Rowthorne, Hardwick Park and Teversal, 9th November 2025

Elaine's 9.7 mile walk explored the River Doe Lea/River Maun watershed on the Notts/Derbys border.  It started at the end of the Rowthorne Trail and took us up through Rowthorne village and  Ault Hucknall before entering Hardwick Park.  We dropped down past a quarry to a series of fishponds on the River Doe Lea before stopping for drinks at the nearby cafe.  After circumnavigating Miller's Pond and walking past Great Pond and Duck Decoy Pond, we climbed up past Hardwick Old Hall for lunch near the National Trust Visitor Centre which, unlike the Hall gardens, was open to walking and cycling non-members.

After lunch we dropped down past the Stone Masons' Workhop and through Lady Spencer's Wood to Norwood Lodge where Elaine and three others took a shortcut across to the the Rowthorne Trail. The remainers crossed fields to reach St Katherine's Church in the manorial village of Teversal (the fictional home of Lady Chatterley) for a short break. The route back then followed the Teversal Trail to regain the Rowthorne Trail and car park.
The start - seven VBR membes and two visitors

Rowthorne village

St John the Baptist Church in Alt Hucknall dates back to Saxon times

Entering Hardwick Park

Heading down to the fishponds just before a two-minute stop at 11am for Remembrance Sunday

Distant view west towards the Derbyshire hills (on a good day)

Quarry which supplied stone used in the construction of Hardwick Hall

Bridge near Miller's Pond


View of Hardwick Hall and Hardwick Old Hall across Great Pond

Sculpture next to Decoy Pond

Building next to Decoy Pond where nets were stored to catch unwary ducks


Approaching Hardwick Old Hall

Hardwick Hall (1597) - visited on the recce when we were allowed through the gate.  Note Bess of Hardwick's initials, ES on the parapets

Hardwick Old Hall

National Trust Visitor Centre - lunch stop

Stone Mason's workshop - worth a visit when open to see how Hardwick Hall is being restored
St Katherine's Church, Teversall


Both the Rowthorne and Teversal Trails make use of the trackbeds of the disused railway lines which once served local coal mines like Teversal, Silverhill and Pleasley.  Both were constructed on impressive embankments and through deep cuttings in the local Magnesian limestone bedrock


Derbys/Notts border in green; Rowthorne and Teversal Trails in red