Louise Smalley Walk
2006.
Official Route Description
41.3 Miles via:
Oxton
Edingley
Kirklington
Eakring
Rufford
Edwinstowe
Welbeck Estate
Creswell Crags
If you get yourself into bother
and need URGENT assistance ring
07950 619 165
1 --
1.
Turn
right out of the car park. Cross over
the level crossing and follow
2.
A
short distance further on, where Lambley Lane bears off to the left, keep to
the right and go down Bridle Road.
Follow this road uphill and carry straight on at the crossroads. When you reach the top of the hill, you are
looking down on
3.
Follow
the path down the hill to a gate. Cross
over the tarmac road and pass through a gate into a nature reserve. Follow the path, passing a small lake on your
right. At the boundary fence, pass
through a gate and over a stile.
Ignoring the path to your right, carry on up the hill, following the
edge of the field, until you come out on to
4.
At
the top of the rise where the road bears round to the left, there is a footpath
sign on your right (Woodborough / Lowdham).
Pass through the gate and turn immediately to your left and follow the
path, with the hedge on your left, until you reach a wooden bridge and stile on
your left. Cross the bridge and the
stile and walk straight on past two dead trees.
5.
Once
over the brow of the hill, head downhill to the corner of the field, where you
come out on to
6.
At
the top of the hill, pass over another stile and walk downhill with the hedge
on your left. Go down to another stile
next to some farm buildings on your right.
Go down the drive and over a cattle grid to the road.
7.
Turn
right at the road, crossing over and going round a sharp bend. Follow the road to a T-junction and turn left
on to
8.
After
crossing two stiles / kissing gates, you will have a stream and hedgerow on
your right. Follow the edge of the
fields until you reach a farm track coming down from the right. Turn right down the track and cross over the
stream. Follow the track round to the right through a metal kissing gate and
pass close to red-brick farm buildings on your left.
9.
Follow
the track around the buildings to the left until you see a footpath way marker
post in front of you. Follow the direction of the arrow to the corner of
the grass field and through a kissing gate. Turn immediately right and
follow the path around the field following the footpath posts. Continue along
this path taking a left at the end of the field now heading for Fox Wood.
10.
When
you reach Fox Wood, enter the wood through the kissing gate and then turn
immediately left and follow the path through the wood until you reach a
bridleway. Turn right on to
the bridleway and after approximately 100 metres you will see a footpath
sign on your left. Turn left and follow
the path downhill until you reach a path made from stone chippings. After a short distance you will see a gap on
your right with a small pond. Turn right
and follow the path to some houses (Calverton).
11.
Follow
the road round to your left (
12.
Follow
the road until you reach a turning circle.
Cross over this and pass through a gap in the fence. On reaching a dyke on your right, turn right.
13.
Follow
the dyke until you come to
14.
As
you enter the trees, turn right and follow the path down to the main road
(A6079) and Oxton roundabout. Cross over
the road and walk straight on into Oxton.
The Old Bridge Inn is on your left as you enter the village.
This is Checkpoint 1.
2 – Oxton to Southwell Trail -- 5.6
miles
1.
Leaving
the pub car park, turn left and left again to walk through Oxton village,
passing a church on your right. At the
junction just past the Post Office, turn right on to
2.
Go
straight ahead on to a track, leaving the village. At the end of the track follow the
well-marked path past some trees. Carry
straight on through the fields towards a mound.
3.
On
reaching a seat by a tree, cross on to the opposite field and carry on in a
straight line. On reaching the mound,
crossing stiles along the way, pass to the right of it and then to the left of
the next mound, heading down to a stile in the corner of the field. Cross the stile and take the path, which runs
along the side of a wood, on your right.
4.
On
reaching the end of the wood, leave the path, turning left towards a
white-topped post and left on to a farm lane.
At the end of this lane turn right on to a metalised road (
5.
Continue
forward for about 2 km, passing Hartswell Farm on your left and then Wood Farm
on your right, ignoring two footpaths coming in your left. Continue past Meadow Farm until you come to
some farm buildings on your right. Go
over the stile on your left, marked by a horseshoe.
