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)
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.
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.
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
Walks in Central Nottinghamshire (and Beyond) 