Newsou three

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Newsou here.

(3.5*) Walked from Southwell to New Ollerton. Mostly good and well signposted, with fine views in places, no stiles but several small flights of steps. The biggest issue is the clay soil - the ground was wet today which made the recently ploughed fields very sticky. The climb up the spoilheap between Wellow and Ollerton is pretty steep but firm underfoot.

Starting at the Minster gates, we go north east along Westgate, then straight on up King Street, then stay on the left side of the Burgage and follow the quiet road down to Lower Kirklington Road. We continue down Station Road, then take the footpath left through the car park by the Final Whistle pub onto the Southwell Trail, which follows the old railway line from Newark to Mansfield. We follow this as the old Kirklington and Edingley station, which is just beyond the second road bridge. Here we turn right, continue left towards Kirklington then right at the T junction and left along the footpath, initially a farm track then field paths with kissing gates. When dry this leads easily to Church Lane, when wet the slippery clay gives a taste of what is ahead.

We turn right along the pavement of the A617 (the south side is better until the houses are reached). Our path goes left towards a farm then right along an obvious track that climbs an escarpment between trees to reach a large flat area of arable land. We take the track across the field, detour around a barn then turn right along a path between hedges which is getting a little overgrown and could do with either pruning or more walkers. The path twists and turns along field edges (the Robin Hood signs are quite good so no real difficulty in route finding) up to a farm where we turn left through another arable field, across a large pasture and past another farm to follow a hedge down to a bridge. Beyond the bridge we cross another bridge and head into the wood. The track is quite well trodden (initially it rather annoyingly crosses a slippery drainage ditch twice, and further up it is necessary to cross a few fallen trees - no great agility needed). Halfway through the wood we enter Mansey Common., where the paths proliferate, but once again the Robin Hood signs lead the way. At the far side of the common we cross another dumble and up some steps to reach more arable fields.

The first one was recently ploughed and very wet and sticky when I walked it. In the second there is a cut strip that cuts the corner and beyond the stream it is easier to stay on the lane right of the hedge rather than following the right of way line on the left side. Either way we cross another drainage ditch and turn left towards Eakring. The path down to Triumph Road is further right than the map suggests, and has more steps.

Triumph Road and Kirklington Road have pavements, but Church Lane doesn't - fortunately it is not too busy and the traffic is slow. We go left along Bilsthorpe Road past a closed pub and the Daffodil tea room, then right along a lane to rejoin the Robin Hood Way. The path through the large open field starts further south than the right of way line, and visits the highest point on the hill. We then go steeply through a pasture field, over an old railway bridge and across another clay field to reach the farm road which we follow right. Just beyond a left turn past the farm, we leave the Robin Hood Way right using a good path along field edges. There are steps on both sides of the railway cutting and more wet clay, but we eventually reach a lane that leads us into Wellow.

We follow Eakring Road into the centre of the village, turning left past the maypole (or straight on if a visit to one of the pubs is required). Newark Road has a good pavement on the far side, which continues after the main road leaves Newark Road down Wellow Road. At the bottom of the hill we turn right along a signposted footpath. The path up the spoil heap starts a little further east than the GPX file suggests, and is pretty steep, but the footings are good so it is not unsafe. At the top we reach a forest road which leads us over the railway to the edge of the industrial estate. We follow the surfaced paths round to Edison Rise, where we go left, down past the Tesco entrance and the garage, then turn right along Newark Road to the New Ollerton meeting point, beyond the Nottingham/Mansfield bus stop.

This is a very good country walk with some excellent views, generally easy to follow well walked paths, no cattle noted in winter only sheep, mostly arable fields along headland but some cross field paths. Historic faded waymarking but follow the plot and all will be well. A tea room at Eakring plus some seats at Kirklington.

I set out from New Ollerton along inviting wide green bordered surfaced tracks through the commercial centre on the former colliery site. Crossing the railway, now used as a test track, the path climbs the old, now tree covered, spoil heap on a track which later becomes a well walked path. There is a fairly steep descent to join the public footpath.

A roadside pavement takes us to Wellow where there are two inns. We cross the main road to approach the large green by a dead end road. The tall Maypole provides fame for the village as well as providing a name for the green and the inn. A little more pavement walking before an exit from the village along a green lane come farm track.

The track continues taking a bend to the left but the footpath cuts across the fields then it's a steep stepped down and up to pass the deep man made cutting. This abandoned rail line that we cross again later was a late arrival built to serve the coal mines as they moved eastwards in the 1920s.

At North Laiths we meet the Robin Hood Way and mostly follow it to Southwell. The second crossing of the rail lines avoids a down and up by the retention of a substantial bridge standing alone when traces of the line northwards have vanished. Contour lines on the map confirm the gentle climb to a distinctive but unnamed high point from where the all round views are impressive.

Eakring offers the Daffodil Tea Room at Savile Court the name offers evidence of former ownership as does the naming of the inn. A sign by the rear door details opening times, a day too soon for noon opening, but a local tells me it closed completely last year although the pool table and inside looked ready to open that evening. A roadside bench by the church or picnic tables in the play area, as we exit the village, offer more limited facilities.

Older maps will show a different route leaving Eakring so take care to follow the plot. I suspect expansion of the signed 'National Grid Training Centre' has forced a path diversion. Why it became established here I know not but it does make an impact on the landscape.

Crossing The Dumble we enter Mansey Common and then Dilliner Wood which was the muddy part of the walk. At Holywell Farm I found the detour to the east frustrating but early maps show this was always the route with a minor diversion, not the more direct headland walk. Towards Kirklington old maps show no footpaths so we should be grateful. The steady descent to the village passes through the parkland of Kirklington Hall now a school.

The road through Kirklington is busy but a pavement of sorts is available. There are seats on the sunny side of the church. field paths take us most of the way to the old station which sat between two villages. From here it's very easy walking for two miles along the Southwell trail.

At the station site in Southwell 'The Final Whistle' once the Newcastle Arms offers a celebratory drink before the last leg to the Minster passing Burgage Common where those with cash built impressive houses alongside the solid stone 'House of Correction'.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.