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OUT AND ABOUT


Idle Valley Circular Walk


With Tony and Stephanie Swaby of Dearne Valley Ramblers Photos: John Watson and Chris Mellows


One of DVR’s favourite walks, a 6 mile easy circular route around Retford taking in the beauty and history of the town with an ornithologist’s dream ramble through the nature reserve.


Start: Idle Valley Nature Reserve, North Road, Retford, DN22 8SG. Ample car parking to the front of the visitor centre for £1.50 donation, payable at reception.


Please note: Please contact the land owner – Hallcroft Fishery & Caravan Park – for permission to cross parts of the walk (01777 710448). Please ensure dogs are kept on a lead throughout.


play area, then keep to the right of this and you will come to a footbridge which crosses the River Idle.


Go over that and walk towards the main entrance to the park itself. This is an ideal spot to have any refreshments in the beautifully maintained gardens.


Walk out of the reserve, back to the busy A638. Be careful as you cross the road and turn right, walking back along the footpath in the general direction of Barnby Moor. Pass the car wash on the other side of the road, until you reach staggered crossroads. Take the road immediately to your left, sign posted Babworth; there is no pedestrian footpath on this stretch of the road so you will need to walk on the grass verge on the left.


On reaching a busy level crossing, continue


over, walking on the verge until you see a canal bridge in the distance. Do not go over the bridge; turn left shortly before it, under a barrier gate and into the field. Turn right and follow the tree line on your right which runs parallel with the road you have just left. You will then come to the Chesterfield Canal towpath, known locally as Cuckoo Dyke. Built in 1777, the canal was originally 46 miles long and famously carried stone from North Anston to rebuild Houses of Parliament in the 19th Century. Turn left, walking in the general direction of Retford town. Keep to the left-hand towpath, passing under several bridges until you reach a canal lock/weir with housing on the opposite bank and an iron railing on the left. This is the perimeter fence to King’s Park, Retford.


There is a gateway further down on the left - pass though it, bearing left and into a children’s


Carry on and pass through the main park gates. Bear left and then cross the road, heading into a car park on your right where there are free public toilets. Turn left at the junction and pass into the main market square of Retford, adjacent to the main shopping centre. There are a number of eateries and fast food outlets available. Walk through the square keeping the shops and cafes to your left. Look out for the ornate French- inspired Town Hall, built during the Victorian era. Turn left at the jeweller’s shop and pass through an arch in a wall. Turn right and take the next left, down a narrow lane between a gymnasium on the left and a cafe on the right (currently closed). You will come to another car park with a sports shop on the left. Turn right, reaching Bridgegate. Cross over the road and into Riverside Walk on the other side. Walk down the lane and turn left across the footbridge, over the River Idle once again, and turn right. Walk under the road bridge and onto the river path, keeping the river on your right. Note just how fast running and clear the waters are - an ideal habitat for Brown Trout. Try and spot one en-route between the submerged reeds and grasses.


Continue along the riverside footpath which is uneven and narrow in places. Eventually you will reach a stile which marks the boundary of the private land previously referred to above. The private fishing grounds commence at this point, with several lakes stretching over acres before returning to the nature reserve.


Climb the stile and


take the path immediately in front of


you. This runs parallel with the River Idle which will remain on your right for most of the route back. You will


eventually come to a limestone path which circumnavigates the caravan park/fishing grounds. Walk straight along this path as it meanders, remaining on it as you pass the lakes, again keeping the river to you right. You will then reach a further fence/gate which marks the end of the fishing grounds, and the boundary of the I.V.N.R. Walk through the gate and along the main path. Remain on it which later makes a 90 degree bend to the left. Look for the nature reserve’s large lake on the left which is home to over 250 different species of birds including the rare Green Sandpiper.


Stay on the main path until it will eventually re-emerge into the main car park, and back from whence you departed.


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