Marrai one

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Walked from Warsop to Rainworth. All on good paths, lots of twists and turns, mostly enjoyable despite the heat. I suspect there is a shorter route from Clipstone to the Rainworth old railway but this one works fine.

From Warsop we follow the pavement south on Sherwood Street, then turn right past a green space. The unsurfaced path left through the green space is well used but probably unofficial and a few more pavements take us to Coach Road, which we follow under the old colliery railway bridge and on to the Parliament Oak, where we cross the A6075 and go straight on on a wide lane (the surface is sandy but it is used by occasional cars that stir up the dust). We follow the bridleway signs onto a quieter lane that leads us to the river Maun, where we turn left past two pools popular with local fishermen (watch out for poles across the track!). Eventually we reach a bridge over the river and turn uphill on a sandy track through the wood, then right along the unsurfaced Clipstone Drive.

Eventually we reach a path that leads down into Clipstone, where more pavements take us down to the Vicar Ponds country park car park (there is a pelican crossing just west of our route on Mansfield Road, where there are also shops and pubs). It is easiest just to follow the wide track around the bend from the car park. We cross the bridge and go right around the pond on another good track then join the path along an old railway. The plot suggests going straight up to the top of the second bridge - the bank on the north side was too steep for me to attempt but just beyond the bridge an easier one works (picture 12 - or a little further on there is a proper cycle path - it is also possible to follow the old railway cycle paths all the way into Sherwood Pines, and this would be a slightly shorter route).

Our track crosses another old colliery railway and heads into Sherwood Pines, where we take the NCN 6 track south before it zigzags to reach the Blidworth colliery railway path, which we cross and use more forest tracks to exit the SW corner of the wood, where we follow a good track under an old railway bridge to join yet another old colliery railway path towards Rainworth.

As Ken says, the best route up from the railway path is the signposted cycle track that heads east before doubling back over the railway by the main road. There is a steep scrambly alternative a little further on but I wouldn't recommend that. An easy pavement walk then takes us down to the Rainworth meeting point, which has good bus connections to Mansfield, Nottingham and Southwell/Newark.

A fairly straight forward walk for navigation and path surface. Mostly tracks either, farm, forest or cycle with linking paths that do need a little care for direction. No cross field walking so no cattle. No road crossing issues. Perfectly Located shops halfway at Clipstone plus a cafe at the country park.

I walked from Market Warsop on a dry but cloudy day. The exit main road has a pavement before moving to quiet estate roads via an unrecorded and unsigned path. This overgrown green area may eventually be lost to development but there is a simple alternative.

Passing under the bridge the bridleway is named as Coach Road and passes a poultry farm. No traffic to this during my walk but it appears to have access along this narrow unmade track. Cross the road at Parliament Oak, a little disappointing but I'm unlikely to look better at that age.

The track is now wide but a gate prevents general access. Gaps in the hedges offer views of crops in the sandy soil. The path twists and turns but is clearly signed by the farmer. Meeting other paths we pass between the River Maun and fishing lakes. Maps suggest a shortcut footpath here over High Rocks but there's no bridge over the Maun so we have to follow the bridleway.

The approach to the streets of Clipstone is a bit twisting but the plot is accurate so stay with it. At the main road the huge Social Club once teaming with miners and their families tries hard to survive. The settlements around here show how the mine owners provided good housing and social facilities, competing to attract the essential workforce for their new deeper mines. There is a pelican crossing and shops close by or press on into Vicar Water where Rumbles Cafe are happy to welcome you back after Covid.

The path from here is a metalled road but a gate restricts vehicle access. Keep an eye on the plot and take the bridge right. There are seats and picnic tables in the country park, best take advantage as they are few and far between on the rest of the walk. On the south side I found the route a little confusing with so many tracks and old rail routes which had served the colliery. The plot is accurate but the terrain may suggest otherwise. The orange dots on the map aren't helpful as there is no convenient link from the rail cuttings to the crossing paths.

Into Sherwood Pines and it's plain cycling along Sustrans route 6 with an annoying but clear to locate zig-zag into the next section of woodland. Perhaps there are plans to make the northern section of the rail route into Route 6 which should improve things.

The approach to the next bit of old rail route is interesting. First passing under a long bridge or short tunnel which confirms the massive scale of the embankment here. A metalled track climbs slowly but gently up to where the trains once ran. From here we follow the route which soon enters a cutting through hard sandstone. Unlike early rail routes that followed valleys this one marched through hills and over valleys to distribute the newly found coal from Nottinghamshire.

After the bridge under the A617 the plot is not correct - the path first heads east then doubles back over the bridge alongside but fenced from the busy road. From here it's a straightforward pavement walk into Rainworth.

I walked this route from Rainworth in January. It begins on the pavement of Kirklington Road - a quiet residential street. At the end of the road a spiral footpath takes us down to the tarmac surface of the cycleway constructed along a former railway, leading towards Rainworth Heath. After 500m, Shortly after crossing under the old railway, we enter Sherwood Pines plantations on tracks signposted NCR6. We follow in generally the same direction (basically north-westwards) for two kilometres. Eventually we leave Sherwood Pines, by passing through a bridge under the former railway, and follow a sandy footpath towards Vicar Water. There is a good path around the lake shore, but I took the climbing path south-westwards onto Anne Bower Hill (The old mine tip summit) where there is a toposcope and a good view. From the summit I retraced my steps a short distance and then a path heading down hill north-westwards and then westwards to rejoin the valley path. Here we approach the visitors centre (refreshments in the cafe).
From here the bridleway heads up through the houses to the main road (shops), and then on residential pavements through the houses to reach Clipstone Drive, an unsurfaced lane along the hill crest. After 500m we turn northwards down the edge of the forest on the bridleway and after crossing the river Maun turn again alongside the river and some fishing ponds. After the final pond we turn northwards again to follow the bridleway up hill between two hedges. At the top of the first slope we join a wider track, sometimes muddy, sometimes surfaced, which twists and turns its way uphill to reach the A6075.
Here we visit the Parliament Oak - the remarkable remains of a 900+ year old oak tree, complete with information board.
Crossing the road (cautiously) the track continues downwards to approach the residential outskirts of Market Warsop. It is now 1000m through the housing estates and along pavements to reach the town centre. Buses from here to the trains at Shirebrook, or to Mansfield for train and bus links.
An enjoyable walk, mostly on surfaced tracks, with woodland sections and some more open country. Good views in parts.

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