Mostly pretty good, and surprisingly green, but as Ken says a short section of field path is no longer cut or visible (the detour doesn't add much distance) and the section through the wood is muddy and slippery. We continue through the churchyard and down through houses (the first path section between Wheatfield Way and Elder Street was quite overgrown, but the path improves after the hill), then out of the village and under another old colliery railway to the river Meden. The path down from Beech Lane is not straight - the bottom section goes down to the left slightly to reach The Hill (the A617) which has a good pavement which leads to the meeting point, a bench in a green space opposite the Young Vanish pub....

Hugh Hudson

Crossing the busy Rainworth by-pass is easier than one might imagine because you only have to cross one carriageway at a time, but beyond it is probably better to cross the A6191 (Southwell Road West) at the roundabout where the traffic is slower rather than opposite the old lane that we follow. We continue on the old Cauldwell Road (which has a rough pavement on the north side but is so quiet that it is easier to walk on the road. We continue straight on, then head left a short distance along the pavement of the busy A38, then take the path left along an old railway line, then right under the main road through a park and past a lake (where there are benches overlooking the lake)....

Hugh Hudson

The crossing of the bypass road fails to offer any lights to stop the traffic so extra care is needed. It's a quiet cul-de-sac and a cycle route so there is a central refuge to help us across the next road to meet the other side of the truncated Cauldwell Road? Here we leave Kirrai turning right along the roadside pavement to cross the Robin Hood rail line and what looks like an early crossing keepers house, before meeting a busy A38 road. Careful study of the plotting shows we escape the traffic onto a cycle route then dive under the road and soon enter Sutton Lawn an extensive park with a lake or perhaps a mill pond...

Ken

At the roundabout, we cross Woodlands Way then turn right on a surfaced footpath that leads to Alfreton Road, which we cross and continue down Henning Lane (I wanted to write Wehn!) and over a stream through a muddy section to an open grassy field. I was slightly misled by the GPX and the right of way line on the OS map into following the stream here, but the easier line is to start on the well trodden path uphill on the right then bear left where it forks. Just after the road bears left we turn right onto a good path which picks up an old railway line, now the Blackwell Trail, which is pleasant and tree lined, soon losing the industrial neighbours....

Hugh Hudson

Beyond the dam we take the ramped path left (signposted Timberland Trail) which takes us over the railway, where we go left over the bridge and continue to follow the Trail. At the traffic lights we cross Sheepbridge Lane and go a short distance right, then take the surfaced path (Timberland Trail again) left alongside the river Maun. Beyond the rather impressive old railway viaduct we take the second bridge over the river, cross Quarry Lane and take the path left across the car park of Field Mill (the Mansfield Town football ground)....

Hugh Hudson

This leads to West Park, which we cross diagonally right on a surfaced path which continues alongside the railway. Just before Southwell Lane the path turns left and goes up a flight of steps....

Hugh Hudson

Having approached Glapwell on the slippery cross field path I didn't use this on the way out and found the road okay even without a pavement. The sign directed me from the trail onto the first muddy cross field path then into the muddy woodland. More muddy cross field walking before passing under another old rail trail....

Ken

Old rail route may feel a bit isolated in such an urban location and is unlit....

Ken

I walked this route from Sutton to Kirkby....

mtormey

Leaving Mansfield, there's a short stretch through relatively uninspiring and unattractive large roads of a retail park before joining the lovely Timberland Trail....

mtormey

At the road junction the route is on the wide pavement of a busy road. After the Main road crossing the route was temporarily blocked by water excavations (March 2022) causing a detour left to the roundabout and then back to the right on Bellamy Road to regain the route....

StephenWalker

After the motorway the section into the industrial estate is similarly confined by steel paling fences. If I were to walk this again I would exit SN by the Souglap1 route to the N and pick up the Blackwell Trail earlier, avoiding the industrial estate and busy road....

StephenWalker

From the bus station the route uses the link to the railway station, underpass and station platform to reach the retail park on the west of the main road (Portland Street)....

StephenWalker

(Detour half mile west along the trail to excellent refreshments at the visitors centre) The next section up the fields to Teversal village was a very muddy and slippery crossfield path. Two short sections of road and then another very muddy crossfield path to reach Glapwell....

StephenWalker

I agree with the previous reviewer that the section between Mansfield Station and Sheepbridge Lane is enclosed and has a steep flight of steps over the railway. It is not unsafe, but it doesn't feel safe! I have posted another route with an alternative to this Mansfield section....

StephenWalker

A good way to get from Kirkby-in-Ashfield to Sutton-in-Ashfield....

Annemarie Blumentritt

After passing Maplewells school which I might wrongly locate at Fulwood the path passes around the south the west side of the former spoil heap of New Hucknall colliery. The signed bridleway from the business park road soon offers a good surface to the next road, pass under the bridge then double back up to the road. The path is unsigned leading to a fenced path alongside the motorway then over a little used bridge....

Ken

Steps on the bridge over the railway lead to a quite narrow path enclosed by high railings, the surface has been recently relaid with tarmac so is good but it will need a lot of side vegetation trimming to maintain a clear path. A huge bridle bridge has been constructed to cross the railway, I suspect the crossing was on the level, now closed. Safe light controlled crossing of a busy road then more food and drink with that Scottish takeaway before pavements along quiet roads and finally a surfaced wide and open path alongside the park....

Ken