) turn left to follow the edge of the field near the line of the stream and dumble. After 400m you have to go right where the path is blocked but stay by the field edge and very soon turn left again. Soon you reach a path and turn left downhill for a short way to go close to a pond hidden by trees. At the bottom of the hill (point 10 on the map) a path takes you left to a hide overlooking the pond, although it was locked on my visit. Return to the path at point 10 and turn right to go uphill. At the top you reach a firm shale track. Turn left and follow it for 400m ignoring the first track on the right. At a track junction turn right and soon right again to go uphill.

After 500m you reach a junction of tracks at point 14 on the campus trail. Turn left here along a wide track for 200m. At the next junction turn right and very soon after go left along the next track you come to. After 200m you reach the main crossroads in the centre of the Brackenhurst campus where you go straight on along a road under trees with football and cricket pitches on the left for 200m, then go past a car park to reach a junction with a road from the left by some more buildings.

On the right there is a grassy track and a signpost with a green Robin Hood Way marker.  Turn along this track where you soon have to negotiate two metal gates with a farmyard on the left.  Carry straight on across a small grassy area to a wooden gate.  Go through this and onto a quiet, narrow road.  Go straight on along this for 50m to the next bend in the road where you leave the road to go into a large field. You can see the pepperpot towers of the Minster appearing.

To go down into Southwell bear left diagonally across the arable field on a clear path for 300m.  At the next field bear right on a clear path for another 250m to the corner of the field by a hedge where you turn sharp left to follow another hedge.

This soon starts to go downhill quite steeply and reaches a fence next to school playing fields on the left.  The path is squeezed between this fence and the hedge and is quite narrow.  After 300m you reach the bottom of the hill and the end of the playing fields.  Go under trees to reach a wide path and turn right for a short distance to reach a surfaced road.  This is a private road and won’t be busy.  Turn left along the road across a stream, the Potwell Dyke, which when you see it will probably find hard to believe caused so much chaos when flooding a few years ago.

Carry on along the road on an avenue of lime trees going past a playground on the right, bowling green and tennis courts on the left for 250m to the corner of the park and the arches of the War Memorial.Turn right out of the park, along a short section of road and then along a path past houses on your left and into the grounds of Southwell Minster.  Fifty metres further on turn right towards the main entrance of the Minster.  If you have never been to the Minster before you really should take this opportunity to go inside and look round.  If you don’t wish to go inside then walk along the path  around the outside of the minster, turning right and then take the first path on the left which takes you out onto Church Street where the main bus stop is very close.  This side of the road is for buses to Mansfield or Nottingham and over the road you can go to Newark.

Nottinghamshire Walks 73 : The Idle Valley Nature Reserve

This walk takes you around much of the Nottinghamshire Nature Trust reserve at Idle Valley, a few miles from Retford. The reserve is based around a lake with a visitor centre and cafe overlooking it. You can take shorter walks staying by the lake but my walk follows the longest marked trail, the Kingfisher Walk, which follows the River Idle to the northern end of the reserve. If you are very lucky you could see beavers there.

Start and finish: Idle Valley Reserve Visitor centre. There is a pay and display car park.

Distance: 11.5km including an extra detour at the far end. 10km without it.

Map of the Route

The Walk

From the car park go into the visitor centre to take a look at the lake from the large viewing window. Leave the visitor centre and turn right where you will see an information board. Go to this to familiarise yourself with your surroundings. Continue on past it and soon turn right onto a wooden walkway going through the reeds taking you onto the reserve. For most of the walk you follow the Kingfisher Trail which has orange kingfisher waymarks to guide you.

At the end of the walkway you join a firm path going into an area of woodland. There is a junction of paths as you reach the wood where you should bear right. As you go into the trees walk past a play area on the left where children can make dens in the woods. A little further on the path leaves the wood and you find yourself next to Belmoor Lake, the lake you saw from the visitor centre, in an open area with a wavy metal bench on the left.

