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Nottinghamshire’s undulating landscape

Exploring Teversal Trails

In this issue travel writer and photojournalist Sally Outram leads the way through some of the most historical and inspirational places in Nottinghamshire.
 |  Katie Hogg  |  Heritage

Just three miles west of Mansfield, this super short walk offers beautiful views over some of Nottinghamshire’s most historical and unspoilt villages.

 

Starting at the visitor centre, just off the B6014; Teversal Trails follow a network of old railway lines which were used for industry and passengers alike. Upon final closure of the lines in 1978 the area was transformed into an oasis for wildlife and nature, where parts are designated sites of scientific interest. The delightful route takes us on a journey through time, from Victorian railways, Lady Chatterley’s lover to ghostly goings on. 

The flora and fauna are diverse; meadowsweet and ragged robin can be found in the damper grassland areas and the railway embankments are a mixture of scrub and grasses. Hard to believe that such a pretty place was once thriving with industry.

Artists and members of the local community, work on and maintain an ongoing sculpture project, there are many stone carvings, mosaics and wooden monuments along the trail which are of interest, especially the impressive statue of a Nottinghamshire Miner ‘Testing for Gas’ which sits proudly at the summit of Silverhill, one of the highest hills in the county and overlooks the far-reaching landscape across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. 

The route takes you passed the Church of St Katherine which was built between the 12th and 13th centuries and boasts an impressive family pew, belonging to the Molyneaux family. It is unusual as it resembles a four poster with a roof, solomonic (barley-sugar) columns and red velvet curtains. 

Nottinghamshire’s undulating landscape provided inspiration for DH Lawrence’s literary masterpiece ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ and many places are observable in his writings. The woodlands on the edge of Hardwick Estate and Teversal Manor are where Lady Chatterley and her lover, Mellor’s met.

As we head back to the visitor centre, we pass by the Carnarvon Arms, which stands on the crossroads at Fackley. It was originally called the Cross Keys and became the Carnarvon Arms in about 1870. It has a mixture of architecture, the earliest dating to around the early 18th century, and has undergone extensive renovation throughout the years. It’s here in the pubs ‘Ship Room’, which is lined with wood and made to look like a ships galleon, is where DH Lawrence is said to have penned the novel ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover. During the 19th century the Carnarvon Arms was also used as a shop, blacksmiths, and wheelwright, and during the second world war was used as an officer’s mess for paratroopers based at Hardwick camp.

The ancient crossroads and the pub are also the setting for many a ghostly tale with stories of strange occurrences and apparitions. It is said that an old miner wearing a flat cap haunts the area too.

Make sure go well equipped with plenty of water and wear good sturdy walking shoes or boots, and don’t forget your camera! 

Happy rambling!

  1. Start at the car park at Teversal Trails Visitor Centre, Carnarvon Street, Fackley NG17 3HJ. Walk through the Coal Garden until you reach a gateway. Go through the gate and onto the path directly to your right. After a short distance turn right again onto an old railway line, a wide track which runs between an avenue of trees. Follow the old railway line for ½ a mile, passing under a bridge, into a cutting and then on to an embankment. 
  2. Continue along this path, it takes you over two bridges. At the second bridge turn left down the embankment and down the steps. You will see a stile. Cross over the stile and follow the path downhill. Once you reach the bottom, cross the wooden footbridge over the stream.
  3. Once over the bridge, continue straight on towards the top left-hand corner of the field, along the edge of Coppy Wood. 
  4. When you have reached the corner of the wood, the path will lead diagonally across the field to the left. It is a well-trodden path with a slight ascent. Upon reaching the top of the field, cross over the stile, you will come to a road. Continue straight on, passing a stone-built house on your left. You will shortly reach Teversal Church. Enter the churchyard through the main entrance and follow the path which runs along the edge of the churchyard, to a gate at the far side. 
  5. Pass through the gate and veer to the right to another gate, go through the second gate and ahead you will see a tarmacked path which leads to a gap in a stone wall. Walk through the gap and continue straight ahead along the pavement alongside a tree lined road until you reach the junction ahead. 
  6. Continue along, veering left following the pavement. The road then narrows and heads downhill, passing beneath a railway bridge. After a short distance, you will reach a white house where the road bends sharply to the left. Cross over the road and pass through a gateway which is to the right of a house and continue along up a wide tarmac track. 
  7. Continue to follow the track; it will bend to the left, carry on and keep the pond to your right until you reach a large metal information board. Turn right here and follow the winding track until you reach open views ahead. You will see Hardwick Hall on a wooded hill and the M1 motorway below. Here the track bends sharply left and soon passes another track on your right. Ignore the right-hand track and follow the track that runs ahead over the top of the hill and descends the other side, emerging on the road at a gateway. 
  8. Here you take a left turn along the pavement to reach a junction of roads at Fackley to the Carnarvon Arms public house. Cross the road to pass in front of the pub and continue along under the railway bridge, after a short while you will see Carnarvon Street on your left which takes you back to the Teversal Trails visitor centre, where you can extend your day and explore the many other trails at your leisure. 

Distance: 3 ¾ ( 6km)
Severity: Easy
Gradient: Mostly level with some inclines and descents
Approx Time: 2 hours plus estra for exploring.
Stiles: One.
Maps: OS LANDSRANGER 120
Path Info: Old railway line, field edge paths, tracks, and pavement.
Start Point: Treversal Trails car park and Visitor Centre (NG17 3HJ)
Parking: As above
Dog Friendly: Yes, on lead along public footpaths (Pavements)
Refreshments: Yes; Carnarvon Arms Treversal, Treversal Trails Visitor Centre