6.
Turn
45° right on to a footpath, aiming for a gap in the hedgerow facing you and a
telegraph pole immediately in front of you.
Pass through a gap in a hedgerow to take up a path going around a paddock
marked with blue electric fence stakes.
You will notice a duck pond in the paddock and maybe a horse!
7.
Continue
straight on, now heading for a hedgerow.
On reaching a “plank” bridge over s stream, cross over the stream and
turn right. Follow this path for 50 metres before turning left by a barn. You
should now have a small stream to your right, on far side of which is
continuous hedgerow. The track veers
slightly left away from the stream.
There is a barbed wire fence and a line of trees on your right.
8.
As
you approach a hedgerow immediately in front of you, there is a gap on the
right hand side with a stile with a yellow footpath arrow on it. Cross this stile and follow the footpath,
aiming very slightly to your left, heading for a gap in the hedge opposite with
a stile, again with a clearly marked white sign on the fence. Cross this stile.
9.
Follow
the clearly marked path, heading towards a post and a further stile, both with
white marks on. On reaching this stile,
carry straight on with a hedgerow to your left.
You are now aiming for a gate at the far end of this long field in the
left hand corner.
10.
On
reaching the gate, take the pedestrian gate to the left hand side. Cross the field, again with the hedgerow on
your left, heading towards a white marker post next to a gate in the bottom
left hand corner, passing a brick building with a ruined roof on the left. Cross the broken stile to the left hand side
of the gate.
11.
Cotton
Mill Farm is now on your left. Take the
short lane through another gate straight ahead of you. Cross over the stream, marked by a brick
built bridge, ignoring the first footpath on the right, before the bridge.
12.
Immediately
after the bridge, take the footpath on your right through a proper gate. Go straight forward, keeping the stream and a
barbed wire fence on your right.
13.
At
the end of the first field pass through a gap next to a fence and continue
straight forward. The stream and a
barbed wire fence are on your right.
Continue along the edge of the field and at the end follow round to your
left with the fence and stream still on your right.
14.
Continue
for a further 50 metres until you come to a clearly marked footpath on your
right crossing over the stream. Cross
the stile with a red brick bridge on your right. This brings you out onto a lane. Go straight over the lane, through a gap in
the fence, on the left of which is a footpath pole and carry straight across
this field, bearing slightly left.
15.
You
will now see ahead of you the village of endingly. Pass through a gap in the hedge on the far
side of the field, with a small footpath sign on your right and follow on with
now a hedge your right and a rather nice oak tree. Continue walking along this field with a
hedgerow on your right.
16.
As
you come along a line of poplar trees, you meet up with a track coming in from
your right. Take this track for about 20
metres. As the track turns to your left,
go straight forward to a stile over a fence.
17.
Continue
straight ahead, heading now for another stile in the hedge on the far side of
the field. Cross over the stile and go
straight ahead. We are now heading for a
gap in the hedge on the far side of the next small paddock. Pass through this gap, passing a now disused
stile and again straight on, heading for another hedgerow on the far side.
18.
You
can now see houses on your left and a rather charming property with a beautiful
rotunda which has a conical roof. At the
far side of this field, cross over a small concrete bridge, over a fence. There is a church straight ahead of you. Follow the clearly marked path, veering to
the left towards a local parish hall and a road.
19.
On
passing the corner of the property on your right, turn slightly right, aiming
for a gap in the hedge on the far side, virtually in line with the church. Go through the gap on to a lane and turn left
down to the main road through the
20.
Cross
the main road and head slightly to the right towards a footpath going away from
the road. This path crosses a piece of
green open land, heading for a hedgerow on your right. Ignore the gap in the hedge and the
footbridge. Bear left at the footbridge,
keeping the Edingley brook on your right to pass a small red brick
building. Continue straight ahead with
the Edingley brook on your right.
21.
