1. From
the
2. On
reaching the road, turn left, cross over and then turn right on to
3. Two-thirds
of the way downhill, opposite the olds peoples’ bungalows, turn left. This is
4. This
path leads to an open field at the end of the bungalow. Carry on across the field which has a well
marked path. At the opposite end of the
field, cross over the stile and then you cross over the railway line. This is the Robin Hood Line. Please be careful. Cross over the stile opposite and bear
slightly left for a few metres to another stile in the corner. Pass over the stile and continue straight
ahead with hedgerow on your immediate left.
5. At
the next stile, cross over, and continue ahead, heading slightly right to a
stile to the right of the farm buildings.
There are several stiles in this field.
You want to continue straight ahead to the stile to the right of the
farm buildings. The horses look
friendly! Cross over the stile to meet a
tarmac lane.
6. Continue
straight ahead to a junction, at which point you turn left. On reaching the gate marked Birks Farm
Thornberry Animal Sanctuary, bear right to cross over the stile where you then
bear left, 90° left, to walk by the edge of the farm building to another
stile. Cross over another stile to the
left of a stunted tree, on to a small lane marked by a picket fence on either
side.
7. Continue
along this lane. You climb slightly up
hill and heading towards a metal gate. At this point the lane turns positively
left…….you continue along this lane for a further 1 mile passing, firstly,
after ¼ mile a cottage on your left. After ½ mile you reach somewhat
of a crossroad where there are some cottages.…..continue straight ahead. After
approx. ¾ mile you will see a large tree on you left….beyond the hedgerow at
this point is the home of one of the worlds best
golfers….Lee Westwood. Continue along the track. Just past the “Westwood” residence, the
hedgerow on you right turns into a wooden fence guarding a number of trees.
Here the lane becomes “tarmac” and starts to descend down to the main A619
Worksop,
Here you will find Checkpoint 1.
1.
Continue along
the lane with hedgerow on either side of you. Just beyond the hedgerow on the
right are the greenhouses of Darfoulds Nursery. The lane rises quite gently and
at the top of the rise is a rather nice bungalow on the right. Ahead you will
see that the track swings round to the left (the turning punctuated by a mobile
phone mast). Just before the beige house on you right and sitting to the left
of a metal fence you will see a wooden stile. Cross over this stile and
continue along the obvious lane.
2.
The lane you are
walking on has a hedge on you right and open fields on you left. Look to your
left and you will see the unmistakable sight of the “Robin Hood rail line” and
in the distance to the right are the houses bordering the main road into
Worksop.
3.
After walking the
lane for 1/2 mile you will meet a large wooden staked post, painted yellow at
the top, and also carries directional arrows. Here, turn right crossing over
the “plank bridge” over the dyke and continue along the path over the field. At
the far end of this field cross over another plank bridge” over a dyke and, as
instructed by the waymark post, continue straight ahead across the next field
(No.2). At the far end of this field cross over yet another plank bridge” over
a dyke and, as instructed by the waymark post, continue almost straight ahead
across the next field (No.3). At the end of field 3, cross over the stile and
onto a “metalised” bridle track.
4.
Turn left and
walk along the track heading towards the “scaffold” covered manor house. After
a few hundred metres you will see the track bend slightly right to a gate
marked “private”. The main body of the track goes slightly left heading towards
some farm out buildings which will be on your left hand side. The track
continues past these building and the Manor House is now hidden behind a
hedgerow on your right. Soon you pass a very nice house on your right and the
track passes over a dyke via a little “hump back bridge” guarded by a white
gate. Once through the gate the track will have hedgerow on either side. The
track crosses over what is the River Ryton and shortly afterwards bends round
to the left. At this point you can see a sign on your right reading “Lady Lee
Quarry”. This is now a nature reserve. The track rises gently and at the top
veers right and has a farmhouse on your left. Soon the track narrows into a
“single width” path the end of which is punctuated by a metal gate. The path
goes to the left of the gate and then veers right. You will see a corrugated
metal building on you left and a wooden fence on your right. You will pass a
Farrier service building on your right. The track now leads down into the
5.
