Alfsel two

Verified Slow Way

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Walked from Alfreton to Selston on a winter afternoon, sunny at first then overcast and a little drizzly. I enjoyed this more than I expected to, though it is a very mixed route that is tricky to categorise as a whole.

Starting at the bus station in Alfreton, we follow the eastbound buses out along Hall Street and left up Cressy Street, then turn right along High Street and straight on along Nottingham Road. Beyond a right turn we go left into Flowery Leys Lane, soon going right again through a couple of narrow streets to Abbott Road, where we head straight on along Birchwood Road. We go some distance then take the signed path right that leads to the A38 footbridge (no steps required as the main road is in a cutting). Beyond the bridge we follow the path right and left between industrial buildings to Cotes Park Lane, which we cross and go right to the next junction where we turn left. A signed footpath promises better things, Pennytown Ponds, which are an unexpectedly pleasant green space almost surrounded by industry. Beyond the ponds things deteriorate - there is no real difficulty following the route as it twists and turns through gaps between the industrial sites. Eventually we join a lane which takes us most of the way to Birchwood Lane. We cross a surfaced road and take the field path straight on that cuts the corner, and is accessed over a stile. It is not obvious initially where this path exits - the footpath goes through the trees at the bottom of the dip.

We then head straight on along a farm track that leads under the Nottingham-Sheffield railway and becomes a narrower path before crossing under the mostly disused railway that links it with the Robin Hood line at Kirkby. Here anyone relying purely on the OS map might well get confused - the GPX line is fairly good, and the path parallel to the railway is easy to follow and well used, if rather muddy and slippery in places. Eventually we join a surviving section of the Pinxton Arm canal and follow it up to the large pool at the wharf. Beyond the pool we turn left across the railway then take the little path right, turning right again to the right of a gated building, then cross the railway again (stiles here). From here we follow a series of field paths, up and down several short hills and into Selston.

This route is very pleasant between Selston and Pinxton, my direction of travel. After crossing the railway approaching Pinxton it uses a path that is on the ground and is well used but not on the map. Network Rail acknowledge the path and provide a safe and signed crossing.

The path across the Smotherfly former open cast mining site is not available it was never reinstated after mining. The route used here is again well used but not on the map.

Some narrow fenced paths through Birchwood, not as attractive as it sounds, which lead to the oasis of Pennytown Ponds. To avoid road walking more enclosed paths between fenced industrial units then roadside pavements into Alfreton. Gets you from Alfreton to Selston is all that can be said. The best section could be amended but it's difficult to see how the worst bit could be improved.

Overall I enjoyed this route, but there were several low moments at the Alfreton end as we passed through industrial units and recycling sites.. I walked from Alfreton in January 2022. The first section through Cotes Park is well defined but not very uplifting (except for the Cotes Ponds and wood). After crossing under the midland mainline near Pye Bridge the scenery improved considerably. The former canal bank and Pinxton Wharf pond were highlights and so was the section from Pinxton to Selston.

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