Sounew one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Walked from Southwell to Newark on a wet late December morning. No major issues, but the detour to the west of Staythorpe ignores two shorter easier paths and the clayfield yomp from Kelham Bridge to Newark rugby club is unpleasant and poorly waymarked, though unavoidable except by staying by the busy A617. I don't mind snailing this route but I can't say I enjoyed all of it. Full review and photos to follow.

This route is a mixture of road walking and paths through arable and grassy fields. The route is safe because the road sections are along pavement next to the roads.
Starting in Southwell you go past the Minster and along residential streets with a short walk through a nice grass field. Once out of Southwell cross fields and follow the road leading to the racecourse. The next mile follows paths and tracks across grassy fields by the river Greet. You go uphill along the road into Upton then down again across fields to Staythorpe. These paths are usually not too muddy.
The section from Staythorpe to Kelham is all along pavement or walkway alongside roads. As far as Averham the road is relatively quiet but the A617 is busy for the kilometre to Kelham. After crossing the Trent in Kelham you leave the road to cross fields. There are waymarked yellow posts in places in these fields but the crops and clarity of the paths can vary. You reach Newark Rugby Club and have to find your way round the pitches to reach the A617 again.
The Slow Ways route then follows the pavement by the road for 500m to the roundabout and crossing where you turn into Newark, again along pavements, and walk towards the town centre. This is understandable as using the crossing is the safer option but if you want to avoid a bit of road walking, on leaving the rugby club you can go straight across the A617 and go through fields into Newark, although there is also another road crossing. This short cut joins the Slow Ways route near the level crossing by Newark Castle station.
Go past the station, castle and parish church into the impressive market place.

I walked this route from Southwell. The start is on quiet paths through the houses, and then onto field paths as far as Staythorpe. On the roads for a bit after that. Pavement all the way to the east side of Kelham Bridge. The bit alongside the A617 from Averham to Kelham is safe but noisy. From Kelham bridge we are fighting the landowner. The first field has potatoes in loose mounds separated by furrows. The path has not been reinstated. It was loose underfoot (being dry) but if it had been wet would be muddy. Just keep walking towards the spire of St Marys. The second field has both stiles behind the electric fence (both into and out of the field). You could walk round in the next field, but that is not the right of way. After the playing fields we are back on pavements. Good crossings of the busy roads, and into Newark. For me the pleasant country walking of half the route was spoiled by the A617 and the inconsiderate farmer.

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