Cross over the
road onto the pavement and turn left. Pass under the brightly marked railway
bridge and 10 metres beyond you will see a footpath sign to the left of a metal
gate. To the right of the gate is a wooden stile. Cross over this and walk
straight across the field to another metal gate to the left of which is another
stile (don’t be fooled by the track). Cross over an go
straight ahead with a barbed wire fence to your left and the track bed of the
railway to your right. On reaching a copse you will see a small stile to the
left of the copse. Cross over and go straight ahead, copse on you immediate
right. At the far end of this copse you will see a metal footpath sign with 3
choices. Turn right and walk up to the metal gate. Pass through this and you
will now be on a path with canal on you left, copse on your right. At the far
end of the copse and just before the rail bridge, you cross small bridge over
the water diversion off the canal and meet the lock. At the first gate, turn
left, cross over the bridge of the lock to reach the opposite side of the canal
and turn left. You are now heading towards Shireoaks with the canal on your
left. To you right is the road to Shireoaks. The canal soon passes under the
road. You will then pass several locks starting with lock 44 (Shireoaks Bottom
Lock). Just past the Lock keepers cottage at Lock 42 the towpath goes over a
“Hump back” bridge at the entrance to Shireoaks Marina (on you right). Soon the
towpath rises gently to meet the main road through the village. To your right
you will see a level crossing and a car park. This is checkpoint 2.
1.
The route continues by crossing over the road
and rejoining the footpath on the side of the canal. You are heading for
Turnerwood. You will pass by several locks.
2.
Boundary Lock 41A - Keep Going!
3.
Bridge 37 – pass under then go up the steps to:
4.
Cinderhill Lock No 41 – Keep Going!
5.
Oneslide Lock No 40 – Keep Going!
6.
Stone Lock No 39 – Keep Going!
7.
Feeder Lock No 38 – Keep Going!
8.
Turnerwood Bottom Lock No 37 – Keep Going!
9.
Turnerwood Top Lock No 36 – Keep Going!
10. Quarry
Lock No 35 – Keep Going!
11. At
the far end of Quarry Lock No 35 you meet the quaint cottages of Turnerwood. 6
cottages joined together and just past these a single stone built cottage
immediately next to bridge No 36.
12. Go
up the steps to the right of the bridge and turn left to cross the bridge over
the canal and follow the metalised road, up the slope to the right hand side of
a white cottage, No. 2. Follow this
metalised road, past a telephone box on your left round to the right. Take the footpath on your left which will
result in you having a stone wall on your right. This footpath goes out straight across a
field towards Netherthorpe Aerodrome.
13. At
the end of this footpath, carry on forward, joining a lane that moves towards
the crossroads at the bottom next to a farm.
Turn left on reaching a road junction over the bridge over a brook and
in 50 metres turn right towards Netherthorpe Aerodrome. Follow the lane round to your right at first
and then winds round to your left and round to your right again, where you will
come to your next checkpoint. This is
Checkpoint 3.
1. On leaving this checkpoint, carry on past the remainder of the airfield along the lane. The lane will have hangars to your right and will eventually wind round to your right to come to a junction. Ignore the footpath and track off to your left and carry on round the bend towards a high hedge of cypresses trees next to a stone cottage.
2.
At the T-junction at the top end of the line of
cypresses trees, turn left. You are now
heading back towards Whitwell and you see the Lafarge chimney at
3.
Cross over another lane, carry straight forward
for another ¼ mile. At the top of this
lane, bend to your left onto a mud bridleway.
After 200 metres curl round to your right behind a hedge. You will now know you are on the correct path
– you have hedge to your right and to the left is open fields. You are now walking on
4. After about 1 mile, the path opens out into a wider bridleway with open fields on both sides. Just keep straight on to the A619. Now we are going to cross the road.
5. Having crossed the road, go left down a bridleway that curls round to your right back to Arthur Short Close. After about 150 metres the path turns to your right and then to your left so you have still got Arthur Short Close ahead of you.
6.
On reaching the road, turn right. Walk past Arthur Short Close on your left,
crossing over the next road which is Hangar Hill, and continue straight ahead
climbing gently. At the road junction,
take the road to the left and start walking steadily downhill. At the next junction, turn right and follow
this road until you meet the church.
Immediately opposite the church is
7.
After approximately 50 metres the metalised road
turns 90° left and starts to climb uphill steeply. On reaching the crest of the
hill, continue walking straight ahead until you meet the road junction,
punctuated by the Spar Shop. At this
point turn right and the
8. You have finished…………………………well done!