Clanor two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Clanor here.

I walked from North Wingfield having walked Clanor 1 with the expectation of a pleasant circular leisure walk. The plotting is good but the path leaving the village is just not there, not helped by the farmer's failure to mark the path across a large field. I supect locals walk down the field edge. I spoke to a local who admitted this is a long standing issue, so the plot really needs to show the available route. Once on the NE to SW track it was fine to the road. After the rail crossing the path along side the railway is fenced with overhanging vegetation, this is on the route of the Chesterfield Round which I walked a while back but had to miss this section as it was flooded, the bulrushes along side offer a clue to the boggy nature of the ground.

Approaching Clay Cross it was apparent major development is in progress north of Egstow between the two rail lines. I can only hope that estate roads will offer a more direct Clanor link to the footpath over the railway leading to the church.

Good walk utilising old railway lines, avoiding main roads. The 'incline' has great views out to the surrounding villages and Chesterfield's famous crooked spire can be seen in the distance. There are a couple of walks through housing estates but these are very quiet.

Confession time. I was actually walking routes Checla One and Chesnor One which between them parallel much of this route. However by also walking the alternative way into Clay Cross used by this route I was able to complete Clanor Two as well. My walk was on 9 May 2021 and, for the purposes of this review, started at North Wingfield.

The route was easy to follow and largely free of difficulties and obstructions. The one drawback is that much of it is bounded by trees or fences and lacks views and visual variety.

Positives:
Easy to navigate.
Largely traffic free.
Free of stiles, gates and grazing animals.

Negatives:
Lacks visual variety.
Some puddles after rain the previous day.

Observations:
No refreshment facilities or toilets en route, but distance is short.

Restrictions:
Steps: Just one flight of 4, and avoidable.
Stiles: None.
Gates: None.
Width Restrictors: 5
Narrow footbridges: None.

The route starts at the triangular green in North Wingfield, where there is a Spar shop but only one bench. It follows quiet back streets to reach the edge of the village. It then crosses a field, but although the entry and exit points were clear the path between had not yet become re-established after planting. There was an easier and immediately obvious alternative along the edge of the adjacent playing field.

The remainder of the route was very straightforward. It turns left onto a long straight path, downhill in this direction. After a brief section of roadside walking to cross the railway the route turns left again and follows the railway towards Clay Cross. The path here is confined between fences, and puddles from the previous day’s rain had not yet drained away. On reaching the edge of Clay Cross the route takes quieter roads to reach the town centre. This was slightly further than following the main road but was in my view preferable.

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