Carry on along the track going under trees again. Before long you reach the River Idle . A path to the right goes around the lake but our route takes us away from it and you should continue almost straight bearing slightly left. The Idle is immediately to your right with trees alongside it.

The route is easy to follow for the next two miles as you just follow the river. After 500m a path goes off to the left which you should ignore although we will return along it. On the right a fishing lake appears just beyond the Idle. The River Idle appears well named as it lows lazily along. The water is slow but very clear and you can see long strands of weed just below the surface waving gently in the current. This part of the reserve is very quiet and you probably only meet a few other people, if any. The easiest path to walk on is a narrow but firm one that is part of a wider grass track too. There are trees by the river and to your left.

The path has been going east without you really noticing but now turns left heading north again. Near a wood a red waymark indicates a path to the left but again ignore it and stay by the Idle. Eventually you may start to hear the sounds of geese through the trees on the left as you approach a lake at the far end of the reserve. The lake appears properly soon after. At the end of the lake turn left and follow a path alongside the end of the surprisingly large lake. When you reach the far corner of the lake you carry on for for 300m. There you can turn left to head back towards the visitor centre. However, as you have come all this way I recommend having a look at the lakes nearby. On your right is a very wide dusty track. Go onto this. Almost directly opposite is the entrance to a path next to another lake.

Turn left and walk along the wide track for 200m. You reach the entrance to a track on the right. Turn onto this track which is firm and wide. On your left after 100m you can see a lake between trees and bushes. After 400m look for a narrow path on the right under trees and take this. The path goes up to an open area overlooking a lake. There are screens hiding you from the wildlife and low benches to sit on. In fact these benches are a little too low to see over the screens and you will probably have to stand. This area of the reserve is where the first beavers in Nottinghamshire were released two years ago and if you are very lucky you may see them, although I didn’t on my visit. You are more likely to see wildfowl and some rareties have been spotted.

Retrace your steps along the track and the very wide dusty track to the Kingfisher Trail. If you have come from the extra section you turn right from the dusty track and go straight on with trees on the right, a large field on your left and the lake beyond that. The path is straight for the next half mile and is good with just the odd puddle and muddy area which can be stepped around. The track turns right close to a larger clump of trees and then after 500m goes left. In 200m it reaches an area of small lakes, or should that be large ponds. These are on either side of the path and although they have plenty of vegetation around them they can be viewed at several points.

About 150m past them the path goes past an information board and bears right to meet the path you walked along on the way out earlier. You meet the Idle again and turn right to follow it. You retrace your steps to the corner of the large lake where you go away from the Idle. Follow the path with the lake to your left until you cross the wooden walkway and return to the visitor centre. There you can rest after your walk with refreshments in the cafe while observing the wildlife outside.

Walking the Trent Valley Way and River Trent: Shardlow to Attenborough via Sawley Marina including a circular walk near Shardlow

For my first walk outside Nottinghamshire I am not straying far over the border but am taking in three counties. This walk takes you along the River Trent from Shardlow in Derbyshire, just over the county border from Nottinghamshire, to Attenborough Nature Reserve. Shardlow is the start point of the Trent Valley Way if you are walking downstream, although the plan is to extend the Way to the source of the Trent on Biddulph Moor in Staffordshire. That plan has existed for some time but doesn’t seem to have progressed much upstream.

The Trent Valley Way diverges from the river itself for the first two miles so I will describe both routes until they meet.

Start: Shardlow Wharf just by the A

Finish: Attenborough Nature Reserve

Distance: by the River Trent walk 12.8km, by the Trent Valley Way 11.8km

Map of the Route

To reach the start of the walk using public transport you have to use the Skylink bus between Derby and Leicester, getting off at the Navigation Inn on the A6 in Shardlow. To get there from Nottingham you should catch the Skylink bus and get off at Sawley Marina. It is then a 3km walk along the canal to Shardlow but it can be made into a pleasant 7 km circular walk from Sawley Marina combining the Trent Valley Way and River Trent. If starting from Shardlow the circular walk is 5km long.

