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Hardwick Village to Bothamsall Circular

Difficulty Leisurely

Walking time 3 hours 30 minutes

Length 13.1km / 8.2mi

Route developer: Alan Wootton

Route checker: Robert Haslam

Start location Hardwick Village, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire.
Route Summary This circular walk combines beautiful open countryside with mixed woodland and is rich in wildlife. The free draining, sandy soil and good paths mean that conditions underfoot are reasonable all year round. There are no steep climbs.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

By car: The main vehicle route through Clumber Park is called Limetree Avenue, stretching from Cuckney in the west to the A614 near its junction with the A1. From Limetree Avenue follow the signed directions to Hardwick Village car park. Clumber Park  belongs to the National Trust and hence their parking charges apply.

There is no public transport to Hardwick Village.

 

Description
[1] Leave the car park via the entrance road and turn right in the direction shown as "No Exit".  Follow the road and cross the bridge over the ford (A). Clumber Lake was formed by damming the River Poulter. Look to the right to see the dam and overflow weir. This area attracts a diverse selection of bird life for the nutrients stirred up by the water fall. Just beyond the "No exit to A614" sign, turn left at a galvanised steel gate and head diagonally across the field. Leave via another galvanised steel gate and cross the road to the Permissive Bridleway to Freeboard Lane. Pass the sculptured stone gateway and turn left to the main road.
 
[2] Cross with care and continue straight ahead past a stile, through the wood and along the farm track. Turn right at the public bridleway sign and left on the signed footpath at the dilapidated barn.
 
(B) While walking this path look to the right through the breaks in the hedge to see in the distance a "Nodding Donkey" pump, used to extract oil. This area is one of the Nottinghamshire oilfields which played such an important role during and after World War II (1939-1945). 
 
Turn left at the road and enter the red brick village of Bothamsall The tree covered hummock (C) is the site of a Motte and Bailey castle from the 12th Century. It is a scheduled ancient monument.
 
[3] At the church go left and take Church Lane, passing Bothamsall Hall (D). This superb Grade 2 listed Manor House  was built by the Duke of Newcastle for his son and extended in the Edwardian period when it passed into private hands. It was once the Vicarage. Continue ahead beyond the unsurfaced track along a pleasant grassy bridleway through 3 galvanised steel gates and past a farm. Follow the farm track round to the left past the hoppers to another steel gate. Cross the farm road and take the track bearing right across the field. Continue alongside the fence and enter the wood. Turn left at the waymark post at the junction and right in 100m, following the Robin Hood Way. Turn right at the T-junction and curve left alongside the River Poulter. Cross the footbridge, continue to the concrete lane and turn left.
 
[4] Keep left at the junction on Brough Lane, maintain this heading and go to the right of a large industrial building. Continue along the road and turn right. Turn left at the bridleway sign and continue on this heading, passing through fields, woods, and past a reservoir to meet the public road. If you are lucky and traveling quietly you may see a distant view of deer in this area. Cross with care into Clumber Park and follow the clearly defined path through the wood. At the gateway join the cart track going left along the edge of the field and continue on this until it meets a tarmac road.
 
(E) Look to the right to see Hardwick Terrace, some of the very distinctive houses of Hardwick Village. The village was built on instruction of the Duke of Newcastle to house workers on the estate. It was purposely set out in an informal arrangement to give the impression of a traditional country village. The houses are far from traditional, having a regularity, symmetry and classical elements not usually expected of tied cottages. The Clumber Estate now belongs to the National Trust who safeguard these special buildings.
 
Turn left then right to return to the start point.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
POI information No details available.
Notes

Toilets: There are public toilets sign posted from the car park at Hardwick Village.

Refreshments: A refreshments caravan serving hot drinks and snacks is usually available near the toilets.

There are no other facilities on this route. 

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Hardwick Ford
    Hardwick Ford
    By - Alan Wootton
  • Clumber Lake Overflow
    Clumber Lake Overflow
    By - Alan Wootton
  • Looking Back towards Hardwick Village
    Looking Back towards Hardwick Village
    By - Alan Wootton
  • Normanton Gate  into Clumber Park
    Normanton Gate into Clumber Park
    By - Alan Wootton
  • Bothamsall Village Sign
    Bothamsall Village Sign
    By - Alan Wootton
  • Bothamsall Church
    Bothamsall Church
    By - Alan Wootton
  • The "Robin Hood Way" across open farmland
    The "Robin Hood Way" across open farmland
    By - Alan Wootton
  • The "Robin Hood Way" through Woodland
    The "Robin Hood Way" through Woodland
    By - Alan Wootton
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