Sutman two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Walked from Sutton to Mansfield on a mild sunny winter morning. A pretty good and surprisingly pretty walk, let down a little by a GPX file that strays from the path lines on the Timberland Trail near Hamilton Way - this looks like a GPS tracker plot rather than a drawn map route.

Leaving Sutton centre, we cross the pelican crossing and turn left along the far side of Outram Street. Beyond the old railway bridge we turn half right along Penn Street, which leads to a large park (Sutton Lawn). A surfaced path goes along the north edge of the park and leads to Garden Lane, where we go straight on. At Coxmoor Lane we go a short distance right then take the pavement on the near side of an open space which becomes the pavement of Unwin Road. At the end of the road we cross Unwin Road on a pelican crossing and turn right along Mansfield Road. We cross the A38 using the pelican crossings at the lights, then turn right into the park by Kings Mill Reservoir. The way down has steps and is partly unsurfaced - the steps can be avoided using an easier path opposite the entrance to Kings Mill hospital (photo 4).

We follow the path along the north side of the reservoir and round the east end. 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. crossing Hamilton Way then going left along it where the Trail crosses it a second time. 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). Beyond a gate leads us into the car park of a shopping area, We go left beyond Smyths and follow the road along the edge of the station car park - we then go along the station platform and through the underpass to cross the railway. Here there is a choice - the more direct option goes down steps but it is easier to take the covered walkway to the upper level of the bus station and descend to the ground floor using the steps or the lift. The Mansfield meeting point is at the far end of the bus station.

I walked this route from Mansfield to Sutton in Ashfield.

Leaving Mansfield, there's a short stretch through relatively uninspiring and unattractive large roads of a retail park before joining the lovely Timberland Trail. After another uninspiring stretch through an industrial area, the Timberland Trail takes you to the reservoir, which is incredibly lovely to walk along. The approach into Sutton in Ashfield is perfectly acceptable, safe, and direct. It's an extra treat to walk along the edge of Sutton Lawn, which was quite lovely as well.

Overall, there are some really fantastic stretches on this route, and the whole thing is entirely acceptable as a Slow Ways route. I'm very happy to recommend its inclusion in the network.

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). Walk round the car-park and join the public path at the far end of the Mansfield Town football ground to reach Quarry Lane. A few metres to the right is the entrance to the Quarry Lane nature trail (public fp). Follow the riverside path to reach Nottingham Road. Cross and continue along Hamilton Way (pavement),

After 300m rejoin the Timberland Trail on the right and follow it to reach the new bridleway bridge at Kings Mill. After that the directions are the same as Sutman1.

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