First glimpse of the Trent

Description of the route

From the road bridge over the canal at Shardlow, where there is an information board about the wharf, go down to the wharf side on the canal towpath. In fact you can get a brief look at the Trent if you go back under the road and up to a nearby lock. To the left below is the river.

To continue along the Trent Valley Way

Return to the wharf which is a nicely preserved area of old canal buildings. Stay on the canal towpath and leave the wharf. The towpath bends right and goes under a road. On the opposite bank are pubs which are easy to get to by leaving the canal towpath and crossing the canal on the road. If you are ignoring the temptation of a drink carry on along the towpath and soon reach Shardlow marina. Continue past the marina and go under a small bridge.

At this point the canal becomes quieter as you leave Shardlow. You reach a lock and a little later an information board about the Derwent Valley Heritage Trail which starts here. The river Derwent enters the Trent almost opposite. As there is still no proper walk to the source of the Trent I am quite tempted by the idea of a long walk over a few days along the Derwent instead. Just after this you meet the Trent on the right and turn right to follow it upstream for a short distance until meeting a white bridge. Cross the bridge to meet the River Trent walk. You have covered two kilometres from Shardlow at this point.

River Trent Walk from Shardlow

From the information board on the A6 overlooking Shardlow Wharf turn right along the road and follow it past the Navigation Inn . Cross the road to the pavement on the other side where you can get a look at the Trent. A little further on there is an interesting stone to the right which lists the toll price for various types of passengers crossing the river here long ago.

Just after this you reach Cavendish Bridge. Go back to the other side of the A6 and continue along the road to cross the Trent. The walk started in Derbyshire but now enters Leicestershire for a short time. On the other side of the Trent at the first road turning on the left, 150m from Cavendish Bridge, look for a footpath sign going into a field and go into the field. When I walked there in mid-May this was a lovely meadow of quite long grass with swallows flying around and butterflies flitting between flowers.

Turn along the left side of the field and go close to buildings as you make your way to the riverside. Once alongside the Trent turn right and follow the river on a reasonable path. When I walked there the trees were lovely with blossom but it would be a nice walk at any time as there is little to disturb the tranquillity as you leave the road behind.

The river bends slightly and after a while you go through a small wooden gate and come to a wide track. Turn left along the track and follow it near the river. Soon you will see a white curved bridge on the river ahead. When you reach it if you want to return to Shardlow you should cross it and follow the canal back to the wharf. If you are continuing along the River Trent Walk carry on ahead.

Trent Valley Way and River Trent walk now join together

From the bridge walk a short distance to where the Trent meets the canal cut. Turn right along the main track for a very short distance then at a gap in the trees on the left jink left to join a grassy track next to the canal. Follow this path which soon becomes firm again. Appearing on the right now is a fishing lake.

The path soon goes under another quite attractive curved bridge and in another 300m goes under a wide bridge under the M1 motorway, which you will have been aware of for some time due to the roaring traffic ahead. At this point the Trent splits into two branches and we follow the path straight on along the Sawley Cut.

In another 500m you reach another road (the B6540) where you leave the towpath and go up to the road. There is a bus stop a little bit to the right where you can catch the bus to Nottingham.

To continue the Trent Walk cross the road and go over the Sawley Cut then turn right along a track to go down to Sawley Marina. Follow the path alongside the canal which soon reaches the Marina. Keep straight on, with the cooling towers of Ratcliffe power station rising ahead of you. Go all the way as far as you can to the far end of the marina where the path goes up to a bridge. At the top turn left and cross the other branch of the Trent which has appeared again. Go down to the path and turn right under a bridge which carries the railway line.

The river is now on your right and having merged again is quite wide. It’s an easy walk for the next few miles along a good firm track by the river with no navigation difficulties as you just stay by the Trent. After a kilometre you reach the Trent Lock pub which is just back from the river with a large beer garden between. If you want refreshments you can stop here, or at the Steamboat Inn or Lock House Tea Rooms about 100m further on at Trent Lock.

