Emerging from beneath the arch of an now disused train bridge, I found myself on a quiet backroad leading out of the village; care should be taken on this section as there are a couple of blind corners and no footpaths save for the grass verge itself, however I encountered no traffic at all in the short distance spent on this road before the route dog-legged south on a marked path. I should have taken the road, as the field side soon sees a small ditch widening as it reaches the river; rather than retrace my steps, I chanced a fairly hairy dive across the ditch followed by a scramble up the other side - aided by roots and branches- towards a small gap in the hedge through which I could rejoin the road. Having crossed the river via the road bridge, the route turns diagonally across a field, through a section of small patchwork sunflower and vegetable crops which resembled allotments, before joining a farm track leading to the main street of Brant Broughton. Having looked at the map again and revisited this spot since, I can see my mistake, but I’d advise looking closely at the map for this section, as the paths leading from the fields to the street were easy to miss. Heading across to Brant Broughton church via streets flanked with large, grand old houses, the route then crosses several fields, going parallel to the A17 road in a straight line to the Military Training Camp at Beckingham. Crossing a large open grassy field full of inquisitive sheep, I reached the main road in Coddington and shortly thereafter, The Plough public house. It is worth adding, though, that I am more than familiar with the remaining 2-mile section of the route; it is simply a paved footpath by the side of the main road leading from Coddington into Newark, and is very easy going on account of it being all downhill until you reach the town centre....

Dan Smith

From Long Bennington, we start heading north along Great North Road (the old A1), then follow the A1 signs left onto Valley Lane. The tarmacked old railway cycletrack is signposted (thanks to Sustrans), but you can't just turn right onto it - the track goes left (south) at the bridge then doubles back under the road bridge on the old track bed....

Hugh Hudson

I ve walked this 3 or 4 times - it’s direct and therefore efficient to get back to Newark when you have walked 10 miles over fields and beautiful scenery out and fancy a shorter route back. But I find it pretty boring and walking a number of miles on tarmac is not great....

Nicola

Path well marked when you are on the route - have to use the arrow on the map to reassure myself I am on the right path. Great cafe in Long Bennington to stop for refreshments and toilet whilst deciding on the route to walk back....

Nicola

A long route, enjoyable in places, but spoiled a little by some challenging poorly maintained field paths. The bridge over the stream takes some spotting through the undergrowth, and there is no sign of a path in the huge field beyond, and the crops are 3 to 4 feet high in places so this section is hard work (picture 6). The field path west is little used but easy enough to follow, and beyond the A616 Beesthorpe Hall dominates the view ahead. The Robin Hood way path takes a rather indirect route to reach North Laiths, where we leave it on another well maintained path that takes us into a railway cutting (more steps) and up to Wellow....

Hugh Hudson

The path from Wellow to Eakring is easily followed. From Eakring to Maplebeck the path was muddy but easily followed. From Kelham Bridge the line of the path had at least been marked to start with (muddy, waterfilled tractor track) however approaching the rugby club ground there is a problem where somebody has dumped building waste across the line, and the kissing gate is now in the middle of a blackthorn thicket....

StephenWalker

The road walk here is shared with a cycle track and the A46 crossing is light controlled but the Old Great North Road has only a refuge and traffic off the island can be an issue. Our path climbs to offer good views and after crossing a road the route enters an equestrian centre for race horses where we cross the practice course four times. The path crosses a stream by a hidden bridge then crosses a large field, the plot will guide you to the next bridge to cross another field to the road. Leaving the village the route is across pasture and there were cattle here before another crossing of the main road. More cross field and a high point with good views of the route ahead then farm tracks which lead into Wellow....

