Retgai two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Retgai here.

Walked from Gainsborough to Retford on an overcast but mostly dry winter day. An excellent country walk, but not always a quiet one.

Starting at Gainsborough Market Place, we follow pavements out to the main road bridge over the Trent, which we cross using the pavement on the south side. At the far side we turn left onto the path that follows the flood bank as far as Saundby Beck. Here the shortest route is to cross the bridge near the top of the sluice gate then bear left towards the muddy track under the bridge under the railway. Beyond the railway we follow the track back up to the flood bank, and follow it around the large Bole Ings ash disposal site (which may be busy with lorries).

Beyond the trees, there is a signpost indicating the start of the path right, which we follow over the lorry track into the trees. This is surprisingly quiet and pleasant. We stay close to the right of way line throughout. The first stream crossing where the path turns left looks wetter than it is - the path has a solid base so there is no danger of sinking into mud. Eventually we turn right and cross the railway at a level crossing and continue into Bole on the track. I looked at both of the paths heading south from South Street and decided that neither could be recommended, so this route uses the road route out of the village, which has a pavement as far as the junction with Sturton Road.

We turn left onto Sturton Road, which is not busy, but the traffic is quite fast. It seemed safe to me as the road is wide and there are rough verges that can be used if necessary. We soon leave the road to follow the old road parallel to it as far as Middle Farm, where a signposted footpath takes us across Wheatley Beck and back to Sturton Road, where we take another signposted path into the field opposite. The first field is pasture (empty in January) and the second appears to be a new plantation, where the path is distinct if a little wet in places. We cross Wheatley Beck again at a good waymarked footbridge then turn right along the mown field edge and through a more mature plantation, then take the track over the bridge to the right which becomes Top Pasture Lane.

We follow the lane into North Wheatley (where there is a pub some distance to the west of the route) and follow the roads left across to South Wheatley (which has a post office shop just east of the route). We go straight up Muspitt Lane, which is a fairly well surfaced old track. The bridleways take us fairly directly over the hill to Clarborough (there may be views, but it was too misty for me to see them). Here we cross the main road (there is a pub and a shop further north) and continue on the path opposite, then turn left to find the field path beyond Big Lane. This path may be muddy. We then follow Bone Mill Lane over the canal, where the towpath can be accessed by a little path beyond the bridge.

The canal takes us easily into Retford. We follow it around the edge of suburban Retford, then leave it at Grove Street, which leads us directly to the meeting point in the corner of the square. (Those heading for the rail station may prefer to stay on the canal as far as the lock between Albert Street and Wharf Road. Rail users starting at Lea Road station may also be tempted to miss the walk into Gainsborough and follow Lea Road to the Trent bridge).

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.