At Trent Lock you cross a bridge and continue past an interesting information board. The river then bends away from you and your way instead follows the Cranfleet canal cut for the next 1200m. This is almost perfectly straight along the towpath until you meet the river again. For the next 3km you stay by the river although for much of the time if you are walking in the summer you may not realise this because the plants by the path are so tall that you can’t see the Trent. You will be able to see the lakes of Attenborough Nature Reserve on your left however. The river makes sweeping turns to left and right over these 3km. If you want to explore the reserve and see the visitor centre, which also has a cafe, you should turn left at a junction immediately after a narrow stone walled bridge over an inlet to the Trent. From there you can go on into Attenborough village. However, my route stays by the Trent and takes in one more turn of the river to the left.

Just past an island in the river the path goes past a green gate and information board at the edge of the Nature Reserve. Just after this is a junction of paths which is the end of this stage of the walk.

To reach Attenborough and public transport from here you turn left. Walk 400m along the track with lakes on either side of you. You come to the next main path junction near Attenborough cricket ground on the right and the end of the lake on the left of the path. Continue straight on past the cricket ground to reach a lane. Go almost straight on, bearing slightly left, for 100m to reach Church Lane. Turn right then very soon take the first left turn. This takes you to Attenborough railway station and 400m further on reaches a regular bus service to Nottingham.

Nottinghamshire Walks: The Robin Hood Way – Stage One – Nottingham to Wollaton Vale

The Robin Hood Way, the most established of Nottinghamshire’s long-distance footpaths, begins at the gatehouse of Nottingham Castle. The Robin Hood Way was established in 1982 and originally ran directly from Nottingham to Edwinstowe in the centre of the county. The start and finish points remain the same but over the years a few extra sections have been added, notably a detour to Southwell. It is now 172km (or 108 miles) long taking you out of Nottingham through various parks then up into Sherwood Forest and around the Dukeries with some fine woods and parkland.

The Way is generally well signposted and there are two types of waymark to look for to guide you, shown here.

I have divided the walk into seventeen manageable stages which as far as possible start and finish near public transport.

This post completes my guide to the Robin Hood Way. Typically I have made the last post of my guide the first stage of the actual Way, unless of course, you are doing the Way from Edwinstowe to Nottingham. Most people will probably, however, do it from south to north starting from Nottingham and that is the easiest way to use my guide as I have described it in that direction.

The first stage takes you from Nottingham Castle out of the city centre, along the canal, through Nottingham University’s pleasant Highfields campus to historic Wollaton Park. There are good public transport links to the centre of Nottingham at many points along the way on this stage.

Start: The gatehouse of Nottingham Castle.

Finish: Wollaton Vale

Distance: 7km (4.3 miles)

Map of the Route

Castle Gatehouse

The Robin Hood Statue

Stand facing the gatehouse at the castle entrance. You may be able to go into the castle to explore the grounds, museum and art gallery if the shambles of the organisation in charge gets their act together (for a hefty admission price). To begin the walk however you should turn left downhill along another wide pedestrianised area. Shortly you reach one of the most famous statues in Nottingham, that of Robin Hood.

From the statue continue downhill and you soon come to Nottingham’s most famous pub, The Trip To Jerusalem Inn, which is built into the sandstone below the castle.  Go right where you find the entrance to the pub and tables outside.  Immediately after this you come to the iron gates leading to the Brewhouse Yard where there is a Museum of Nottingham Life, although this is closed at the moment while developments are done to the castle area.

Nottingham Castle and Castle Rock near Brewhouse Yard

Go straight on and leave the Brewhouse Yard by the next gate going out onto the pavement by a wide road, Castle Boulevard.  Look back here for a good view of the castle and the rock below it.

Turn left and cross Castle Boulevard at the crossing.  On the other side of the Boulevard continue for a short way until you reach the next road junction.

Take the road on the right (Wilford Street) and walk to the bridge over the canal just a little way along.  Cross the canal and turn right to go down onto the towpath by the canal next to a lock.

