Ilkkim two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I really enjoyed this route, perhaps because of my interest in railways. A mix of rough field paths, good smooth surface sections and steps. There is also a tunnel under the road which would not be night time friendly. Crossing of busy roads is either light controlled or a central refuge. A bridge over the canal on the edge of Ilkeston is narrow and has no pavement but the traffic is light controlled which helps. The plot and OS map is misleading at the A6096 crossing, just use common sense here and take the obvious gate. Good that this is so different to Ilkkim-1 and the same distance. This Slow Way is fairly local for me but it took me to new places, always a bonus. The annual fun fair was setting up in Ilkeston.

Walked from Kimberley to Ilkeston. Quite enjoyable, especially the Bennerley viaduct, but there are three places where steps are encountered.

Leaving the meeting point in Kimberley, we cross the road with care and head steeply up James Street, turning right along High Street until the unmissable Great Northern Railway path is reached on the left, partway down the hill. We follow this path to the A610 (where there is a stop signal) and take the path that slants down to the left, using steps. This leads to a bridge under the A610 which we cross and turn right. The route back onto the old railway is a little confusing, if only because of the profusion of paths. We follow the railway to Awsworth Lane, where another flight of steps leads down to the road. Where the road forks we go down to the right and cross onto a path which leads onto Meadow Road. We turn right at the recreation ground, then left along the top of it, continuing on a good surface track to the A6096 at Shilo Way. Note that the GPX file is misleading here - we continue along the main road to an obvious crossing point with a central refuge, then go slightly right and follow the road left. From here the route onto Bennerley Viaduct is clear and signposted, and it is necessary to ascend several flights of steps.

The viaduct, which has only officially been open to walkers and cyclists since late 2021, has become very popular and offers fine views up and down the Erewash valley. At the west end, you can choose between a cycle ramp or a shorter walkers route down two flights of steps (the actual route is further left than the GPX file suggests, but is shown correctly (blue dots and red staircases) on the OpenStreetMap map on this page).

On reaching the Erewash canal we turn left to the next road bridge, where we cross (taking care, as the bridge is narrow and has no pavement). We turn right down a rough road which improves after turning a corner left. We follow Duke Street as far as the Cotmanhay Linear Park, where we turn left along a surfaced path, that leads across Ebenezer Street to Cotmanhay Road. We cross Awsworth Road/Granby Street and go right, turning left down Lower Granby Street which leads to a pelican crossing over Rutland Street. We follow the road junction round to another pelican crossing across Chalons Way, continuing onto Bath Street where we turn right. It is easiest to use the right (west) pavement until we reach the pedestrian area, which leads past the church to the meeting point in the Market Place.

I walked this route from Ilkeston in January on a fine day. From the market place the route heads downhill on Bath Street. Several cafes and pubs are located hereabouts. At the bottom of Bath Street there are pedestrian crossings around the Challons Way (A6007) roundabout. I headed up Lower Granby Street to join Awsworth Road and then Cotmanhay Road. After a quarter of a mile the railway trail heads off on the right. At the second road crossing turn right down Duke Street to reach the canal bridge. Left (north) along the canal bank for half a mile to reach the ramp which rises onto the end of the viaduct. At the eastern end there is a steep flight of steps down. From the end of the Nottingham canal, cross the Awsworth Bypass (refuge provided) and take the footpath opposite. The path climbs and forks right to reach a recreation ground. Straight ahead on station road and main street. The railway trail is on the right, reached up a flight of steps, The trail surface is hard until the line has been breached by the A610 Eastwood Bypass. A narrow muddy public footpath follows parallel to the road to reach an underpass. On the other side turn left onto a better path alongside the road, before another flight of steps climbs onto the embankment where the railway trail resumes. This section is well maintained with several small railway-related sculptures. The path rises to meet Church Hill. Turn right up hill before descending James Street to reach Kimberley centre.

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