Worret three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Walked from Retford to Worksop, on a day that started wet after a wet week, but improved as the morning went on.

This is a very enjoyable route, and it is easy to follow - it fully deserves its snail and the 5* ratings. Anyone needing the pub at Ranby, which is the only refreshment option in the middle third, should note that the only canal bridge is north of the village, so it involves a more significant detour than it might appear at first glance. As Jbeckton says, there are not many benches away from Worksop and Retford, but I did find a couple of tree trunks by the canal that served as improvised seats. The canal section is pretty, but is getting hemmed in by bracken and other undergrowth in places and could do with more walkers.

Those arriving in etford by train will find that finding the market square meeting point is harder than one might expect, due to the limited number of crossing points on the canal. The most direct crosses using the lock between Wharf Road and Albert Road.

From the market square, we go south on the pedestrianised main shopping street and west along West Street. We cross the river Idle and the canal on ramped bridges, then head straight on to the railway, another ramped bridge that has no shortcutting steps. We then follow West Carr Road around to the A620. Beyond Babworth Crescent the pavement crosses to the north side of the road - there is a central refuge but it is beyond the junction so reaching it requires verge walking, but when the road is quiet it is easier to cross earlier where the north pavement starts, We follow the road out through woodland, then take the slightly overgrown footpath into the grounds of Babworth Hall. We pass the church and follow a good track left out of the trees, then cross fields and a minor road to reach more woodland. From here we follow another good track out to the aptly named Green Mile Lane, a sandy old road - after rain there are puddles here that are difficult to cross dryshod.

Eventually we cross the fairly busy Old London Road and continue out to the Chesterfield canal - the towpath is on the far west side and is accessed just beyond the bridge by a path on the left. The canal meanders through gentle hills, fields and small woods, partly alongside the noisy A1. Anyone planning to use the Chequers pub at Ranby should use the bridge on Blyth Road - there is no bridge further south, but the pub is clearly visible. Beyond the village we cross under A1 and eventually reach quieter fields.

At the lock by the bridge on the road to Scofton we leave the canal, either using a stile before the bridge or steps just beyond the bridge. The Scofton estate is full of large trees and quite pretty, and we pass through it on a surfaced road, taking the second path left along Rayton Lane. As I walked out from the junction, I heard a loud cracking noise behind me and turned round just in time to see a substantial chunk falling from a tree just north of the lane - fortunately none of it landed on the path!

The lane takes us through fields with good views in places. Beyond the water works the road is open to cars, and eventually we come down to follow the railway.

From here the route to Worksop station mixes surfaced paths and quiet residential streets - in general we follow the roads nearest the railway without crossing it, except where we turn right along Kilton Crescent. I didn't take many pictures of this section because on checking the times, I realised I could just catch the next Nottingham train, which I managed with less than 30 seconds to spare.

Overall, this is an excellent route. Not 100% accessible because it does involve some unsurfaced paths and the canal path is a little rough and narrow in places especially where the bracken is encroaching, but there are no dangerous road crossings and there is only one place where steps or stiles are needed.

Very enjoyable and really quite easy walk between Worksop and Retford. There are no serious hills or access problems that I could see, though it is of course quite a lengthy stroll. One thing that did strike me was the absence of places to sit and rest along the route (I must be getting old!), so people who like to stop for a rest might want to bring a portable seat, or groundsheet along if that's going to be a problem. Also other than the pub at Ranby (which requires a detour) there is nowhere you can stop and buy provisions so don't forget to stock up at the start. Those minor quibbles aside I think this very definitely a five star route.

I walked this route from Retford. It begins down the pedestrianised Carolgate and branches off along the pavement on the quiet West Street. After the road crossing and lane up the side of the Supermarket, it crosses over the river, through Kings Park and over the canal to reach a quiet residential street and (at the end) the ramped bridge over the main line railway. This brings us to West Carr Road, another quiet residential street, which is followed to the roundabout on the A620. There is a pavement alongside the busy road to reach the footpath across fields to Babworth church. This interesting church in a peaceful country location has connection with the Pilgrim Fathers. A display board explains all.
From here there is a footpath and byway (green lane) north-westwards across Babworth Park to join the Chesterfield canal. The route follows the towpath south-westwards all the way to Ranby. There are many mature trees lining the bank and the walking is peaceful until you approach the A1 at Ranby. There is a pub in Ranby but it is on the east (opposite) bank of the canal. To visit, leave the towpath at the bridge at the north end of the village, as you enter the village, and follow the quiet road. You will have to return to the canal along the same route.
After passing through Ranby the route crosses under the A1 and continues on the towpath to reach the lock at Scofton. Here we turn off northwards through the parkland of Osberton Hall to reach the farm buildings which form the hamlet of Scofton. The quiet early-19th century church is worth a short detour (signposted from the path) and then after passing through the buildings the route turns west through the parkland on a track that takes us all the way to the outskirts of Worksop.
As we enter Worksop, at the railway bridge (where Rayton Land joins Kilton Road) we pass straight ahead along a footpath (not really shown on the OS map) and then zig-zag our way through quiet residential streets (Dickens Drive, Longfellow Road and Kilton Crescent) before crossing the B6045 (Kilton Hill) at a pedestrian crossing. Almost straight ahead along Kingsway and then South Parade before turning off on another footpath alongside the railway, straight to the level crossing at the station.
I enjoyed this route because of the varied scenery - woodland, pasture and parkland as well as the canal tow path.

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