Lock on the Canal at Wilford Street

The next miles of the walk are all along the canal towpath, which has a proper hard surface for most of the way.  The first stretch is close to the hustle and bustle of the city yet is still quite quiet with plenty of greenery around and with ducks, geese and other water birds in reasonable numbers.

After around half a mile you reach see the Water’s Edge pub on the left.  Go straight along over a footbridge that goes up over the entrance to Castle Marina and then down under a wide road where you rejoin the towpath at canal level.

On your left here is Castle Marina containing many boats and a retail park with amenities.  Carry on along the towpath under a railway bridge and after 200m a road bridge.

Castle Marina

The towpath bends to the left.  We are now going south. After 400m go towards a big flyover (Clifton Boulevard). The Robin Hood Way leaves the towpath just before the flyover as you go up a flight of steps onto a bridge over the canal. Turn right on the bridge and go downhill towards a large traffic island. At the bottom of the hill take a path to the right leading to a subway under the road. Having passed under the road, turn right again and reach the traffic island.

Turn left at the island, along Beeston Road, as far as a crossing. Cross the road.

At this point you have a choice of routes. The original Robin Hood Way route, which I will describe first in italics, and the new official route. This new route is probably an improvement as it avoids a short section alongside a busy road but it does omit the very nice walk along Lime Tree Avenue in Wollaton Park.

Original Route

Walk back to the island. Before doing so you may wish to have a wander round University Park which is very close by. The Park is an attractive one with a lake, galleries, putting green and other facilities.

At the island turn left and follow the footpath climbing slightly as you go past the Queens Medical Centre on the right. Cross various minor roads coming from the left on the university campus, go under a distinctive large white semi-circular bridge. After m go across the busy road ahead (Derby Road) at the nearby crossing.  Go on for another 200m alongside another busy road on a wide pavement until you reach the gates of Wollaton Park to your left a little way from the road. 

Turn left into the park and walk along the road which runs along Lime Tree Avenue.  Just after the road splits to go to the golf club go through a pedestrians gate to the left of the bigger gate across the road.  Continue along the avenue on the road until you reach the front of Wollaton Hall with views down the hill to your right over the park.

If you aren’t going into the hall look ahead to an archway by the wall.  Go under it and down the steps to reach the stables area.  Follow the main path ahead past the stables on your right where you meet the new route.

New Official Route from Clifton Boulevard

Turn left along University Boulevard (A6005) for about 400m. Just after the University tram stop turn right into University Park which is very close by. The Park is an attractive one with a lake, art galleries, putting green and other facilities. Bear left across the grass to reach the end of the lake. Follow the path along the left side of the lake past the mini-golf area and stay alongside the lake for about 1km. At the other end of the lake continue on for a short way before turning left along the university road which soon takes you out onto University Boulevard again.

Turn right along the pavement to reach a roundabout but don’t cross. Stay on this side and continue by the road for 100m until reaching another roundabout by the university entrance. Turn right to go back onto the university campus along the entrance road. After 150m turn left and follow the road for another 800m. Just after the road bends to the right look for a narrow path to the left. Turn along this which very soon comes out onto the A52 (Derby Road).

Use the nearby crossing to negotiate the busy road. On the other side is the gateway to enter Wollaton Park. These days it’s more of a door and doesn’t look very welcoming. If you can, go through the door into Wollaton Park.

You find yourself near the lake in the Beeston Lodge area of the park. Turn left to reach the corner of the lake then bear right to go uphill between lines of trees. At the top of the hill you approach the formal gardens by Wollaton Hall which is now just ahead of you. Bear left towards a building with a large clock above an entrance archway. This is the old stables area, now an industrial museum. The gardens, Hall and Industrial Museum are all worth a visit. Just before the clock is a surfaced track where to continue the Robin Hood Way you turn left. This is where the original route meets the new route.