On
reaching a hedge at the far end of the first field, you come to a rather nice
stile with a dog gate. Cross over and
carry straight on. At the end of this
field, ignore the gate on your right and take the stile in front of you, to
pass between some bushes. Go down three
steps and then up three more, to then continue along the right hand side of a
field with a hedgerow on your right.
22.
At
the end of this field, pass through a gap in the right hand bottom corner to
come out on to a track. Cross over the
track next to a rather splendid horse chestnut tree. Continue straight forward, winding a little
bit with the brook again to your right.
23.
Pass
through a fence with a white footpath sign.
You now have a fence on your left and the brook is still on your
right. Continue straight ahead, ignoring
all turnoffs to the right, to go past a gate on your left and continue with a
fence on your left and the brook on your right.
24.
When
you reach a fence with a stile straight ahead of you, cross over and continue
straight ahead, with the brook on your right towards a bank. Climb up the bank to bring you on to the
Southwell Trail.
25.
Turn
right and after 50 metres you come to a car park.
This is Checkpoint 2.
3 – Southwell Trail to Eakring -- 5.9
miles
1.
On
leaving the checkpoint, continue down the road and, on reaching a junction,
turn right. Cross over the road to the
footpath sign on the left, just after a house.
Take this path, with a fence on your left.
2.
Where
you reach a tree in your path, turn left and cross the bridge over the
stream. Keep going straight ahead with
the fence and pond on your right. At the
next stile cross over, then cross over the bridge on your right over the stream
through a “gap”, then turn left.
3.
The
path turns right and heads towards a big house, a hedge now on your left. Approximately 50 metres before the house,
pass through a kissing gate and turn right, the hedge now on your right. Just short of the bottom of the field, pass
through another kissing gate on your right.
Walk through a small field and once you reach the concrete in front of a
new house, turn left and walk down to the road (A617).
4.
When
you reach the road opposite
5.
When
you are level with the farm bear right, over the cattle grid and on to the
track. The track swings left and crosses
another cattle grid. Continue ahead
along the well-marked track, which rises gently to the brow of a hill, where it
crosses another cattle grid. Here
another track crosses your path - continue straight ahead towards a farm and
barn to the right of a small wood.
6.
On
reaching the farm, walk round the buildings, keeping them to your left. At the other side, follow the path along the
side of a ditch, following the line of the telegraph poles. At the end of the field cross over the ditch
via some plants, into the bushes, and follow the path 90° right. Walk through the small trees heading for Roe
Wood in front of you.
7.
One
reaching the wood, turn left and follow the path,
keeping the wood on your right. The wood
turns 90° right – keep to the edge of it.
Where the wood turns again, turn left on to a track for approximately 30
metres, then turn left again. Do not
go up the obvious track ahead. At
the field end, turn 90° right heading for Holywell
Farm. At the farm turn 90° left, across
a field, with a fence on your right.
8.
Carry
straight on towards the farm after the next field, the path going to the right
of this farm. After the farm, continue
straight ahead along obvious paths towards Dilliner
Wood.
9.
On
entering the wood, carry on straight ahead.
Approximately 400 metres into the wood, you come across a junction -
carry on straight ahead. The paths winds
through the wood. When you reach a
gully, cross a bridge and then go up some steps, which lead out on to an open
field. Carry on straight ahead and at
the brow of the hill you can see Eakring.
10.
Cross
over the track and ditch and, on reaching the end of the field, where you have
a sub-station on your left, go through the hedge and carry on with the hedge on
your right. At the end of this field,
turn right, through the head, then immediately left. You are now entering a residential area with
a red brick farm on your right.
11.
On
reaching the road, turn right and then, after approximately 50 metres, turn
left up Side Lane. Take the path with
the sign “Montpesson Cross” written on it, with
hedges on both sides. After
approximately 50 metres turn right, hedgerow now on your right, and walk along
the edge of a field.
12.
Approximately
50 metres further on, bear left, crossing the field diagonally, heading towards
a large farm. At the end of the field,
bear right, with the farm on your left and a bungalow on your right. This leads to a tarmac road.
13.
Carry
on down the road and bear left. Cross
the main road before turning left in to the Saville
Arms car park.
