A circular route of about 8 miles along Archway Road to Edwintowe, then the Major Oak and Birklands, returning via Warsop Windmill, Sherwood Forest Farm Park, the Maun Valley and Squires Lane.

1. Starting on Archway Road go north. If you look over the hedge to the left you see Vicar Water, which was the outfall from the Great Pond of Clipstone. For over 600 years, from before 1180, a mill was sited at the bottom of the slope next to the river.

Alternative starting point Sherwood forest Farm Park(9) - there is a car park and tearoom which groups can use by prior arrangement - phone 01623 823558. Open April to early October.

2. Follow the lane round past the signal box on Clipstone west junction. The box is one of the best examples left in the county. The second arch allowed the Flood Dyke to pass beneath the railway. Follow the lane round to the left under the second railway bridge. The lane then drops down to Forge Bridge and turn right down the river. – During mid 1600s Kings Clipstone was site of busy industrial mills – timber to produce charcoal and waterpower meant that Kings Clipstone had a number of slitting mills – pig iron was refined by removing the impurities(mainly carbon), then passed through rollers and a slitting mill to produce nails.

3. The river was straightened all along this section to drain the mires when the Flood Dyke irrigation system was built from 1819 to 1838. To the left of the path an old bend can be seen. As you approach the small wood you can see the opposite bend on the right. In the wood the river flows rapidly through the artificial cutting. The Flood Dyke was at the top of the opposite slope, sluices allowed the pasture to be flooded as necessary, with the excess water draining down to the river. The fields on the right after the wood are also part of the system.  At the end of the first field after the wood turn right towards the river, crossing one of the few surviving parts of the Flood Dyke. The system cost £38,000 to build and stretched from Mansfield to Edwinstowe. Vast quantities of soil and rock were moved to construct the dyke, move the river, smooth the slope of the fields and drain the bogs and springs. Notice how uniform the slope is across these fields.

4. Follow the riverside path until you come to Mill Lane, Edwinstowe. Continue in the same direction turning left at the main road. Walkers can go straight up Church Street but cyclists will have to go up East Lane on the right.

5. Cross the A 6075 at the traffic lights and continue on Church Street until you reach the cricket ground. Turn left and follow the path past the funfair to the back corner. It is signed bridleway to Glebethorpe. At the first branch in the track take the right hand track to the Major Oak.  

6.  Major Oak – it is claimed that the Oak is named after a Major Rouke who walked here every day from Woodhouse Place in Mansfield Woodhouse. Cycling is prohibited near the tree. You will take the first track to the left after you have passed the tree (part of the Robin Hood Way).

7. Follow the track slowly up hill ignoring all side branches. You will come to Green Ride (part of the national cycle route) with the Centre Tree. Originally this large oak tree  could be seen through the arch of Archway Lodge 1.5 miles to the south. Cross the Green Ride and continue in the same direction through the forest until you reach the end of the track at which point turn right. At the first bend take the footpath that runs straight on. This brings you out at Kings Wood, Warsop Windmill.

8. Warsop Windmill – Kings Wood – it is claimed that the wood contains remains of a  deer leap and ditch that enclosed Clipstone Park. The park which was enclosed in 1180 by a paling and ditch over 7 miles in length was a royal deer park. It still appeared on maps as late as 1801.

9. Emerging onto Gorsethorpe Lane follow the wood to its bottom corner and take the permissive path down to the farm park. The path drops down into the Maun valley. The farm park has a tearoom and car park that groups can use by prior arrangement - phone 01623 823558.

At the farm park continue down the hill, through the gate (which is locked at dusk) and follow the track down to the river where you cross the bridge and ascend the hill. 

10.  At the fork in the track bear left. With the beech wood on your right continue up the hill. On the top, cross over the next track and take the footpath through Cavendish Wood. The farm yard is not a right of way. Emerging from the wood turn left along the track. Cavendish Lodge and farm are the next buildings you pass. (Cyclists have to go right past the beech wood following the farm track)

11.   Cavendish Lodge – The Lodge was built about 1745 by the Duchess of Oxford, who wanted a quiet place to escape to during the week whilst Welbeck was undergoing major rebuilding work. The house, or cottage as she called it, had a small hall, an octagonal dining room, a drawing room, a bedchamber and dressing room. These room where added to an existing house, which became the servant’s quarters. The Duchess’s extension was built with stone taken from Clipstone Hall, which in turn had been built with stone taken from the King John’s Palace. Lots of other recycled materials were used as it was only intended as a temporary arrangement. The duchess wrote ‘ as the roads around it are always good, I shall spend half the week there, taking only a maid and a footman with me’.

12.  At the bottom of the dip look left to the back of the field. The hedge is on an embankment that was the dam for the old fish pond. Half way down the lane are Old Barnside Cottages, parts of which may date to 1730 when Clipstone Hall stood on the site next door now occupied by the modern  houses. At the end of Squires Lane the village proper begins. Be extra careful of the roads as parts lack a footway. The walk joins Gorsethorpe Lane then turns left onto the B6030.

Kings Clipstone walks & rides    Route 7 KC      December2006