Raisou one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this route in two halves on a cold day, the ground was mostly frozen so any mud was not an issue. No stock noted but unlike me they were perhaps kept indoors. A few stiles but mostly good metal gates a couple of steep climbs which then offered excellent views improved by the low winter sun. Flatter ground west of Farnsfield and some commercial woodland around Blidworth on the light sandy soils. On reflection I think it would be better to take in the services along the main road at Farnsfield rather than walk the quiet estate roads.

I started the day from Farnsfield and headed east, the route out needed navigational care with twists and turns around estate roads which had little of interest but avoided the busy main road. After the descriptively named Cotton Mill Farm care is needed to take the second path left into a large grass field which at other times may hold cattle.

I said heading east but to start we are going south and after a short section of quiet road it's south again and a steep climb to New Hall Farm before passing a small covered reservoir which suggests we have reached a summit. We have also met the Robin Hood Way. The view north from here is well worth the earlier effort and it was noted that walkers from Southwell have a long gentle ascent to this point.

We don't get to see much of Halam and no services on our brief encounter before another steep climb, don't be tempted to stay on the inviting low ground, it's not the path. At the top we enter the extensive fruit farm of Norwood Park, today the raspberry canes and trees are missing their cover of leaves and fruit matched by the bare frames of the polytunnels.

Meeting a road there is a pavement alongside but High Town offers our footpath route although not the most inviting as the path is shunned by the surrounding homes rather than it having been integrated into the estate layout. Care is again needed at the crossing of another path, climb the steps before turning right for the path to Lowes Wong. Now a short hop along the main road to the meeting place where a bench can be found, just through the entrance, which offers the best view of the impressive minster.

Later in the day I walked Farnsfield to Rainworth, see also Raisou-3. A fairly quick entry into fields which are flat and a bit bleak compared to the east side of the village. Well walked by locals but ignored by the farmer so the path through the crop could be narrow. I lost the trodden path in the last field, perhaps the locals head for the White Post Inn.

The road is busy so needs care to cross without assistance. This is the Robin Hood Way which, signs suggest, takes the field edge rather than invisible cross field path. Approaching Blidworth, a settlement the Slow Way ignores, we leave the definitive path and enter Boundary Wood. Here we follow the well defined but unsigned route which twists and turns along the low ground surrounding what was and is the spoil from Blidworth colliery, now covered with trees.

Entering the popular area of the 'park' the path passes through a wide green swath between trees to eventually meet the former rail route that served the colliery which operated from 1926 to1989. We overshoot our road route into Rainworth over the high imposing bridge then double back along a zig-zag path under the bridge to join the pavement alongside the busy road which offers evidence that Raisou-2 would not be a good route without the safety of the pavement.

The meeting place offers a pleasant seating area with shops and bus stops.

I walked this route from Rainworth in December. It was during a period of very cold dry weather. The route leaves Rainworth on the road and then follows the course of the old railway onto the landscaped site of Blidworth Colliery spoil workings [called Boundary Wood]. It follows well made paths through the site (though not quite as the marked paths on the 1:25000 scale OS map). South of the woods it picks up the line of the Robin Hood Way and crosses open fields to Farnsfield. The crossing of the A614 is pretty hazardous because the path emerges onto the inside of a bend with poor visibility. Down to the roundabout at White Post Inn (refreshments) is the safest option to cross.

After Farnsfield the path continues across country following the valley towards Edingley. From here it is up steep wet fields onto the ridge at New Hall Farm before a descent to regain the Robin Hood Way, which is followed to Halam (Pub here, but not on the route) . From Halam there is another climb, on the Robin Hood Way, up through the orchards to the top of Norwood Hill. We leave the RHW here and use footpaths into Southwell.
This is an enjoyable route with mostly firm surfaces and good views.

This route follows roads, cycle tracks and footpaths.
Starting from Rainworth it takes the main road uphill on a decent pavement to the edge of the village. Then it joins the cycle track for a mile to the edge of Blidworth. This is easy to follow but a little care should be taken to find your way to the path through the woods just to the east of Blidworth. The next section takes you across fields for nearly four miles to Farnsfield. Extra care should be taken crossing the A614 near the White Post in this direction as you are next to a bend. It is safer to go down the hill for a short distance to cross by the White Post.
From Farnsfield you go through more fields and farms with a steep climb up from Greaves Lane to New Hall Farm on a path that can be slightly uneven due to cows trampling it. The views on the next stage along the ridge are excellent.
You then descend to Halam and face another good climb out of the village to reach a fruit farm. A short walk by the road is followed by a field and then a path between houses going into Southwell. From this path be careful to take the correct path into the centre of Southwell. By the school playing field you want the second path to the right, keeping the hedge on your right. Then soon turn left downhill onto Lowes Wong and follow roads to the centre of Southwell.

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