Follow the track down the hill to the Lake.  Go over a bridge to reach the corner of the lake but ignore the track around the lake and bear right onto a wide tarmac track with trees to the left and rough grassland to the right.  Follow this to the end and leave the park through a wooden gate.  Go to the left of the next gate a little ahead to reach a short driveway to a residential area and road (Parkside).

Cross Parkside and descend the short street opposite (Wollaton Rise) to reach a junction with a main road (Wollaton Vale).

This is a road with good public transport connections and I have chosen to finish Stage One of the Robin Hood Way here.

The Way continues with Stage Two: Wollaton Vale to Kimberley

Nottinghamshire Walks: The Robin Hood Way Stage 2 – Wollaton Vale to Kimberley

This stage plots a course through the western suburbs of Nottingham that wanders around a little but manages to link together some nice areas of urban greenery. Then it goes via the old Nottingham Canal across fields to Strelley and Kimberley.

There are frequent buses from Wollaton Vale into Nottingham and the 35 bus route also comes close to this stage at a few points should you wish to return to your start point. To return to Nottingham from Kimberley you can catch Rainbow One buses from Trent Barton every ten minutes.

Start: Wollaton Vale (the main road just to the west of Wollaton Park) (continuing from Stage 1)

Finish: The centre of Kimberley on Nottingham Road (continues to Stage 3)

Distance: 12.2km (7.6 miles)

Map of the Route

Description of the Route

Cross Parkside and descend the short street opposite (Wollaton Rise) to reach a junction with a main road (Wollaton Vale).  Go left for a few metres then cross Wollaton Vale and enter the road opposite (Woodbank Drive) which you go along for 100m.  Take the first left (Vines Cross) and continue to the junction with Appledore Avenue where you turn left.  Follow this as it curves right and at the end of the curve turn right into a cul-de-sac (Kingsdown Mount).  At the top of the rise turn left to the end of the cul-de-sac and then between numbers 30 and 32 on the right take a track uphill which soon becomes earthy as you go under trees and into Bramcote Hills.

Keep straight on up the hill ignoring a right and left turn.  At a path junction near the top of the hill turn right along a clear track following the Robin Hood Way marker for about 250m with trees on either side.  You reach a playground and turn left for a short distance until you reach Markham Road.  Go straight on along the road for 100m to a junction where you turn right and go along Sandy Lane to the end of a cul-de-sac and then onto a bridleway going under trees ahead.

Follow this until you come into a more open area where the more obvious track continues ahead but you should take a path going uphill to the left.  This takes you to a wide road (Thoresby Road) which you go straight across and along a footpath between fences.  You soon reach a quieter road (Deddington Lane) and turn left along the pavement without crossing.  The road bears right to become Eastcote Avenue but you should keep straight on along a tree-lined track with rough parkland of a former golf course to the left.

After 700m at a junction with a wider track turn left uphill.  Very soon you reach another path junction and turn right.  You can follow the main track here but it is possible to take a short cut by going through a small gate to the left and onto a grassy area with a path going uphill across it.  Follow the path with views opening up as you climb.  At the other side of the grassy area you reach another firm proper track and turn left uphill to reach a wood.  Take a diagonal path to the right going uphill.  Bear right again after 70m to follow a fence and ignore all left turns.  Descend steeply with the fence to your right and reach steps which you go down and then go out to a main road (Coventry Lane, the B6004) which you cross and then turn left along the pavement for 150m.t

On the right you can see a grassy area going up to an unusual rock formation known as the Hemlock Stone which you should go to look at.  Then take a path near the wood behind the stone and go into the wood.  Take the left fork climbing uphill and another left fork going past a BMX track up to a trig point in a slightly open area.

From the trig point carry on and descend steeply following a path that bears to the right.  At the bottom of the wood turn left and then almost immediately right at the edge of more trees.  After 50m as you approach a railway turn left through the trees to reach a wide track.  Follow this for 250m with a well maintained open grassy area on the left.  Turn right where there are a set of signs at a path junction.  Follow the Erewash Valley Trail over a railway and onto a path by a disused canal where you turn left.

