Mike Cooper's Permian Way

Route One

Nottingham to Hardwick Hall.

(See Book One for description and photographs)

We begin at Woolaton Park on the north side of Nottingham. At the Woolaton village entrance there is a car park at SE528 397. This is on Explorer 260. Nottingham. It does involve a couple of kilometres of suburban roadside walking but it is not unpleasant.

Leave at the northern entrance on Woolaton Road. A left turn here takes you through Woolaton village to reach the A609 Trowell Road. Go left here again. After crossing the railway bridge look out for Cockington Road on the right. Take that northwards until reaching the A6002 Bilborough Road. Cross here and follow the roadside path northwards. You join a long layby that leads to a bridleway going northwards toward Catstone Hill . It joins another bridleway which is part of Broxtowe Country Trail and Robin Hood Way. We come to a minor road on a bend and turn left towards Strelley. Continue past the church and the Hall, Ignore a bridleway off to the left. Cross over the M1 still on The Broxtowe Trail and Robin Hood Way.

Distance: 5km.

Reach Swingate and take the signed footpath at the back of houses onto Babbington Lane. Turn left and pass the water tower. Turn right at the far end of the enclosure onto a footpath. Reach Spring Hill. Turn right then left into Little Lane. Turn left at Swingate (the road) and cross bridge over the A610. Continue along High Street until reaching the top of Church Hill. Take the turn left onto the Great Northern Railway Path. At the end of that turn right, parallel to the A610 and curve right to reach Eastwood Road. Cross over and enter Hall Om Wong Open Space. Cross this diagonally uphill to reach the footpath at the back of houses. Reach Mawes Lane and turn right. This becomes Cliff Boulevard and where it changes to High Spania a footpath goes off to the left. Take this northward to meet Robin Hood Way again. Head towards Moorgreen. Reach Watnall Wood. The path goes into the wood, then past Wood Villa over fields to SK487 468 where paths meet. Go northward to Greasley Church.

Distance: 6.9 km.

Turn right at B600. Cross the road at Castle Farm and take the footpath northwards to Brookbreasting Farm. Turn left onto New Lane. Turn right at the car park north-eastwards onto a footpath. Turn left at the M1 and follow the path through the woods. At SK496 499 turn right.

Explorer 269 Chesterfield and Alfreton.

Pass beneath the M1.

Distance: 4.9 km.

Follow Kennel Lane to meet Weaver’s Lane at SK 499 516. Turn right and go up to Home Farm. Go left at the A608. Pass the roundabout to Sherwood Park. Cross over the A608. After 100m. a footpath goes off north-westwards. At SK489 525 turn right northward and then north-eastwards passing a pond. Reach Salmon Lane and turn right. Then left onto Skegby Road. Pass a pub and the church. At SK 495 539 a footpath goes right between houses to reach the junction of Main Road and Mill Lane.

Distance: 5.7 km.

Take Mill Lane north-westwards until footpath goes right at SK 493 545. Go up the bank and across the fields to Portland Park. Leave Portland Park at the west end. Cross the railway and the River Erewash. Walk up to the nature reserve, then up the hill on the path to the church.

Distance: 2.9 km.

Turn right on the B6018. Almost opposite the Duke of Wellington a footpath goes off between houses. On reaching the fields turn right and follow the footpath north-westwards to Doles Lane. This is a bridleway. Go left towards Dumbles Bungalow. The footpath goes through The Dumbles and up to Crow Trees Farm. Cross over the road and through the business park to the junction of A38 and B6027. Cross the A38 and follow it eastwards to a footpath on the left at the beginning of the houses. Pass Rookery Farm and go into Rookery Park. Take the high path over summit and then down to Mill Lane. Follow this eastwards and northwards. Pass the cemetery and go uphill to meet the B6026. Cross over and go down Skegby Road to Brierley Forest Park.

Distance : 6.1 km.

Take the footpath north-eastward to meet the Brierley Branch Line and the westwards towards the Silverhill Trail. Take this north-eastwards to Teversall Visitor Centre.

Distance: 4.5 km.

Take the loop round Silverhill Wood. Then take the Teversal Trail up to Norwood Lane. Turn left, pass Norwood and enter Hardwick Park on Lady Spencer’s Walk to reach Hardwick Hall.

Distance: 7.4 km.

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