Farnsfield – The Plough Inn

The Walk Leaving the inn, turn left on to Main Street, then half-left again into Brickyard Lane opposite.

This is first a tarmac surface, between attractive houses, but it becomes a rough track shortly after leaving the red-bricked Farnsfield House on the left. (This building has a former pumping station behind it) Soon a little foot path on your left – well trodden but easily missed – leads through the hedge to a signpost and the Southwell Trail. This used to be the Farnsfield to Southwell railway line, but is now a popular walkway. Do not turn on to the Trail, but cross it at the sign- post. Look out for cyclists as you cross for they don’t often ring bells these days!

The path is indicated slightly left of ahead, but if a crop prevents access, go left along the hedgerow, turning right with it to your former direction until at the top of the long field the hedgerow turns right again, where you pick up an unfenced lane at a yellow marker post.

The direct track through the crop will meet also at this point. 2. Turn left on the lane, following it with the buildings of Lower Hexgreave Farm behind trees on your left.

At a wide cross-road junction, turn half-left at the lane leading only to Lower Hexgreave Farm, to find the half-hidden stile in the hedgerow opposite.

Take the path through to an opening opposite, on to a green field. On the far side of that, another fence- gate leads to the open tree-studded Hexgreave parkland. Hexgreave Hall will be visible half-left among trees, above a ha-ha wall.

Continue straight ahead by a long new fence behind which you may see the deer. At the yellow marker post on the far side go through a tall gate in the fence, turning half-left through trees to a wide metalled road, following a beautiful avenue of lime trees 3. The entrance and various office buildings of Hexgreave Hall are both sides of this avenue.

Continue along here for a good 1/2 mile to its southern end. A farm track soon comes in from the left along here.

A footpath on the right, part way along, suggests short cut. It’s worth it only if there is no field crop. The stile on the far side may be down and very overgrown.

Turn right at the end of the avenue, then left again 4. at the entrance to Cockett Barn Farm on to a straight metalled road.

Pass through the South Lodge exit of Hexgreave Park, then the Southwell Trail, to reach the outskirts of Farnsfield. 5. Turn left along Far Back Lane (name plate may be obscured by the hedge) through to the rear entrance of the Inn’s car park on your right.