Weskey two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked West Bridgford to Keyworth. This is a real messy mix of a walk between the centre of Rushcliffe WB and a satellite settlement Keyworth at just six miles it should be an easy walk but it's not.

It starts well in WB via the shops, it could also include the good parade of shops on Melton Road then use the pelican (which might be a puffin or toucan!) crossing and approach the Green Line via Devonshire Road.

Looking at the map I thought the Green Line would be a bit of a drag but I was pleasantly surprised even though it's basically a dog walking path. Initially on a high embankment with views obscured by trees and bushes then in what appears to be a deep cutting with a steep bank on at least one side. The advantage of this is negated at Boundary Road as the bridge has been infilled so we must climb more steps to the road.

From here the path passes unmarked through a car park and continues along a recorded footpath on the infilled cutting before meeting what must have been the access road to Edwalton station. It's then a crossing of the Melton Road and along the village street to the parish church.

There are some waymark posts on the golf course, I stood one up, but the gap to the Lings Bar road is a little hidden, the plot helps. The road crossing as stated is not perfect but none of them are. There is a plan to improve the roundabout, be warned the Highway Agency will no doubt have us walking up there to a light controlled crossing to save them the cost of what we really need, a bridge.

The cross field was claggy and other reviews indicate the path is not reinated properly but it could be a great route with compliance to the law and a bridge. I met a chap wearing what had been smart white trainers, I bet he doesn't try walking that way again.

The route passes what might once have been shops in Tollerton but they don't offer much today unless the dog needs feeding. At the road I turned towards Gamston which was demoralising before joining another dog walking path that fails to follow the definitive line so it felt like a tour around field edges.

Crossing the Melton Road was not too bad because lights in either direction create blocks in the traffic. The path beyond was apparent after a stile that needs a second step if you have short legs. I missed the path at the junction which goes alongside the green panel fence, obvious once discovered. No dog today.

The next field path was very pleasant, the stile has been reported so please add a comment on the repair progress. A nice tour but it misses the Griffin Inn. The road walk was no issue today because it was closed to traffic and fenced but a gap had been left at the pavement and a local told me it would remain open for pedestrians. I do find 'Road Closed' a misleading sign because there is often but not always a route available on foot. Finally I discovered an unknown parade of Keyworth shops some distance from where I had always considered to be the village centre, by the church. Another faulty meeting place in my opinion.

So there we are, a critical review, "could do better" as school reports often said. Sadly the options for improvement need action from others who I suspect have more interest in traffic than walkers.

This is not a bad route, but it is not a great one either. I walked it from West Bridgford to Keyworth, and apart from some of the street walking in Keyworth it was all on very familiar paths and roads.
The first potential issue is the crossing point on Melton Road - this is normally fine, but when very busy it may be worth detouring either south to the traffic lights or north to a zebra crossing.
The Green Line railway track is probably the best route south out of West Bridgford, but it is not suitable for wheelchairs due to the steps at each end (and also on the path down to Devonshire Road. The steps are provided with tracks for wheeling cycles. Other parts of the route are on field paths which are clearly unsuitable for cycling.
The route across the golf course, though unsignposted, is fairly obvious from the Edwalton end if you follow the right of way line on the map.
The next problem is the A52 crossing. This busy road on which traffic moves quite fast is unavoidable and there is no assistance from traffic lights or refuges - all of the alternative crossing points are either just as bad or would involve lengthy detours and other obstacles, so I can't suggest a better one. There are also steps on both sides of the crossing.
The path across to Tollerton is normally good, but crosses fields that are currently planted with rape seed, and these get pretty abrasive in high summer. The farmer has attempted to cut strips for the path but they are too narrow in places.
The path from Tollerton to Plumtree is not well used beyond the initial section, and involves stiles.
Beyond Plumtree church, on the path that cuts back to the Keyworth road the most trodden line does not follow the right of way, and one of the stiles on the right of way is currently broken (there is an open gate less than 50 yards south of it).
Here the difficulties end but I found the road walk into Keyworth rather tedious - there are pavements throughout but these cross the roads at times.
Given that the route already involves field paths and stiles, I would prefer to use the footpath that leaves the road opposite Chestnut Farm and emerges by the primary school - this is a little steep in places but has fine views, and is popular enough to be easy to follow.

I am afraid this review sounds rather more negative than I intended - I hope the criticism is constructive.

I walked this route from Keyworth. The start is on quiet residential roads and then the pavement alongside the busier Plumtree road. The stile into the fields alongside 'The Poplars' is hidden in the hedge, but a well walked path crosses the fields to Melton Road, by the church. The path through the buildings at Manor farm is well waymarked onto a large field. but the exit is hidden in the hedge. The path in the next field was hidden in the long grass to reach the A606 crossing. The next pasture fields were easy to navigate but the cross-field RoW approaching the A52 crossing was deep in the rape crop. I walked around the field margin. Cross the A52 (carefully !), however, the entrance to the next path is not obvious. You need to cross the road and head diagonally right to find it. Emerging onto the golf course the path is not waymarked, but there are several alternatives taking you to the church in Edwalton. From here, we traverse some more residential streets to reach the 'greenway' - the route of the former Midland Railway. This takes you towards West Bridgford. A few more quiet residential streets bring you to the library which is the hub point.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.