The basics The walk is 5 miles (8 kilometres) on good roads or footpaths, mainly through arable land, with few cows or horses. It’s a delightful walk, visiting three attractive local villages, and strolling along the riverside of Nottinghamshire’s most celebrated waterway. You have a choice from three excellent inns for food and drink. We have designed it so that you can start at Hazelford Ferry (parking but no inn), The Bromley at Fiskerton, the Full Moon at Morton or the Waggon and Horses at Bleasby (road parking only). It makes sense not to start on a full meal.

How to get there Follow the A612 from Nottingham or Southwell, go east at Thurgarton, through Goverton, over the level crossing. The Waggon and Horses is on Gypsy Lane, Bleasby, left off Main St; Hazelford Ferry is 3/4 mile further, over the Gibsmere junction; The Bromley is at Fiskerton. Reach the Full Moon at Morton either through Fiskerton or off the A612 corner at the eastern end of Southwell, turning right just after Fiskerton Station. We assume a Hazelford Ferry start – see text for the other alternatives.

View or Download Hazelford Ferry Self-Guided Walk PDF
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Step 1
The Walk (1) There is a walk in both directions along the river, but we go left, through the far gate, downstream along the Trent Valley Way, with tree-covered hills over the water. There is much to see – launches and narrow boats, ducks, swans and herons, with an occasional kingfisher. In Spring you may see several herons nesting in the trees together on the far side – it’s quite a sight.

Step 2
It’s not far to Hazelford Weir and Lock where you are likely to see at least one cormorant perched on the orange barrier, ignoring notices banning fishing. Continue along the obvious path, past the car park, where the path splits. The left path is shorter but not as interesting as the one beside the river, right.

The path goes two ways

Step 3
Our main track is along the field edge, but narrow tracks exist between this and the river, giving closer views of its wildlife, especially at fishing spots. Don’t miss flowers and butterflies in the summer months. The paths can be uneven, so take care here, especially with children.

Heron hunting fish

Step 4
Continue along the flood bank to Fiskerton Wharf and The Bromley, where the wharf has a sheer vertical drop into the deep water, with no guard rail. Keep children well away. (If you start here and the car park is full, the public car park is 3/4 minutes walk further on, overlooking the river. You can walk back along the river side.). Food here is excellent and highly recommended – telephone 01636 830789 to book.

The Bromley

Step 5
(2) Turn left at the pub and left again at the road. The village post office along here is also a useful stop for chocolate, sweets etc. Keeping left, continue round a double bend leaving the village, past Gravelly Lane, until opposite Homestead Cottage, you will find a footpath on the right.

Step 6
Go through the smaller gate, on to a narrow track to the right of another gate. A well-defined path with excellent stiles (some with dog-gates) eventually leads to Morton. A dog-leg may cause confusion – ignore the side path off left and resume the former direction, over a footbridge, passing to the right of a private garden, over a tarmac entrance to reach the road.

Step 7
The Full Moon is visible on the left, but take time to visit St Denis’ Church, invisible in trees on the far right. An ordinary brick building outside, it’s warmly welcoming inside, with a busy vestibule and a simple, exquisitely beautiful interior.

Step 8
Photocopies of birth, marriage and burial certificates from the beginning of the 19th century are on display – a rare sight. Even the churchyard was a delight when we re-walked this in September 2013, with delicate white and pink cyclamen shyly clustered in small groups.

Step 9
(3) Food and drink at the Full Moon are again excellent (reservations on 01636 830251) and can be served outside front and rear. You are left in no doubt what is available – and when. An unusual extra is the life-saving defibrillator opposite the front entrance – presumably to help revive a customer after a night of carousing?

Step 10
Have a meal or a drink, then follow the main street (signed Bleasby/Nottingham) to the next road junction. Turn right on to Gorsy Lane, then after 300 yards, left at the sign, past Fiskerton Lodge Farm to the end of the road and the next field. Cross it and turn right over the kissing- gate, following the hedge row over the fields to Gypsy Lane. You may see one of these monsters spraying the farmer’s crop on your way.

To Fiskerton Lodge Farm

Spraying the crop

Step 11
(4) Keep on in the same direction on Gypsy Lane, round one double bend. (If returning to the Waggon and Horses, stay on Gypsy Lane back to the inn) If continuing to Hazelford, at the next right turn follow this sign on the left, at (5) Take this footpath on to another sign, then turn right with a ditch on your left, over a foot- bridge into the churchyard with St Mary’s on your right, exiting via the gate. Turn left on to Main Street, Bleasby. Continue 1/3 mile to the Gibsmere crossroads, cross over, down Boat Lane to the first bend. You can continue down this busy narrow lane, or perhaps take the footpath on the bend, signed right, following it round parallel to the road, passing what may be a badger sett beside the path. This path soon comes out at Hazelford Residential Home and your parked car.

This walk was updated and partly revised in September 2013, incorporating several modernising changes over the 20 or so years since Peter Fooks first walked it.

Please note – further changes can occur at any time, for which we cannot accept responsibility. If you are aware of any significant alterations, please notify briancluff@talktalk.net. That would be very helpful to everyone. If you enjoyed the walk – or not, please let me have any useful comments.

Map References
Hazelford Ferry SK726 489
Waggon & Horses SK717 497
Full Moon SK726 513
The Bromley SK737 511

Click to enlarge map

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