Start - Bestwood Country Park, Old Winding House car park off Park Road, SK556475, NG6 8UE.
Getting there - take A611 north for 2.6 miles from Nottingham Ring Road; take B683 Bestwood Road right for 0.9 miles; turn right along Park Road.
Or take B683 Moor Road for 2.2 miles south from Papplewick Village.
This is a 5.4 mile walk which first goes to the Mill Lakes on the River Leen before circumnavigating the Country Park on excellent, gravel paths. There are fine views towards Nottingham and to the west from the highest point on the walk before you drop down to the track to Alexandra Lodge, the base for the Park Rangers and a study centre. Toilets are nearby. At the end, take a short excursion to visit the impressive Bestwood Colliery headstocks.
Mill Lakes - now a nature reserve but once the site of a water mill, one of several in the Leen Valley ... |
...which was once heavily industrialised |
Alexandra Lodge (1877) |
Dynamo House, the former electrical sub-station serving the colliery |
The headstock and winding house of Bestwood Colliery, 1875 to 1967. There are free tours between 10am and 12 noon on Saturdays and Bank Holidays |
A revised walk will take place early in the new year and will include an excursion into Bulwell Hall Park.