This is Checkpoint 3.
4 –Eakring to
1.
From
the Saville Arms car park, take the
2.
Cross
the small field to another stile, then proceed diagonally across the next field
until you reach a cart track. Head
straight across the next field towards a copse in the distance. Proceed across the field with the copse on
your right.
3.
Cross
another stile and pass through another field towards an old metal railway
bridge on your left. Cross over the
bridge and proceed across the next field to another stile, followed by a bridge
over a stream.
4.
Go
straight across the next field, heading for what looks like an egg
factory. On the far side of the field,
turn 90° right on to a farm track, heading for a farm in the distance. The
track goes right, then left, over a bridge over a small stream. Continue along, passing a pond on your
right.
5.
On
reaching a junction at the top of the track, turn left and
proceed for approximately 400 metres, until you reach a fork in the
lane. Take the left hand option and proceed with conifers on your right and old
kennels on your left – you appear to be walking down a driveway.
6.
At
the end of the conifers, the lane bears right – continue straight ahead with
Gallows Dyke Farm on your left (green buildings). Proceed on through the middle of a golf
course.
7.
After
approximately 800 metres, the lane turns 90° left and passes over a
bridge. Carry on for approximately 100
metres, turning left at the top and passing a solitary bungalow on your
left. After approximately 100 metres,
turn right and cross over a rid brick bridge and carry on down the lane,
heading for an old school house.
8.
On
reaching the main building, bear left at the fork and walk down the tree-lined
driveway to the main road (A614). Cross
the road with care and take the lane opposite.
Go through some metal gates on to a road, heading for the “no entry”
signs. Continue up the lane with the
barbed wire perimeter fence on your left.
9.
After
approximately 100 metres, take a right turn on to a public bridleway – you are
now heading for Edwinstowe. Go up the
edge of the field, keeping the hedge on your right.
10.
At
the wood, turn 90° left and approximately 100 metres further on, take a right
turn through the wood, following a good path.
On leaving the wood walk down the field, with a hedge on your right. When you reach the main road, Edwinstowe
Leisure Centre is opposite.
This is Checkpoint 4.
5 – Edwinstowe to Duncanwood -- 5.9
miles
1.
From
the leisure centre car park, turn right and walk along the pavement. Where the pavement ends, turn right and walk
up the lane past Holly Farm. Continue
straight ahead with a hedge on your left.
2.
On
reaching the next road, carry straight on across the next field. At the railway line, cross over to the next
field, with the hedge still on your left.
After approximately 50 metres, bear left with the River Maun on your right.
3.
Approximately
100 metres further on, cross over the river via a relatively new bridge. Continue for approximately 40 metres, before
taking the second path on your right.
Turn immediately left to walk up a lane with a hedge on your right
bordering school playing fields.
4.
On
reaching the main road opposite Villa Real Farm, cross over and turn left. After approximately 200 metres, turn right up
a lane heading towards the forest.
5.
After
approximately ¼ mile, the path narrows with a fence on your left and hedgerow on
your right. On reaching the forest you
have a choice of routes – go straight ahead.
6.
After
approximately 200 metres, bear right along the footpath. Approximately 100 metres further on, turn 90°
left on to a track until you reach a metal gate. Go through the gate and turn 45° left and
walk down to another metal gate. Go
through this gate and at the public bridleway sign turn 90° right and walk
along the very clear track.
7.
After
one mile you see a sign warning of army activity. This is the Dukeries
Training Area – please take note.
Shortly after this sign, a track joins from the right and another goes
20° right – stick to the well-worn path bearing slightly left.
8.
At
a crossroads of paths, go straight ahead.
When you reach a green gate, go through and continue ahead with grey
metal railings on your left. Shortly the
track becomes a metalised road.
9.
On
reaching a main road, cross over and pass through a wooden fence. Continue along the path with a hedge on your
left and trees on your right. The path
rises gently and, after approximately ½ mile, you reach a main road (Cuckney to Budby).
Cross over the road in to the parking area of Hazel Gap.
10.
