Glapman one

Verified Slow Way

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No pictures this time as Hugh’s do the job fine. I walked from Glapwell, the lane is very quiet and the field edge footpath has an excellent improved surface, perhaps used by bikes, but not today. The route did take me to places I’d not been before which I enjoyed but I do wonder with so much good surface on this Slow Way whether the improved surface around the country park would be a better option. Some traffic on Water Lane, more than I had anticipated but not serious. Again I wonder if a good surface can be found from Pleasley then use the wide path alongside the A617. The pavement plod through the outskirts of Mansfield, again all new to me. Some architecturally interesting and varied houses on Ruskin Drive. Can’t say that Arts and Craft design hit me but it was good to see such a mix rather than rows of identical houses. Also good to see use of local stone along Westfield Lane and the now unlikely commercial and domestic property living as neighbours on Lindley Street.

Walked from Mansfield to Glapwell. Mostly good, safe and fairly direct, but the GPX plotting is a bit loose in places, so the distance will be slightly undermeasured. I enjoyed the views from the Pleasley Colliery country park so didn't begrudge the off bit of mud and surface water.

The route out of Mansfield is a bit of a dull pavement plod, but the major road crossings are all safe and the route is direct, and the alternatives look no better. Sadly the right of way that roughly followed Fairholme Drive is now just the pavement since the houses were built. Eventually we cross Abbott Road (central refuges available either just east of Fairholme Drive or west of Shaftesbury Avenue) and follow Ruskin Road and continue across fields. There are a few steps either side of the A617 crossing, which has another helpful central refuge. Water Lane is fairly quiet so the lack of pavements is not a safety concern.

Evenually we descend fairly steeply to reach the centre of Pleasley (where there are pubs), cross the Meden and head left up Chesterfield Road (the pavement on the west side stops above Newboundmill Lane so it is better to cross and use the east one. We then head left right of the Miners' Welfare club and take the path beyond out to the old railway. The GPX plot here fails to indicate that we follow the Skegby Trail a short distance right, then left onto Pit Lane and right up Orchid Grove. There is a choice of direct steps or zigzag ramp to reach the country park car park. Here we follow the path around the cars and up the hill beyond, taking the surfaced path half left beyond a gate not the grassy path straight on. There are fine views from higher up, dominated by the colliery winding gear which has been preserved in situ.

At the top of the hill we go right and left, still on a surfaced track, then bear right over a small paved area and continue to pick up a wetter and less well surfaced path left beyond the lake. Eventually we reach a junction where we take the narrower and slightly muddy path left down the hill to Longhedge Lane, and head straight on on a good compacted gravel track. An easy road walk (more quiet roads with no pavement) into Glapwell follows.

I walked from Glapwell at the beginning of March. There had been several wet days in the previous week. The first section is on a quiet lane. The entry to Pleasley country park is up a very muddy footpath, churned by horses. It could be avoided by following the surfaced track alongside the CP (like Glaman1). From Pleasley village the route takes to roadsides. There are pavements in Pleasley but the section along High Street and Water Lane has no pavement for most of the route. A short stretch of field paths leads into the Bull Farm estate and on quiet estate roads into Mansfield. Given a choice, in future I would use the shorter, more scenic, Glaman1 route and add the extra 1.5 miles between Mansfield Woodhouse andin Mansfield.

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