Hucrai four

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Walked from Rainworth to Hucknall. Mostly enjoyable, but quite wet and muddy in places thanks to Storm Babet. A few steps and a lot of unsurfaced and sometimes narrow and rutted paths, so not wheel friendly.

We leave Rainworth along the south side of Southwell Road East, and beyond the houses take the signposted path then the fisermen's road out to the lake. A path skirts the south side of the first lake then crosses between the lakes to reach a farm track, which we follow left to the road. There is a rough path immediately opposite which goes left to join the rerouted path which now goes through the fields above the trees. This path was a little wet, and at times finding a dry-shod line was tricky, but the path improves once we join the Robin Hood Way apart from one short wet section. We pass Friar Tuck's Well (which I have never succeeded in seeing). We continue through Fountain Dale and the woods, then turn right just before the A60, then left below the houses.

The crossing here may require a little patience (there are lights off route to the right that could be used for a safer crossing). The paths through Thieves Wood are mostly excellent and well surfaced, but the final shortcut path where we rejoin the Robin Hood Way could easily be missed, so pay atttention to the navigation.

There is a liitle path in the verge of Coxmoor Road, and a narrow pavement on the north side of Kirkby Road, but the disadvantage of staying on the north side is that the crossing where the Robin Hood Way path heads right is a little awkward due to raised verges. A narrow path takes us into a small area of access land, where we go a few steps left then follow a clear path between a wall and a fence, that takes an undulating but fairly straight line along the east side of the Newstead Abbey grounds. One section has a few steps, others are a little rough and rutted. The narrow path continues beyond the car park road, but we soon join a surfaced lane, which we leave briefly to pass a house on the right, then continue on a gravel farm track into Papplewick.

A little pavement walking is needed to reach Church Lane, where we head right, then left through fields and over the stream and through some rather wet fields to reach Linby Lane, which has a pavement on the south side. The route from Linby to Hucknall was mostly new to me, starting down Church Lane, then taking the path right past the football field to join the NCN cycle route, which gives a well signposted route to Hucknall station and the meeting point.

Overall this is a good walk, and probably the most enjoyable of the four Hucrai routes but not the shortest.

I walked from Rainworth having arrived along Hucrai-2. This walk is very different in navigation and scenery. There are no stiles but being waterside it can be surface muddy. Other sections have a good to excellent surface. There is one major road crossing but not a problem with care. Major disadvantage is the lack of services so take supplies.

Unlike other routes out of Rainworth this one quickly takes us into a very pleasant waterside area with a good path shared for access by anglers. The public path leaves the area via a kissing gate onto a farm track then crosses a minor road where the signed path is a little to the right.

We continue alongside Rainworth Water which is hidden in trees on our left while open fields are to the right. Joining the Robin Hood Way near Providence Farm where I met horses on this bridleway. The area here has lots to support the name of the named way with Friar Tuck's Well and Fountain Dale where a worn sign explains the fact or myth of the meeting of Robin Hood and a Friar.

We are now surrounded by a narrow band of trees before entering Harlow Wood which locals will associate with a hospital rather than trees. As the traffic noise increases a well defined path turns right then left to allow a direct crossing of the road without other close contact.

We now enter Thieves' Wood and here we leave Robin for a short while taking an excellent path towards a car park so dog walkers will be met along this stretch.

Another bit of road but with a wide verge or pavement and a sign proclaiming Ravenshead but too far out for services as we cross the road and head for Newstead Abbey. Once the home or perhaps property of Lord Byron now owned by Nottingham City Council who will charge a visitor ticket should we stray from our path.

The public path meets a metalled but private road which passes an entrance lodge now determained to be very private then it's the standard long approach to most stately homes, or departure in my case and here despite tall hedges we are finally in open countryside.

The road and path by Papplewick church is shared with other routes to Linby where there is a farm shop / cafe and a pub if nine miles has proved too much. The final route into Hucknall was new to me and highly recommended being more open with an excellent surface compared to the narrow rail side path.

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