Sutsax two

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Having created this route, I felt I should test walk it just in case anything didn't work. I walked it as drawn, starting at Sutton and ending at Saxilby. From Sutton, a path leaves the road shortly beyond the junction just north of the church. A short section in an enclosed lane and three clear lines across fields take you onto the access land by the river. There is a choice of indistinct paths here, the best thing is just to take a beeline towards the first bend on the river. Once by the river, it is best to walk along the top of the flood barrier. Some parts of this route are little used so the grass makes it unsuitable for wheelchairs and buggies. The walk along the riverside path is pleasant. My route joins the lane to High Marnham via the popular Brownlow Arms pub.

[Note that SUTSAX 1 crosses the river using a bridge that has been demolished and was never a right of way, so is only suitable for strong swimmers. There is also no direct access to the Fledborough viaduct from the riverside path (there does seem to be an unofficial path that crosses crop fields illegally and scrambles up to the viaduct just west of the central bridge section but I wouldn't be comfortable recommending that.]

So the best way onto the Fledborough viaduct is to follow the roads inland and join the cycle track where it starts. Note that the cycle track leaves the road on the west side, then doubles back under the road on the old railway. This track is popular, but strictly speaking it is a permissive path not a right of way. The next few miles along the cycle track are easy (it has a gravel surface, not tarmac, and in places softer options are available next to it). Note that direct access from this track to the North Clifton road is not encouraged, though there is a scrambly path down the bank. There is also no access to the A1133.

Leave the cycle track where a bridleway crosses it (the level crossing gates have been preserved). The field path goes round the north side of the house and follows the field edge, emerging on the road at the next field boundary beyond the old railway bridge. This path is unsurfaced and a little rough, no problem for fit walkers but unsuitable for wheels.

From here onwards the route follows fairly quiet roads, with no pavements until the hamlet of Broadholme is reached. Beyond the bend, the pavement crosses to the east side, and can be followed up to the A57. There is no crossing here, but the road is not normally that busy so I don't think there is a safety issue here. The direct path into Saxilby may be a little hard to spot, it goes right from the corner just beyond a larger gate. The path is surfaced and leads you to a level crossing. Go right and then left until you reach the road that leads down to the station/meeting point.

Having done this walk immediately after a walk from Newark, I was rather disappointed that there are no seats on the southbound platform at Saxilby station.

Overall I found this walk enjoyable, though the long road walk at the Saxilby end deprives it of a star. This road walk looks unavoidable without further lengthening what is already quite a long walk. There are shorter way to get from Sutton to the start of the cycle track over Fledborough viaduct, but it would be a shame to lose all of the riverside part of the walk.

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