The ‘Needs to Know’
Distance: 1.37 miles (2.2 km)
Time to walk: No time limits as you may wish to combine this with Walk 232 that explores the ‘Shady’ areas of the park & also the fantastic Iron Age Fort. This route also covers the excellent children’s playground
Difficulty: Easy on grass & woodland tracks. There are no stiles & dogs will be off-lead all the way
Parking: Free car park off Hunsbury Hill Road. Postcode NN4 9UW. what3words riches.food.delay
Public toilets: The Drovers Return
Map of the route:
For the background & history of this amazing country park please see Walk 232
That walk also visits the incredible Iron Age Fort, which this one doesn’t. Both walks start & end at the same place & can easily be combined as they follow the same direction around the park
Let’s Walk!
1. From the cafe walk up past the bin & noticeboard telling you about the Iron Age Fort…
Slightly further on, by an oak tree, is a post with a QR Codes on it. This is the park’s Tree Trail & you’ll find many around. If you scan it with your phone you’ll get information about the tree next to it
2. At the top of the rise pass through the railway crossing…again Walk 232 will provide you with all the details regarding the history of it, iron ore mining, & Open Days when you can ride a train!
Ignore all the small tracks going off to both sides & walk straight up the wide path until you reach the track going off to the left in the picture below, where you turn left to follow it
3. Shortly you arrive at a junction. Ignore the path on the left & walk ahead, looking for a track going diagonally right – by the 2 silver birch trees below
This is a lovely small track at all times of the year. At the crossroads continue straight ahead
4. You can hear that the path’s approaching a main road. Look for a small path on the right leading to a gap in the trees – head along it
And from now on it’s time to explore the large grassy areas to the park. Head up the hill
5. The view from the top of the rise is lovely as you now start to descend…
Follow the field as it bends round to the right & continue ahead. You’re now walking along the route of a railway tunnel under your feet
6. The track now arrives at a crossroads with another information board…
Turn left here & follow the wide track…
Keep looking to the left to see if you can spot the ventilation tower for the tunnel
7. On reaching the hard path…if you want to visit Tesco carry straight on. Our route though turns right & then, at the lamp post turn right into the meadow once more…
Continue straight ahead as the path opens up into a wonderful area. If you visit at the right time of the year it could be pink with Hairy Willow Herb
8. Continue down the left side of this lovely place &, on reaching the tree-line at the end, bear slightly right & then through the gap…
…& over the railway line..
9. And now you’re in another huge, open, green area…
Can you see the gap in the trees ahead? That’s your route passing through that gap
10. Once through the gap this walk opens up into another wonderful open, grassy space…
Ahead of you now you can see the children’s play area. Walk near the right side to see some of the wonderful carved benched there are throughout the park (don’t miss the one near the entrance to the car park)…
11. Walk through the play area & exit straight ahead through the gap to arrive at the wide track once more…
Turn left to cross the railway tracks once more to arrive back at the cafe & the start of this walk
So that’s it…our look at the more open areas of this wonderful Country Park. Now…have a cuppa & go do the short, shady version Walk 232
Go Walk!