Before long you approach the perimeter fence of a garden centre which you follow as it turns left and right.  Cross the entrance road to the garden centre to reach a path where you see a sign and map of the Erewash Trail.  Go straight on along the path which soon goes downhill and bears right into trees.  Go over the old canal packhorse bridge (the Swansea Bridge) which overlooks the rather overgrown Nottingham Canal.

Once across the bridge turn immediately left along a narrow path which runs alongside the canal with a field rising to your right. The overgrown canal appears constantly just to your left as you walk under trees. After 500m go over a stile to your right into a field. Ascend gradually away from the canal with a fence on your left. After about 400m you reach a track and turn left for a short distance until meeting the busy A609 (Nottingham Road). Cross this and turn right along the pavement for 300m where you turn left along Waterloo Lane.

It’s nice to be on this much quieter lane which you follow as it leaves the houses behind. A little way away you can see the M1 and hear the roar of traffic. The lane soon descends and bends to the right. There is no pavement but on the right the grass verge is wide and good to walk on.

Where the lane bends to the left look for a footpath sign on the right of the lane. Go through a gap in the trees by the sign into a field. Turn left and follow the edge of the field for 100m. Almost imperceptibly the path turns a little to the right and you find yourself on a wide, straight track. Follow this as you climb steadily towards a spinney, Shaw’s Plantation, at the top of the hill.

After 500m cross a wide track that is a bridleway between Cossall and Balloon Woods. In another 200m go through a gate and reach the Plantation, where the views are good. In particular you should look to the right where you can clearly see Wollaton Hall and across Nottingham. Carry on along the track past the spinney on your left and then a series of fields on your right.

After 600m you reach a junction with another track and hedge. Turn left along the track to go under beech trees. After 250m the track bends right to meet a road. Turn left along the road and cross it to reach a pavement which is rather unusual as it is half made up of smooth surface and half by uneven paving stones. These can be a little awkward to walk on. It is believed that they were laid by monks many centuries ago on their route between monasteries. Go past Strelley church and soon after that come to Strelley Hall on the right. The Hall has a cafe, gallery and a few speciality businesses and makes a nice stopping off point.

If you aren’t visiting the Hall continue along the road which goes straight on just slightly bending right. As you pass a farm on the left (Home Farm) the road becomes a track. All this time you have been coming closer to the M1 and at the end of the track turn sharp left and cross the motorway on a wide bridge. On the opposite side the temptation is to follow the wide farm track which bends right but instead you should turn left on another track which goes downhill. After 100m the path turns right alongside a hedge and in the distance ahead you see a water tower.

This tower is your guide for the next part of the walk and you head straight towards it along paths and tracks next to fields. After 500m the track becomes a road and where the road bears right you stay straight on along a narrow path. The path soon goes left and right with the water tower close by. Follow the path as it goes alongside a fence by a field and football field on the left with houses on your right. It turns right and left eventually emerging into an arable field. Turn right downhill along a path by the field edge.

At the bottom of the hill you reach a road where you turn right. Amost immediately turn left along Little Lane until reaching a main road. Cross this and turn right to go slightly uphill. Very soon turn down a pathway on the left with a No Cycling sign on it. Follow this surfaced path for a short distance until it comes out on a street (Clive Crescent). Go left for a few metres and take the road going straight on there. This soon reaches another road (Knowle Lane) where you turn left. Go past a small playground on your right to reach a high bridge above the Kimberley bypass.

Cross the bridge from where you can see Nottingham to your right. Once across descend the hill on a road (Knowle Hill). Just before reaching the main road at the bottom turn left onto a narrow path between hedges, with gardens and houses to either side. After 75m turn right down another track coming off the one you are on until reaching the main road (Nottingham Road Kimberley).

The Robin Hood Way continues by going straight across Nottingham Road here and onto the path opposite. That Stage of the Way is described in my post for the Robin Hood Way to Bestwood Village.

