Seven Woods in Seven Miles | |
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| A little under seven miles, this walk takes you through woods planted since the National Forest came into being in the 1990s. There are several stiles and steps to negotiate but the ground is relatively flat. Some places will be muddy after rain. It is recommended that you have access to the local OS map, either paper or on your phone. | |
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| With your back to the main door of the Youth Hostel (1) turn right across the car park, climb some steps and turn left onto the Ashby Woulds Trail which is also part of the 4.5 miles Conkers Circuit. Follow the trail towards Spring Cottage pausing by a handy bench (2) overlooking a pond where dragonflies and damselflies can be found in the summer months. | |
| Pass through the sunray metal gate (3) and look out for the splendid Moira signal box on the right. At the road, cross carefully and continue along the path for about half a mile with the railway line accompanying you on the right. | |
 | Cross the next road (5) carefully and enter Swainspark Woodland. Follow the main path that meanders through the woods, ignoring several tracks created by cyclists. For most of the way you will keep the metal fence of the railway visible to your right, except where there is an overgrown mound of spoil created when the tunnel was dug out which you need to skirt to the left. |
 | The path then heads straight on to enter Tunnel Woods (6). You are now following the line of the railway tunnel. Look out for the air shafts on the right that the local children used to call the pepper pots; it is easy to see why! At the next path junction (7) where you will see a picnic area (with a panoramic view) turn left onto the track between hedges and head for the A444 which you can see in the distance. Take great care crossing the busy road (8) and join a footpath opposite via a wooden gate that leads up the hill to the right of the Mount Pleasant Pub |
| Cross the road and turn right and then almost immediately left down Fields Lane (9). Pass a row of terraced cottages on the left and continue straight ahead to follow the "Public Footpath to Linton" sign that is in the hedge (10) This path skirts round the fields that are on your right. If the weather is fine there will be views towards Burton upon Trent and, on a really clear day, the far hills of the Peak District. In the near distance you should be able to spot Castle Knob which is all that is left of the 12th century motte and bailey after which Castle Gresley is named. The path eventually dips down to the left and crosses a small footbridge (11) over a stream. | |
 | Follow the path up to the right through a metal gate to enter Foxley Woods (11) . Then immediately turn left... |
 | ...and go through the gap in the wooden fence following the track that leads straight ahead until you come to a clear crossroads of paths. |
| If you wish to follow the detour into Linton, continue straight ahead keeping to the left of a large tree in a grassy triangle. Go through the metal gate and between houses to reach the road. Turn left along the road and you will pass The Hub which houses Linton Post Office, a shop and a small cafe. Follow the road around to the left, until you come to the footpath sign pointing to the right, next to house number 31 (12) ignoring an earlier footpath sign but taking time to admire the community orchard on the outside of the bend. | |
| If you do not wish to detour into Linton, turn left through the gap in the hedge and follow the wide grass ride up the hill. Keeping straight ahead you will come to a gap in the hedge that takes you out onto the road. Cross carefully and take the footpath that is signed past house number 31 (12). Cross a stile and follow the path straight on along the edge of a field. Where the path emerges at a quiet lane, turn right by a lovely footpath sign (13) and walk along Green Lane past detached houses. Continue along the lane which turns into a track util you rach a gate barring your way(14). | |
| Take the gate on the left into Green Lane Wood and follow a grass track that runs along the edge of the wood. Eventually you will pass a pond on the right, possibly dried up in the summer when all you can see is a clump of bullrushes. Continue ahead. | |
 | Leave Green Lane Wood via the horse step and enter Gunby Lea Wood. You will pass the end of a Microlight landing strip on your right. Continue to follow grass path ahead and then round a left hand bend onto a road through metal gates. Turn right onto the road for a short distance. Take care and cross the road when it is safe to do so and go through a metal gate on the left at the next bend in the road. |
| You are now in Broomfield Wood. Follow the path that leads straight ahead. After a few yards you need to look out for a gap in the hedge on your left with a footpath post. Go over the footbridge through the hedge and follow a grass track straight ahead. On the left you will find a perfectly placed bench to sit and admire the views towards Cadborough Hill. | |
| Continue along the path and cross a ditch past a large ash tree by power lines. The path kinks slightly to the left to follow a hedge to a footbridge in the corner (21). Cross the footbridge and follow the path round to the left past some lovely willow trees and then alongside a chain-link fence. Where the path meets a tarmac lane, turn right along the lane and then, as the lane bends right, take the path on the left over some concrete steps about 100m before a set of gates. The path emerges on grassland. Head straight on, then turn left onto a track that runs through a gap in the hedge. Take the track that follows the hedge on the left and head towards a metal gate (22) and on to a bend in Valley Road, Overseal. | |
| Continue straight ahead on Valley Road to A444 and cross when it is safe to do so. Turning right along the other side of the A444, walk past the white cottage and turn left onto a footpath to follow the sign (23). At a metal gate, cross the stile and follow the line of the fence on your left to farm buildings ahead (24). Skirt round the barns until you can see a footpath which crosses the field diagonally towards Shortheath (Do NOT follow the path up the right-hand side of this field) | |
| At the brow of the hill you pass through a gap into a second field and continue ahead towards a gap in the hedge to the road (25). Cross the road and pass through a similar gap in the opposite hedge. Follow the diagonal footpath across a small field to a stile behind the houses (26). Almost immediately, cross over another stile into a paddock and again cross digonally to a stile (27) and a path between the houses which leads to the road (28). The paddock is often divided with electric fences in which case you will probably see traffic cones in the middle where you can safely negotiate the fence. | |
| At this point, if you wish to visit The Lakeside Bistro, stay on the road and after a bend you will see the drive to this on your right. On leaving the Bistro, turn right at the end of the drive along the road and then over the stile on your left just before the bridge. This footpath leads you into Barratt Pool Wood and you rejoin the main route at (30). | |
| Turn left and immediately bear left down a driveway past some topiary and impressive wooden gates to follow the public right of way between a house on the left and a lake on the right. As soon as you pass the house step onto the grass and to the left you will see the footpath sign which leads into the woodland (29). Cross a bridge and carry straight on into Barrett Pool Wood through a gate. Just before the railway arch turn left (30) and follow a grass path to a footpath sign. Go through the kissing gate (31) and follow the path between hedges to the road (32) and cross the road to return to the Youth Hostel. | |