Along The GNR Path
w/e 21 August 2016
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
When the sun shines you just have to take advantage
of it and that's exactly what we did with a short walk along
the Great Northern Railway Path from Awsworth to Kimberley. I've
often seen the path marked on various maps but have never actually
walked along it previously.
We approached along Main Street towards the Gate Inn and climbed
the steps on the right up the embankment to access the path.
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  The path (left and right|) continues for about
half a mile along the embankment which is lined by trees on both
sides giving only occasional views of the surrounding features.
The view above is of Kimberley. I said I have never walked along
here previously but before Dr Beeching swung his axe, I did travel
by passenger train behind a steam engine to Nottingham about
1959/60.
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Since those halcyon days of youth and Dr Beeching's cuts, the
railway tracks have been removed and the path and embankment
allowed to return to nature. The A610 has also been built bypassing
Kimberley and creating a barrier to the GNR path. Just short
of the road at a sign marked "Kimberley Green" the
path splits and it was here that we turned right to walk alongside
the road separated from it by more trees and undergrowth.
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This path is less well defined than the one on top of the embankment
and twists and turns up and down through the trees before opening
out onto the hillside.
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It soon reaches a kissing gate through the hedgerow to the side
of the A610.
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And once through the gate the path drops down to pass under the
road.
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On the other side of the underpass we turned left to walk down
the other side of the road and passing two separate flights of
steps that lead up to continue along the GNR Path and the embankment
into Kimberley. A feature of the walk here as we passed through
an avenue of trees was the constant noise of the traffic on the
A610.
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  Once through the avenue of trees
it became clear just how close the traffic was although trying
to cross the road here is definitely not advisable and should
never be attempted. A little further on the path descends a few
feet by a series of roughly cut steps to reach Goodwin Drive
(left) at Kimberley. Where this meets Awsworth Lane another underpass
(right) is the safe option to return to Awsworth.
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The underpass is not for use by vehicles so what was once the
main road between Awsworth and Kimberley and even a bus route
has now become something of a backwater with only local traffic
or visitors to the Hogs Head Hotel which is accessed by a drive
from Awsworth Lane. I think there is only one other property
between the underpass and the Van Hire business on the edge of
the village.
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Once entering the village it is only a matter of passing the
Gate Inn to reach the start of the walk again. Alternatively
you could take heed of the sign on the inn which reads "The
gate hangs well and hinders none so relax refresh and travel
on." It all depends whether you think a walk of just over
a mile and a half is enough to work up a thirst!
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