Selkir two

Verified Slow Way

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I think combined the earlier two reviews say it all for this route. I walked from Selston and enjoyed the country walk after passing under the motorway. Old maps show that the roadside walk passes Skegness but there was no indication on the ground that the name is in use.

North of Park Lane and after crossing the railway we are at the site of Portland No.1 colliery. The track along which our path briefly passes was, according to old maps the route of a colliery tramway. Passing under the bridge near Meadow Farm note the plate on the bridge beam 'MR 1897' this was the Midland Railway colliery line the next was the London and North Eastern, two companies competing for the same coal traffic.

At the track end old maps show the Limeburners Beer House, I can see that a name change was required. After a short interlude on roadside pavements it's back on footpaths or as suggested by Hugh take the high level old rail line, this time the Great Central, which offers views across this well walked and attractive spot with paths galore. The Erewash bridge and eventual active ral line crossing is visible so take you path pick.

The Mansfield and Pinxton Railway (M&PR) that we cross here for a second time claims to be the oldest railway line still in use but the current line has been amended from the route of the original tramway and currently very few trains use the route as can be seen from the unpolished rails.

The road through the industrial estate was the original line of the M&PR it's not recorded as public highway which explains the potholes. Signs indicate a speed limit of 10 then 5 mph so it should be a safe walking route.

So there we have it but I think it could be improved with a walk through the estate to join the path alongside the motorway later and work in progress shows a new stepped path being made to avoid the industrial estate road approaching Kirkby.

Walked from Selston to Kirkby on an overcast showery winter afternoon. A surprisingly enjoyable route. A couple of notes on the GPX plotting - the doubleback on Park Lane is not necessary because you can walk through a gap in the trees opposite the footpath on the north side, and the right of way line down from Bentinck Banks to the Erewash uses a flight of steps that is damaged and potentially dangerous - there is an easier well trodden alternative from the path junction a little further east (shown on OpenStreetMap).

Starting from Selston, we get the dullest part of the walk done first, a long pavement walk up Nottingham Road then left up Annesley Lane to the edge of the village. Just before the M1 bridge, we take the signposted footpath left that goes through trees between the motorway fence on the houses. Eventually it goes steeply down steps to an underpass under the motorway, beyond which we go right a little further by the motorway then right again along a fairly obvious trodden line that crosses the stream earlier than the OS right of way line suggests and follows a green strip between the stream and the fence protecting the disused overcast mining site.

Eventually the path goes through a muddy section to emerge on Park Lane, where our way forward is right along the path right of but close to the road. As noted before, it is not really necessary to follow this path beyond the footpath on the left, as there is a convenient gap in the trees at this point (photo 6). Our way follows a farm track down the hill, then goes straight on over the railway and right along another track. We then take the signposted path left that leads to the right of the farm buildings, where we pick up the track that leads us up to Bentinck Town, where we join Park Lane by the Countryman pub. Do not be tempted to cross the road here, as the pavement on the far side soon stops! We cross Pinxton Road then take the next right turn into Laburnum Avenue.

Where the road forks, we take the dead end straight on, then take the path to the left of the last house that leads down to the old railway. It is best to follow this down to the junction rather than attempting to find the right of way line, as the right of way below the second railway starts down a wooden staircase that is in very poor condition and is potentially dangerous. It is easy to follow most of the locals and cross the lower field from the old railway junction. Either way we cross the Erewash on a little bridge and head fairly steepy up the field on the far side to a railway crossing, beyond which we enter Portland Park. Our path takes the next left turn and soon finds the railway again. Where the path splits it is not necessary to take the rising right fork, as the left branch wastes less energy and leads to the same footbridge over the Robin Hood line, which has steps on both sides.

A short path leads to an industrial road which we follow left up to the B6020, which we follow right to the meeting point or left to the station.

I walked this route from Selston. The start is on pavements beside roads. At the M1 crossing a muddy footpath run northwest beside the motorway boundary fence. Eventually an underpass is reached before walking around the edge of the former Bentinck colliery tip. As it approaches the Kirkby Pinxton Road the RoW becomes indistinct and a desire line path leads you to a vehicle entrance to the site. There is a wide grass verge alongside the busy road before turning down the footpath track leading to the rail crossing.

A footpath leads over farmland to pass under two old railway bridges onto a track leading to Bentinck Town. There are several well walked paths heading from here to another railway crossing and portland park. A quiet path follows the 1819 tramway route into Kirkby.

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