Blog Post

Hardwick Loop

Mick C • 21 January 2022

A lovely route through Hardwick Hall

I was out riding the other day and thought how cool it would be to share some of my local routes so you could pull up in the car get your bike out and enjoy the rides I do.

Here's the second loop, a lovely route through Hardwick Hall, touching the local network of trails. The route is a steady 12 miles long with just 500ft of climbing. It begins at Sutton Lawn car park in Sutton-in-Ashfield. However, you can make it a little longer by starting at the Aldi car park in Kirkby-in-Ashfield which would extend the ride to 17 miles. Alternatively, you can make it a little shorter and start at the small car park at the beginning of the Skegby Trail in Skegby (near Sutton-in-Ashfield), this would reduce the route to about 7 miles. If you have younger kids you could start at Skegby, ride the trails in a triangle and don’t pass through the Hardwick Hall, making it 5 miles. There are loads of options, but I’ll describe the route from Sutton.

From the Sutton Lawncar park, head north past the football changing rooms towards the football pitches. Take the path at the side of the field towards the centre of Sutton. In the far north west corner of the field is an exit taking you onto Penn Street. Penn Street takes you pretty much into the centre of Sutton. Cross the main road (Outram Street) and dart straight ahead into a alleyway. The alleyway takes you past Priestsic Primary School and out to the B6023. Cross over using the pedestrian crossing, and go left. Within 20 metres turn right onto ‘Northern View’ and bike to the dead end which is the gate to the allotments behind. To the right is an opening that takes you onto a path. This is the last of the town roads, from here on it’s trails or country lanes.

Carry straight on the path until you come to the next road to cross, the B6028 or Stoneyford Road. Shimmy through the gates, cross the road heading straight over to the steps. To the right of the steps is a steep grass area. Bike down the grass to the gate at the bottom. Alternatively take the steps to the gate. Head through the gate and you hit the first real hard packed trail. Carry straight on the trail and just short of a mile you reach a little downhill section that takes you to another road.

Go through the gate and come out onto the B6014 or Mansfield Road. Cross over the road and straight on up the hill of Buttery Lane. Near the top of the hill is a right turn taking you into a car park and the start of the Skegby Trail. This is where you can park if you fancy a shorter route next time. Go through the car park and onto Skegby Trail, a lovely hardpacked trail. Just after you pass under the bridge there is a fork in the trail. Left takes you to the Teversal Trail and Right takes you to Pleasley and Hardwick. Stay right and get into your rhythm. The trail carries on straight for a mile and a half. It’s flat with some good views either side.

The next change in the track is a steep downhill. You’ll see the warning sign first. It isn’t that treacherous as long as you remember there is a gate and a lane at the bottom. So, if you have kids with you and they are just learning to use their brakes, it’s probably best to follow the signs and dismount. Head through the gate, cross Batley Lane and you will see the steep climb ahead. This is a low gear power hill of about 50 metres. It’s a good challenge. At the top carry straight on finishing up to a small lane, the end of Skegby Trail for now. The trail carries straight on to Pleasley, but this is where you leave it, turn left on the small lane, and take a sharp right-hand bend to a crossroads of tracks. Take the trail on the left through the gate. This is the start of the Teversal trail. Head down the hill at pace until you cross a bridge. Straight after the bridge switch back right onto the Rowthorne trail. Dip down and then straight back up to go left after the gate heading west. The Rowthorne trail is over a mile long and has just been resurfaced. It is a lovely trail through the woods and emerges into the Rowthorne car park a short distance from the Hardwick Hall estate.

Go through the car park and left out onto the lane (Rowthorne Lane). As the lane bends right turn left and you’ll see the Rowthorne Lodge with it’s big gates, the entrance to the Hardwick Hall estate. Head through the gates and tackle the long open lane up to Hardwick Hall. On a windy day this can be tough but on a sunny winters day it has amazing views. It’s about a mile to the next entrance gate. From here you can go one of two ways depending on if you want to spend some time at Hardwick Hall.

If you do want to see the grounds, go straight on with the wall on your left. As you reach the old Hardwick building on the right, you’ll see an opening in the wall on your left which takes you into the grounds. Go through the gap and you’ll see the open grass space with the café and shops at the far end. After you have had a look around go past the shops and through the visitors’ centre. Take the path on the right and head past the car park on your left.

If you don’t want to go through the Hardwick Estate, at the entrance gate take the first left so the wall is on your right. Follow the fast lane around the right-hand bend until you reach the car park. Head through the car park to the gate which leads to the path. Go through the gate and left on the path, named lady Norwood walk.

As this section is a path not a bridleway it is recommended you walk and take in the woodland scenery. The path heads east through the wood. There are a range of steps with the final set of steps heading up to a gate heading onto Norwood Lane. Head through the gate and you can only go left continuing east.

Stay on Norwood Lane for three quarters of a mile passing a small group of houses on the left and snaking around the fields. Eventually you reach a bridge. Stop here and go through the gate on the right, back onto the Teversal trail. It’s a zig zag start but once on the trail it is a lovely mile of straight flat fast hardpacked track. At the junction of trails float left around the bend to continue on the fast track. This is the end of the Teversal Trail and the start of a link track back to the Skegby Trail. It’s another fast mile to feel the wind in your face. You cross a bridge and reach the fork back on the Skegby trail. This is previously ridden ground that you will recognise. Carry on right and under the bridge. After 200 metres you will be back at the Skegby car park. Through the car park and onto the downhill path of Buttery Lane.

From here it is the same way back to the start. Cross the B6014 Mansfield Road onto the trail opposite. Straight on until you reach Stoneyford road via the steep grass verge. Cross over and onto the path. Head past the allotments and onto Northern view. Cross the B6023 at the pedestrian crossing, past Priestsic School, through the jitty to Outram street, cross over and head down Penn Street where you come back out on to the fields of Sutton Lawn Park. Then back to the car park for a well-earned drink. They do a lovely ice cream at the café if it’s been a warm one.