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Verified Slow Way

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Walked from Glapwell to South Normanton in clear cold winter conditions. A mixed bag, which I was tempted to flag because neither end of the Teversal trail section is drawn correctly. There are also some muddy sections and places where navigation is a little tricky, but since we have 2 other positive reviews I'll give it a reluctant snail.

Starting opposite the Young Vanish pub in Glapwell, we head west along the main road then climb steps left to reach Lime Tree Avenue. These are avoidable by turning left earlier and going through the back streets, but since this route already involves stiles and rough muddy ground I don't think using a few steps makes any difference to its accessibility. The field path can be wet and muddy - fortunately for me it had a hard frozen crust yesterday. We then use a road through the Hardwick Hall estate that I would not have known was a permitted route for walkers, so the car park below the Hardwick Arms pub is reached very quickly. The road passes between the newer Hardwick Hall and old ruined one.

Here we turn left along Stanley Lane, which is a single track road so the traffic is slow, but it was surprisingly busy on a wintry weekday morning, and I was slowed a little by black ice. We follow the road through the hamlet then take the path through fields (a few stiles) back to Silverhill Lane. We skirt the edge of the Silverhill country park (if you haven't seen it the detour to the miners' statue at the top of the hill is worth it for the view, though the trees are starting to limit it in some directions).

There are several possible ways of getting from the crossroads in Fackley but none of them just rurn right at the bridge. Ken's route is one, another (less direct because you have to detour away from the old railway before rejoining it) appears to be the footpath right just beyond the bridge. The third, which I chose, is to follow the Teversal Trail sign left. There is an unofficial shortcut which is a little rough but quite viable. Whichever way you choose the trail is a good fast route, but the route up to Chesterfield Road goes up the bank through the wood to the right to reach the road north of the old railway bridge. Here we turn left, then take the field path right. There is a temptation to cross the stream slightly too early which should be resisted - the right line goes across a plank bridge then up through the scrub to the right. Once in the field it is easiest just to follow the southern edge round to reach the path right, which goes up through a muddy field and through a fenced area of farmyard then joins the farm track out to Huthwaite Lane, where we turn left.

The field path right starts over a little footbridge, but there seems to be an unofficial shortcut that leaves the road just before the stream is culverted. In the big field beyond a waymark encourages us to stay left rather than attempt the right of way straight across, but once you see the path left over the stream you need to cross the field right - this line seems to be well enough trodden for the route to be obvious, but I haven't tested it when the crops are higher. The path becomes a lane which leads to Hilcote, where New Road offers an easy short cut for those who aren't planning to try to use the pub.

Either way we find ourselves heading south on the pavement of the B6406. Beyond the Blackwell Trail railway bridge we turn right into the industrial estate, then go straight on across the M1 on a good path. I liked this line better than the one used in SOUSUT 1. Once we reach the north end of South Normanton we turn south down Sporton Lane then follow the main street right down to the meeting point.

Overall not a bad route, but it loses a star for the plotting and another because the field paths in the southern/western half are a little wet and not the easiest to navigate.

I walked north from South Normanton. Having looked at the route I felt it could be shortened so planned to return along my alternative route which I did. That was not a total success so needs further investigation.

This route offers three well spaced pubs along the way. Easy walking along old rail routes, now cycleways and a delightful stroll through the Hardwick Estate.

South Normanton stands on a hill topped by the church and an old windmill tower now converted into a house. We are soon on a quiet suburban road named 'lane' which offers a hint of leading to fields. A bridge takes us over the busy motorway into an industrial area where a mobile tea bar could provide early refreshment. A company here makes plastic pipes the sort normally hidden underground, the huge rolls make a good photo opportunity.

Hilcote and or 'B' Winning, a reminder of it's mining past now has few if any services to offer on our route. The next road ends at a farm and continues as a footpath across fields alongside a solar farm the new source of energy now the pits have gone.

Just before we meet the next road the path crosses a small stream by a bridge and enters Nottinghamshire. We pass a palatial dogs' home then take a farm track which again eventually continues as a footpath across cropped fields with a brief return to Derbyshire before meeting the next road back in Notts. The noise from the motorway had diminished and when I looked the southbound carriageway is at a standstill. As I watch the line starts to move and the noise level increased.

At the next road a pub offers pizzas and carvey and stands alongside the rail route that we join. This offers an easy walk to Fackley but beware there is no direct link from bridge to road, I didn't use it but the best route appears to be a short footpath to Tibshelf Road before arriving at the bridge. So a star lost for plotting here.

The Carnarvon offers a bit of history on a board outside as well as land ownership, their Lordships certainly had a stranglehold on coal rights. The next section of pavement passes to the south of perhaps the only man made county high at 204.3 metres (670 ft). A field path avoids a section of the road but from Stanley this route does take us along a narrow twisting lane which losses it another star.

Another inn is passed at the foot of the climb along the exit drive for Hardwick visitors, at 11am it was quiet. While there is a good view of the old hall the best view of the new is reserved for paying visitors. The walking here is most enjoyable through excellent old parkland that Bess would be proud of but never enjoyed its maturity.

A short section of road with wide verges links to the cross field path which had dried out from the winter mud leading to the estate roads and finally the bus shelter meeting place opposite another food and drink opportunity.

I walked this route from South Normanton at the beginning of March. There had been several wet days in the previous week. The exit from SN is along roadsides on pavements, leading to a muddy lane under the motorway and a busy roadside to Hilcote. From Hilcote to the Silverhill Trail at Woodend the field paths were very muddy and slippery. The Silverhill trail is good going, and we soon reached Frackley. The roadside from here to the Hardwick Inn is potentially dangerous. Keep a good lookout. In several places there are steep banks alongside the tarmac so nowhere to avoid traffic. It is not a busy road, but it is derestricted ! From the Hardwick Inn the walk through the hall grounds is on good paths, leading to a short length of roadside. The final fields to Glapwell were very muddy, and could be avoided if you stayed on the lane.

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