Newstead Abbey circular walk
Approx 10 miles
Park at Portland College off A60 NG18 4TJ
Cross the A60 at the pedestrian lights and turn south on the A60 until you come to the footpath on your right which takes you close to the school Fountaindale and through Thieves Wood.
Legends of Robin Hood say that he rid the woods of robbers who were making life difficult for the locals of Ravenshead. It was Friar Tuck who asked for Robin Hood’s help after the kidnapping of a Mansfield girl. The story ends well with the girl being rescued and her father’s money which had been stolen was returned to him. It’s thought that highwaymen used these woods regularly and that this is how it got its name.
The track takes you to Nomanshill Wood and you then exit the woods onto the road turning south to join the A6020 briefly where you turn left. Cross over the A6020 and look for the entrance to Newstead Abbey between the houses. The footpath then takes you down past where the old Newstead TB Hospital used to stand (now houses) Beds here were in an open verandah with only blinds between the open air and patient. Continue on the footpath until you reach the main road through Newstead Abbey grounds.
Cross this main road/track to the other side where the footpath continues, passing close to the Lower Lake.
The track brings you out in Papplewick which in medieval times was the south gateway to Sherwood Forest. As you walk towards the village Papplewick Hall is visible on your right.
Park at Portland College off A60 NG18 4TJ
Cross the A60 at the pedestrian lights and turn south on the A60 until you come to the footpath on your right which takes you close to the school Fountaindale and through Thieves Wood.
Legends of Robin Hood say that he rid the woods of robbers who were making life difficult for the locals of Ravenshead. It was Friar Tuck who asked for Robin Hood’s help after the kidnapping of a Mansfield girl. The story ends well with the girl being rescued and her father’s money which had been stolen was returned to him. It’s thought that highwaymen used these woods regularly and that this is how it got its name.
The track takes you to Nomanshill Wood and you then exit the woods onto the road turning south to join the A6020 briefly where you turn left. Cross over the A6020 and look for the entrance to Newstead Abbey between the houses. The footpath then takes you down past where the old Newstead TB Hospital used to stand (now houses) Beds here were in an open verandah with only blinds between the open air and patient. Continue on the footpath until you reach the main road through Newstead Abbey grounds.
Cross this main road/track to the other side where the footpath continues, passing close to the Lower Lake.
The track brings you out in Papplewick which in medieval times was the south gateway to Sherwood Forest. As you walk towards the village Papplewick Hall is visible on your right.
Papplewick Hall built between 1781 & 1787
Further on the village is very attractive with 18th century cottages close to the road and was awarded best kept village in 2002. Before you get to the crossroads, however, take a right turn up the footpath between the houses as this will take you via Papplewick Church before getting to Linby.
It is worth a slight detour into the churchyard to see a magnificent yew tree, its 14 foot girth providing a circle of almost 60 yards. It is thought that yew trees were planted so that the wood could be used for archers. It is a local legend that one of Robin Hood’s men, Allan a Dale was buried in Papplewick.
The footpath brings you out at Linby, another very attractive village dating back to 1663 with its listed buildings, red tiled roofs, cast iron lighting and 2 village crosses. Unusually, small streams run on both sides of the main street which are known as Linby Docks.
The Horse and Groom pub on the main road is a picture on a summer’s day and outside seating is available so that you can enjoy the sight of the hanging baskets with your pint. Local legend states that the pancake was invented by the women of the village, to celebrate their liberation from Danish invaders.
Walk right through the village over the little bridge and at the roundabout take the right hand turn onto the Linby Trail which is part of the National Cycle Route no 6. This is a former railway cutting of the Great Northern Railway which was used for transporting coal from the local collieries.
Follow the trail north until you get to the Newstead Village entrance on your right. Walk up the road through the grounds admiring the horses nearby until you get to Newstead Abbey.
Newstead Abbey was the former home of romantic poet Lord Byron in 1540. The grounds and gardens are worth a visit at any time of year. In recent winters when the snow was deep and plentiful the surroundings were magnificent. In spring the blossoms and rhododendrons offer spectacular colours.
It is worth a slight detour into the churchyard to see a magnificent yew tree, its 14 foot girth providing a circle of almost 60 yards. It is thought that yew trees were planted so that the wood could be used for archers. It is a local legend that one of Robin Hood’s men, Allan a Dale was buried in Papplewick.
The footpath brings you out at Linby, another very attractive village dating back to 1663 with its listed buildings, red tiled roofs, cast iron lighting and 2 village crosses. Unusually, small streams run on both sides of the main street which are known as Linby Docks.
The Horse and Groom pub on the main road is a picture on a summer’s day and outside seating is available so that you can enjoy the sight of the hanging baskets with your pint. Local legend states that the pancake was invented by the women of the village, to celebrate their liberation from Danish invaders.
Walk right through the village over the little bridge and at the roundabout take the right hand turn onto the Linby Trail which is part of the National Cycle Route no 6. This is a former railway cutting of the Great Northern Railway which was used for transporting coal from the local collieries.
Follow the trail north until you get to the Newstead Village entrance on your right. Walk up the road through the grounds admiring the horses nearby until you get to Newstead Abbey.
Newstead Abbey was the former home of romantic poet Lord Byron in 1540. The grounds and gardens are worth a visit at any time of year. In recent winters when the snow was deep and plentiful the surroundings were magnificent. In spring the blossoms and rhododendrons offer spectacular colours.