Beginning at the bottom of Kings Walk Green Space, head up towards Berry Hill Park. Once on Berry Hill Lane turn right passing CISWO charity. Arriving at a double roundabout, head down Lichfield Lane past The Coal Authority leading onto Chatsworth Drive followed, briefly, by Old Newark Road. Turning onto a gravel footpath leading up to a several road crossings to Black Scotch Lane follow the edge of the woodland, keeping the forest on your right. Approaching Rainworth Water, turn left and continue on up to a samll stream crossing the right, leading onto Robin Hood Way crossing the lane onto another footpath through a number of fields.
Arriving into Blidworth, head towards The Black Bull and follow Field Lane for a short distance again crossing a number of fields along a footpath to Main Road onto another path leading upwards to Kighill Lane. Arriving into Papplewick, follow th eroad onto Hall Lane leading upto Newstead Abbey passing through a gate and taking the path to the left, looping around to the front of Upper Lake with views to Newstead Abbey. Continue past the parking area, climb a footpath on your left upto Kirkby Road and Thieves Wood. Heading through Thieves Wood head towards Old Newark Road back to Lichfield Lane on continue following the route back, prior to Chatsworth Drive.
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Thieves Wood and Fountaindale Lakes
Thieves Wood, once part of the Royal Wood of Lyndhurst, has significant history in the area due to the Robin Hood legend. Its is said that within this woodland that Robin Hood and the Friar first met at Fountaindale Lakes where the two fought when Friar carried Robin across the lakes. The name also comes from the history of outlwas and highwaymen targetting travellers along The King's Great Way from Londo to York via Nottingham and Mansfield.
Newstead Abbey
Built towards the end of the 12th century following the murder of Thomas Beckett. In the 13th century th eabbey was rebuilt and extended, with further extions being added in the 15th century eventually hosting 13 monks. In the mid-16th century following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Newstead Abbey was given to John Byron and converted into a country house eventually being passed down to the poet George Byron just prior to the 19th century.
Terrain: Mix of footpaths and roads. Natural, gravel and paved.
Facilities: Toilets available at Black Bull in Bloodworth (might need to purchase food or drink to use) and at Newstead Abbey as well as a cafe at Newstead Abbey.
Accessible from Mansfield via bus, car or on foot. Parking available at Berry Hill Park (at time of writing one of the car parks is closed). Street parking is available along the road were the route starts from.
Buses run to the nearest bus stop from Mansfield Bus Station to Maltby road 4-5 per hour. Mansfield Train Station is connected to the bus station via bridge or stairs.