Ken

As stated the route misses the village and it's impressive green by which stands an inn but at only two miles it's not in the middle third. Approaching the road the path has been diverted from the plotted route. From Screveton the route heads east on a detour so you may be tempted to take the direct road to Flintham which would then pass the pub, which may not be open midday. At Syerston the route again does its best to miss the village but perhaps there is little to miss. The route fails to pass The Chequers Inn, "a closed, traditional country pub and restaurant located in the small village of Elston", so says the selling agent in 2021. The there and back of the plot was off putting when signs and steps offered what appeared to be a direct and better route. This short bit of road was the busiest on route without a pavement, a narrow verge could offer some escape. Our direct route passes a marina busting at the seams with flashy boats, I wondered what the total value of all that fibre glass might be....

Ken

All but 3 fields is surfaced path or along a road. The old railway from Newark is a straight, cycle path, part of the Sustrans network....

StephenWalker

I agree that the minor road between the A46 bridge and Thorpe is the most effective route. After a couple of muddy field paths leaving Screveton the rest of the route is across grassy pastures or on a grassy field-balk path....

StephenWalker

An alternative more on path route through Swinderby, Morton & Tunman Woods might be possible....

Jon

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....

Hugh Hudson

This route is a mixture of road walking and paths through arable and grassy fields. Once out of Southwell cross fields and follow the road leading to the racecourse. 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....

Rob23Notts

The most important change is that the route from Thorpe to Farndon now uses a road bridge to cross the A46 - I have also modified the route out of Bingham to reduce the number of steps. The route out of Bingham crosses the railway and crosses a small park, then a field path goes over a small hill to a junction of drainage ditches - the path crosses these on bridges and takes a fairly direct line bypassing the villages of Car Colston and Screveton to the Hawksworth road....

Hugh Hudson

This is almost a very good route (not a wheel friendly one as it has steps and a few stiles and is largely on unsurfaced field paths). Sadly the A46 crossing it uses is no longer possible - the road, a busy dual carriageway) is protected by barbed wire fences and hedges and the field path on the Thorpe side is little used, overgrown and very difficult to follow - I have created an alternative (Binnew 2) that uses most of the route I actually used instead - I decided that the best continuation from Thorpe north is to stay on the road up to the A46 bridge. I would also be tempted to modify the route out of Bingham slightly - it uses the bridge at the station which has steps on both sides, and it is not immediately obvious where the footpath beyond starts - there is a flat level crossing a little further east that might be better for anyone not arriving from the Nottingham direction by train. Most of the field paths are fairly well maintained and pleasant to walk, so most of the route can be used as the basis of a better one....

Hugh Hudson

I walked this from Newark to Sutton, and because I arrived at Newark Castle on the train and had a longer route planned for later in the day (SUTSAX 2), I missed out the short walk in and out of Newark town centre*. The part through and north of North Muskham is the best part of this route - the riverside path here is well trodden by locals....

Hugh Hudson

The suburban route through Balderton and Newark is a little dispiriting, but the rest of the route is very pleasant apart from the clayfields around Claypole - very sticky when wet....

Hugh Hudson

The start is on quiet paths through the houses, and then onto field paths as far as Staythorpe. 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....

StephenWalker

The road crossings between Kelham and Newark I have found to be manageable although you may have to wait a minute or two. I would have to agree that the suggested Newsut two is a safer route....

Rob23Notts

Newsut two takes you out of Newark using roundabout crossings then alongside the long, mostly straight "Great North Road" (A616)....

Rob23Notts

Carlton Lane doesn’t have a pavement, but we didn’t see any traffic on the walk along it – only residents and Royal Mail use the road (photo 1). A zig-zag on the route map took us onto a marshy field for a short and completely pointless detour around the village – you are better off following the road through Carlton to meet up at the stile to continue the walk (this zig-zag has been removed from Newsut 2). The walk out of Carlton took us along a short stretch of the Great North Road, immediately to the side of the A1. Here you meet roads again but the verge by the road into South Muskham is wide and again safe to walk on (photo 9). This road begins with a verge (photo 10), but this rapidly disappears and so we had to squeeze into hedges to avoid the large SUV’s that were reluctant to slow down on the narrow road (no photo – it was too dangerous to dawdle!)....

Lynn Jackson