Swakiv one

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Walked from Kiveton Bridge/Wales to Swallownest. A good route on paper, but the oilseed rape field west of the M1 is hard work and there are some odd route choices on the way into Swallownest.

From Kiveton Bridge station, we head left along the main street of Wales, then right up Chestnut Avenue and left on Storth Lane. We turn right down Manor Road, following the right hand branch over the railway bridge. At the junction I heeded the footpath sign and followed the higher track left, ignoring the longer old right of way line.

The track leads easily to the bridge over the M1, but beyond the bridge we head steeply down to the left to reach a large arable field. This is currently dried out oil seed rape, and though there is a cut footpath line, it is not wide enough to protect bare legs against the abrasive plants.

At the corner by Nickerwood Farm we turn right - here the right of way goes right of the hedge but the cut line looked very narrow and there were traces of a path on the clear field to the left. At the next field boundary we are forced back into the right hand field, but the cut strip is now a little better, and we follow a little holloway down the hill, then use the tracks through the fishery to reach the rather impressive footbridge over the A57 Aston bypass. We continue straight on through the edge of the wood. Note that there is no path left where the right of way line should be, and in retrospect it would have been better to take the lower path into the field rather than the one in the far corner.

At Church Lane I allowed myself a minor deviation from the GPX line - there is a paved path immediately opposite and by using it and turning right at the first opportunity you can find a slightly quicker way up to The Chase. The entrance to Lodge Lane Park is not signposted, but is opposite the point where the right hand pavement of the Chase returns to the road. If there is no sport in progress you can take the diagonal line across the park that the GPX indicates. From there a simple street walk takes us to the Swallownest meeting point below the Co-op.

A short walk between urban centres offering a country walk which can be muddy. Steps and steep wet paths so perhaps not suitable for wheels and boots are recommended. No cattle but one stile.

I walked from Kiveton Park where the meeting point is confusing located at Kiveton Bridge station not Kiveton Park station. A start along the main road then estate roads and finally a pleasant lane with a mix of housing including the old gate lodge of Wales Court.

The railway bridge marks a change into countryside and while the paths are signed the route on the map is not available on the ground so follow the farm track to the motorway bridge. On this Good Friday heavy traffic was slow moving north bound but other roads had not delayed my bus from Sheffield.

The path is easy to locate across or along the edge of cropped fields, yellow flowered rape this year. A series of ponds are popular for fishing but the path down had running water so is perhaps always muddy. There is a cafe here which I guess is open to all.

The footbridge over the road is neither steps or slope, a mix of both. This leads to a well surfaced path which distracted and I missed the unsigned turn across the well walked grass field which leads to estate roads.

The route through the houses was a mix of roads and paths although it appears I didn't follow the plotted route which stays on roads only. A narrow, squeeze takes us into a large recreation area which is crossed towards high fencing surrounding the play equipment making it appear more like a prison yard.

Back on roads with firm boundaries it's an easy walk downhill to the meeting place along Mansfield Road, is that named after the rather distant destination or just a town theme I wonder?.

I walked this route from Kiveton Bridge Station in March. It begins on the pavement of the main road and then along quiet residential streets. The path through the countryside section from the outskirts of Wales is pleasant and easy to follow. Obviously the motorway makes an audible impact to the route. The path descending to the Aston By-pass is steep. There is a steeply graded bridge over the road, before passing once more through woodland and fields. The approach to Swallownest hub is through residential streets and pavements alongside the main roads. However, this is an effective route between two urban hubs.

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