From
the parking area, take the path that runs parallel to the main road, which
after a short distance turns into a wide track.
When you reach a wooden footpath sign with R.U.P.P. on it, turn right
through the gap, the immediately left.
11.
At
the end of the path you reach a main road (B6034 Worksop to Budby). Cross over to the car park/picnic area of
Duncanwood.
This is Checkpoint 5
6 – Duncanwood to Truman’s Lodge -- 3.8
miles
1.
From
the checkpoint in the car park, start to walk down the “ashen track” passing
through a wooden gate. You are on cycle track No.6 so please be
aware of cyclists for the next few miles. Welbeck Estate land is on you left to
which you have NO ACCESS. DO NOT WANDER OFF THE ASHEN TRACK.
2.
The
track leads you through some wonderful woodland. A clearing appears on your
left firstly, then a few hundred metres on there is a clearing on your right
also. The route is, occasionally, confirmed by wooden posts with Notts.CC
arrows on them in blue.
3.
Where
the clearing on the left narrows to meet the track there appears a crossing of
tracks, the first coming from your right and going straight across to your
left. You continue STRAIGHT AHEAD to
the right of a large tree this route being confirmed by a staked post with a
blue arrow and a red arrow with the No 6 in white upon it.
4.
After
a further 650 metres you will see a rather fine lodge on your left. This is
South Lodge. Immediately after the lodge, on your left hand side, you will see
some iron gates guarded by two stone pillars on which are carved two dogs. You need to get to the road that you can
see beyond these gates. The gates being locked.
5.
You
get there by continuing straight ahead along the ashen track you have been
walking on, guided by the No.6 red/white arrow. 30 metres on you meet a metal
sign post. Here turn 90° left as guided
by the Blue Cycle Route 6 sign. Pass through the fence to enter the wood. Also
you are now entering
6.
Turn
right and walk along the metalised road which leads down to
7.
At
the stone bridge, cross over and continue on the metallised road. You will, very
soon, come to a fork in the road. The “main carriageway” bears right but you BEAR LEFT OFF THE MAIN CARRIAGEWAY ONTO THE
SIDE ROAD. THERE IS A MARKER WITH A YELLOW ARROW AND THE No 6 ON IT
POINTING ALONG THIS ROAD.
8.
100
metres on, where there is a “crossroad” you will see the road ahead is “closed
off” to traffic by a wooden barrier. Continue along the “closed” section of
road (which is straight ahead) passing through the barrier. The road bearing
slightly right and gently rising.
9.
After
300 metres you reach the “apex” of the hill and the road now leads gently
downhill for a further 250 metres.
10.
Where
a road joins you from your right, you reach another wooden barrier on which is
another yellow arrow. Pass through and walk ahead to the road junction.
11.
At
this junction turn right. This is
12.
Follow
the well-defined track and, after ½ mile at a clearing, another track joins
from the right. Keep left and continue along the main bridleway. On reaching the road turn left.
This is Checkpoint 6.
7 – Truman’s Lodge to South Lodge -- 2.8 miles
1.
On
leaving the checkpoint, return to the bridleway and just before it reaches the
road, you will see a path to your right, running parallel with the road. Take this path through the woodland, walking
with the road on your right.
2.
After
½ mile you reach another small clearing where you meet the road. Bear left along the road to the T-junction –
Truman’s Lodge is now on your left.
3.
At
the junction turn right. After
approximately 200 metres you reach a bridleway on your left – take this track
which is
4.
Eventually
the track descends through a sandstone gully, the path appearing to be gouged
out between the rocks on either side. At
the bottom of the gully the track opens up and the path starts to swing right
towards South Lodge.
This is
Checkpoint 7
8 –South Lodge to Creswell Crags -- 2.3 miles
1.
Just
before South Lodge, turn left through a gate.
Turn right to the next gate and then turn left, joining the main track
heading down towards Welbeck Abbey. You
are now walking alongside the tunnel skylights.
2.
At
the end of the track you pass a pond on your right and at the junction turn
right, joining a road. The road swings
left to a junction where you turn right.