However, Kimberley is a convenient place to stop as there are shops and pubs just down the road to the left. There are bus stops very close by on the Nottingham Road if you want to go into Nottingham.

Walks in Nottinghamshire: Walk 72 – Gedling Country Park

Walks in winter can be made less enjoyable if you are on muddy or wet paths so I like to include some mainly on firm tracks that stay mud-free in even the wettest conditions. After a very wet first two weeks 2023 has turned mercifully dry but in anticipation of rain returning this is a good wet-weather walk.

Gedling Country Park, about five miles north-east of Nottingham city centre, was opened in 2015 on the site of the former colliery. The land has been reclaimed and is now a very attractive green space for the people of Nottingham and beyond. There are trees, lakes, play area, sculptures and a visitor centre with a cafe. Some of the views are superb. The tracks around the park are wide and hard and there are different marked trails you can follow. They are suitable for wheelchairs and buggies although some paths are quite steep.

There is a car park by the visitor centre and main entrance on Spring Lane.

Nottingham City Transport Sky Blue Service 47 provides a regular service to the Spring Lane bus stop, located directly outside the entrance to Gedling Country Park.

Nottingham City Transport Red Services 44 and 44A run along Arnold Lane, alongside the junction with Lambley Lane. It is a short walk along Lambley Lane to the car park and southern entrance onto the park via the recreation ground.

Start and Finish: Gedling Country Park Visitor Centre

Distance: 6.8km (4.2 miles)

Map of the Route

Description of the Walk

The walk goes clockwise around the park. Start with the visitor centre on your right and play area on your left. Set off along the well-surfaced track which is flat at first. You meet a track coming up the hill from the right but carry on ahead. The path starts to climb quite steeply for 300m. When you reach the top the track flattens out and you soon come to a ramp going up to a viewing platform. Go up to the platform and take in the excellent views to the east across the Trent Valley. There are informative panels explaining some of the points of interest which can be seen. These include the River Trent, Newark-on-Trent’s church which can clearly be seen even though it is fifteen miles away, Belvoir Castle to the south, and away to the north-east on a clear day, Lincoln Cathedral. This really is a fine place to enjoy the view as the flat land away to the east gives an unobstructed vista for 180 degrees.

Return to the track and bear left along it. On the right is open ground with a large number of solar panels but to the left are trees. The path stays high up and soon you reach another viewing platform on the left which has views to the south towards Nottingham and Belvoir Castle again (this time with an information panel about it). From the platform return to the path and soon start quite a sharp descent for 300m.

Near the bottom is the main intersection of paths for the whole park and you can choose just how far you want to go in the rest of the park. Our route takes the longest course and just before the bottom intersection and you take the first turning left along another good track. Follow this path with trees on your right for 600m before making a hairpin turn back towards the centre of the park. The path angles left past two ponds before bearing right then left to reach the central path junction opposite another pond.

Turn left and then almost immediately left again to join another firm track. This goes downhill and soon you have trees on both sides. This part of the park is used less and you may well find yourself alone after being with decent numbers of people earlier in the walk. At the bottom of the hill you come quite close to the new road just outside the park for a short distance. The path then climbs again until you meet another track. You can go almost straight on here but our way around the edge of the park turns left.

You soon go between more trees and after 300m reach the corner of the park where you turn right and in another 200m bend right again with houses to your left. The path climbs and after 150m you reach the highest point of the park with excellent views. Go downhill again and just after a slight right hand bend bear left along the top path with the ground sloping away to your right. From here you can just carry on along the top path all the way to the visitor centre but my choice is to make one more detour.

When you come to trees again you will see a path bearing right downhill. Take this and zig-zag down to the bottom. You can cut some of the zigs and zags by following the well-worn paths made by previous short-cut takers. At the bottom follow the main track towards the pond we came to earlier. Just before the pond however you should have a look at the memorial garden on the right which has plants and sculptures. Go past the pond and then turn left along the next path. There are a series of wooden sculptures of animals along this path. Climb again on this path between trees and at the top path junction turn left to return to the visitor centre.