Norwood

 

Norwood

Walking alone RFM Blue Line

20/05/24

 The walk is the blue line.

Starting in the suburban setting of Netherthorpe this walk progresses through the back ways to Nethermoor lake.

The lake is fine but nothing special. The walk passes to the east of the lake but there are very few views of it. It’s just a wide grassy path, pleasant but boring.

The second lake is Meadowgate Lake but is again pretty uninspiring. There was plenty of birdsong and some aquatic birds around so it was still worth visiting.

After the lakes a road side path along the Rother Valley access road again was pretty plain but at least it was easy walking and very little traffic.

 

Crossing Mansfield Road the walk started to pick up.

Watched by a curious horse I walked along the path of what looked like a private drive but the sign clearly indicated public footpath so I persevered.

At the end of the drive were some great statues of horses, elephants and rhinos. Although I still felt like an intruder it was an interesting little display.

Past the small lake, with an untidy collection of old commercial vehicles, the walk plunged into Norwood wood.

The walk through Norwood was very nice, open path and thick woodland with much birdsong and lots of bird movements. The path eventually went down a hill to a little bridge and then on to a lane up to a farm.

I didn’t expect to see a howitzer on this walk but Norwood antiques at the back of the farm provided one. On past the fish lakes into a field full of horses.

Luckily the horses kept their distance because it was a very large field to cross and curious horses can be an issue as they are just so big and powerful. These were placid and were only curious enough to watch me not to approach me…phew!

Re-crossing the Mansfield Road the path dropped down a steep hill through some pretty dense rarely visited undergrowth.

Luckily I only picked up some sticky vegetation and not a tick.

The route passed Dale Farm and climbed to the top of Sheepcote Hill before descending through the back routes of Killamarsh back to my starting point.

 

I think there must have been a competition to build the highest back garden fence in the area as my walk through Killamarsh was like walking through a series of alleys with 10 foot tall walls of varying wooden construction on either side. In the daytime this was fine but I could imagine at night it might be a little intimidating. I hope not as I quite liked the area.

The walk is just over 5 miles and ascends a total of nearly 600 feet so not too difficult but still challenging for the beginner.