Manrai two

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Walked from Mansfield Woodhouse to Rainworth. An enjoyable route and quite a green one. A few steps and steep sections, and some unsurfaced paths that can be a little wet, so not wheel friendly.

From the meeting point on the wrong side of Mansfield Woodhouse station, we cross the footbridge and go out through the north end of the station, then follow streets into the town centre. An alleyway takes us to Welbeck Road, which we cross and head half left up through a park, then half right across the Millennium Green.

We cross another main road and continue on another path right of the cemetery, that leads us out through houses and down a flight of steps into the Maun valley, where we turn sharp right and cross the bridge, then take the track right and bear left steeply up the hill. A series of mostly surfaced tracks take us past houses, then we descend an unsurfaced path to reach the B6033. Although this section skirts the Maun Valley nature reserve, our path stays well above the river, which is hidden behind trees (for which I was grateful as the previous two days had been very wet thanks to Storm Babet). We use pavements and head fairly steeply up through a park (with fine views to the north), then through a narrow alleyway and along more residential streets to Southwell Road.

The Reindeer pub here has a small Co-op next to it, and we soon leave the main road to follow the old railway trail out of Mansfield, across the bypass roundabout and into Rainworth. I missed the exit from Third Avenue to the adjacent park (all of the candidates looked like private garden paths) but whether you follow that part of the route or not the centre of Rainworth is reached without any difficulties.

Overall this is probably as good and enjoyable route as is possible through such a suburban area,.

I walked from Rainworth starting along the roadside pavement. The plan had been to take Third Avenue but just before that, a strip of wide grass offers the first of many green bit on this Slow Way. A short twitchell connects through to the avenue and a path links to the Mansfield Way along the old rail route from Mansfield to Southwell.

At the big roundabout on the A617, no lights so care and perhaps patience is needed. Before the next road crossing there is an abundance of food and drink opportunities, aimed at passing motorists so gaps in the hedge are limited.

The next road crossing has no lights but a certral refuge. From here care is needed because it's so easy to follow the excellent path that leads into the housing. I'm told there is a way out at the green but the correct route is to the right in the rock lined cutting.

It was tempting to use the Racecourse Recreation Ground but I wanted services halfway and a Co-op and pub near Carter Lane provide this along with buses if required. The Mill stood disused in 1900 before the road that bears its name. The view across the recreation ground is worth a pause to pick out Mansfield landmarks.

A stretch of pavement walking before a gap between houses takes us to the Maun Valley Park Nature Reserve. Crossing a busy roads with the help of lights after which a flight of steps lifts us from the valley and soon we are alongside the vast cemetery.

Crossing the A60 is not so easy so care is needed or a detour south of a hundred yards to a light controlled crossing. The path opposite enters a field with a small area of play equipment at the far side. The diagonal path is well walked through the rough mown grass. Brief use of a public footpath before forking left into the Millennium Green a well kept but wild area which even has a tethered grazing horse.

A path alongside a school leads to a narrow lane then the High Street where the walk should end in the Market Place for buses and shops but if you are taking the train then press on to the official end at the remote station.

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