3.
After
approximately 75 metres, take the track on the left marked by a wooden
sign. The track bends left to playing
fields. Stay with the track with a
wooden fence on your left.
4.
At
the end of the playing fields, carry on along the track, walking now with a
fence to your right and a hedge to your left.
At the concrete road, turn right and walk along the road. The road swings left down to Oaksetts Lodge
where it joins a tree-lined drive leading to the main A60 road.
5.
Cross
over the A60 with care and continue along the lane opposite which leads you to
Creswell Crags Visitor Centre.
6.
On
reaching the centre, pass through the Car Park and follow the lane up to the
right to reach the lodge at the entrance to the Visitor centre.
7.
On
reaching the road (this is the “old road”), turn right and walk up to the road
junction where you will find the checkpoint.
This is Checkpoint 8.
9 – Creswell Crags to
1.
Exit
the Checkpoint at the opposite end to which you entered through the metal
squeezer stile, cross over the road and turn right. Walk along the road for 50
metres until you reach a wooden fence and gate and a public bridleway sign.
Turn left onto the bridle way (known locally as Tommy Moore’s’ lane). The lane
has “tree Lined” hedgerow on you left and a wall on your right. After just a
few metres the walls ends and you can see the quarry. Please don’t stray to
take a look as it is very dangerous. The bridlepath is actually bordered either
side by woodland. It is quite wide and very clearly defined and rises gently as
you walk.
2.
After
around 550 metres you reach the “apex” of the lane and it now starts to
descend. From the “apex” you will see, to your right, an “offshoot” of a path. Take this path – DO NOT go down the main track – you will have a wire fence
immediately to your right and small trees on you left. Stay close to the fence
on your right (as you will for a long time to come) the path being well
defined.
3.
After
a further 40 metres you will meet a wall and the path (and fence) turns 90°
right. Turn right the path being bordered now by the fence on your right and a
wall on your left beyond which are trees. 100 metres on the trees on the left
end and you have a good view of the
4.
110
metres on you reach a fence with a stile at a point where a path joins from the
left. Cross over the stile and continue straight ahead. Basically, you are
walking round the edge of the quarry. The fence still keeps you company on your
right. The “tree canopy” has now ceased and you have open fields on you left.
5.
On
meeting a stone wall with a wooden fence adjacent to it continue straight ahead
going through the “cut out” stile in the wall. The fence still keeps you
company on your right! 200 metres on you see a dividing line between 2 fields
sporting different crops. You continue straight ahead along the path.
6.
Ahead
you can see the railway line from Whitwell to Creswell and beyond. On reaching
the rail line, where the path stops punctuated by a wooden seat, turn 90° right
and follow the path uphill. The fence still keeps you company on your right!
After a few metres you come across some “Battiste” steps, climb these then
continue along the track, with a wire fence on either side. 50 metres on the
fence on you left turns into a “metal spiked” design. The paths climbs slightly
until you reach a fence and a “DANGER – KEEP OUT” sign. Here, the paths take a
positive 90° left turn.
7.
Where
you see path shooting off to your right and over a “quarry crossroad” IGNORE THIS and follow the path round
to the left downhill. After 10 metres the “metal spiked” design fence ceases
and is replaced by a fence identical to the one on your right.
8.
100
metres on the path swings round to the right. 50 metres on you are joined by a
path from your left. Continue straight ahead. The path becomes quite wide then
narrows at a point where the path turns right by a seat.
9.
Turn
right here. You will have the fence still on your right and a fence / wall on
your left.
10.
100
metres on, at a point where you will see a “Whitwell Quarry warning” sign, you
will see a lane shooting off 90° left. You may also notice a cottage off to the
left. Turn left onto the track. 100 metres on cross over the wooden stile and
continue ahead until you reach the road.
11.
Turn
right and walk along the causeway. This road leads you into Whitwell. Firstly,
you pass some houses on your right, then cross over
12.
The
You have just completed the Louise
Smalley Challenge Walk.
Well done, you’ve made it! Now go have a beer.
Josif.