Pleasley to Welbeck, including Cresswell Crags

Our next walk, after a short bus journey, starts in the Derbyshire village of Pleasley, home to several historic buildings, including the Grade II listed Pleasley Colliery, which was once a thriving coal mine. Today, the colliery has been transformed into a museum, offering visitors a glimpse into the area’s industrial past. We leave Meden Square following the River Meden into Pleasley Vale, former home of William Hollins & Co. The Upper Mill was built first on the site of a previous corn mill and was operational by 1785. The Lower Mill was completed seven years later at a cost of £1,190 and was much bigger. The mills supplied cotton to the expanding East Midland hosiery industry being the first and one of the most successful cotton producers in the East Midlands. From the 1890s, the mills produced Viyella, a mixture of cotton with Merino wool, which produces a soft fabric. A third mill (now called Mill 2) was built between the upper and lower mills in 1913.

 

Leaving the mills we pass the War Memorial on our way to the Church of St Chad, built by Joseph Paget after he inherited his parents’ estate and consequently became a senior partner in the mills. In 1876, deciding that his household and mill workers needed a church, a chapel was built overlooking the vale, on the Derbyshire side of the River Meden. The chapel was originally built of timber, painted white. However, after disagreement “over the style of services conducted in the church” Joseph Paget had the church dismantled and rebuilt just over the River Meden boundary in Nottinghamshire, thus moving it from the Diocese of Lichfield to the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. The church was reconstructed in brick and stone, with a bell tower and lead roof.

 

Leaving the Church, we rejoin the River Meden passing through Little Matlock; a much scaled down likeness to the River Derwent at Matlock Bath. At the end of the dale, we leave the River Meden, cross the Robin Hood railway line on our way to Sookholme via Sookholme Bath. Sookholme Bath is the site of a natural spring forming the source of Sookholme Brook. There is evidence that the spring was used as an ancient healing spa, as nearby fragments of Roman bricks and tiles have been found, suggesting it was the site of a possible Roman tile kiln. In Sookholme village we pass St Augustine’s Church; a small chapel, consisting of nave and chancel, built in the reign of Henry II in the 12th century.

 

We get re-acquainted with the River Meden, passing over the Hammerwater Bridge then onto Stone Bridge, on the edge of Market Warsop (Sookholme Brook having joined the Meden 200m upstream). We follow the riverside path to our lunch stop at The Carrs, Nature Reserve; picnic tables and seats a plenty by the Mill Pond. For those requiring some alcoholic refreshment then there are a couple of pubs in Warsop. Heading North from The Carrs; past the War Memorial, we climb Cuckney Hill out of Church Warsop: tradition says in this town the people never locked the doors of their homes because Robin Hood was always welcomed! Dropping down from the ridge to Cuckney, we cross the River Poulter. Here, located in the grounds of Cuckney Parish Church, St Mary’s, are the remains of Cuckney Castle – Motte & Bailey. Continuing northward, we pick up the Robin Hood Way traversing the Welbeck Estate running alongside the Deer Park.

 

We stay with the Robin Hood Way passing through Holbeck* on our journey to Creswell Crags. This lovely limestone gorge is one of the oldest known inhabited places in Britain. There are numerous caves on both sides of this small valley, in which the remains of modern man in Britain, after whom a whole culture has been named the Creswellian Culture, dating back 13,000 years. The caves were also inhabited by Neanderthal man some 60,000 years ago. As recently as 1978, a rock fall uncovered new remains dating back 8500 years, including artefacts and numerous bones, amongst them an almost complete skull of a wolf. The area is said to have been frequented by Robin Hood, and one of the caves bears his name. Leaving Creswell Crags, still on The Robin Hood Way, we cross the A60 and take the concessionary path running alongside the road to finish at The Dukeries Garden Centre, Welbeck for a 4.45pm Bus departure. Distance 13 miles.

*From Holbeck, there is the opportunity to miss out the Creswell Crags loop and go direct to the Dukeries Garden Centre for refreshments. The location & duration of “Intermediate Pit stops” will depend very much on the weather on the day.

Come along and join this walk – if it’s your first walk with us the coach fare is free! The usual coach fare is £14. You can go on two walks before you need to pay the £10 membership fee.

Coach Departure

The coach picks up at the following points.
(With the agreement of the leader other pick-up points
on the bus route may be available).

“Staff of Life” pub, Hack Lane	Sutton-in-Ashfield	9.15am
Priestic Road, opp McDonald’s	Sutton-in-Ashfield	9.20am
Eastfield Side, (Blue Bell)	Sutton-in-Ashfield	9.22am
Hermitage Lane stop, Sutton Road	Mansfield	9.25am
ASDA bus stop. Stockwell Gate.	Mansfield	9.30am