Length: 17.7 km (11 miles) - Ascent: 228m - Terrain: Sections of pavement, well made tracks and bridleways, footpaths, woodland.

This walk starts at the Black Bull in Blidworth and follows a loop of the Robin Hood trail, which runs from Nottingham Castle to Edwinstowe. From Blidworth we descend to Fountain Dale and Friar Tuck’s Well, then into Harlow Wood. The path crosses the A60 at Portland College and into Thieves Wood before turning south through the grounds of Newstead Abbey to Papplewick. From here, we head through woodland before crossing the A60 again at Ravenshead. The path then heads back towards Blidworth, offering great views along the way. It’s a fairly long route but quite flat, with some gentle undulation and plenty of good views. You’ll have certainly earned a pint by the end! The Black Bull is an attractive, family-run pub, with an inviting whitewashed and black-timbered frontage. The bar, which occupies the space to the front of the pub, has low timbered ceilings and a cladded bar with an attractive red and black tiled floor. There is a leather three-piece suite to sink into while you enjoy your pint. A log burner warms the space in colder months. Up to five ales are served, with Welbeck Abbey ‘Cavendish’, Church End ‘Goats Milk’ and Bradfield ‘Farmers Steel Cow’ available on my visit. I opted for the Goats Milk, an award-winning pale from the Warwickshire brewery, which went down very nicely. It’s a while since I’ve seen a Church End beer, which is a shame, as their range is excellent. To the rear of the pub is another room which is used as a restaurant, where local produce is served. Four rooms are available for overnight stays and the pub opens from 8am to serve breakfast. Beer is served from 10am MonSat and noon on a Sunday.

Route - From the Black Bull, turn left and head west along Main Street, passing the Bird in Hand pub before crossing at the church of St Mary onto Ricket Lane (1). After around 150m, go through the gate on your right, following the path down the field, then through the next. Head slightly left along the only obvious path, following it as it snakes through the field and across another before arriving on New Lane (2). Turn left and follow the unmade road for 1.1km before turning right at the Public Bridleway sign to Providence Farm (3). Follow this track for 500m, veering left as you approach the farm buildings. Cross the stream and head through the trees before turning left and following the wide track, heading west (4). The path meanders along the dale and into the greater wood - follow the path for 2.1km, ignoring all turnings and side paths until just short of the A60 (5). Take the right fork and follow the path for roughly 250m with the road to your left, arriving at the perimeter fence of Portland College (6). Turn left and walk to the A60, cross carefully and proceed into Thieves wood along the clear path. After around 400m the part veers right and then after another 200m it joins a much wider track (7). Turn left and head south for 800m, arriving at Thieves wood car park (8). Walk through the car park and follow the path from the bottom end along Coxmoor Road B6139 to the junction with Kirkby Road B6020, turning left and following the thin pavement. After approx. 160m cross the road and head through the metal kissing-gate following the waymarked path (9). After 120m, veer left and follow the footpath for approx. 1.2km before crossing the road into Newstead Abbey (10). Follow the path opposite, it will eventually join a narrow road - turn left here and continue south, eventually following the path to the right of the house then through a large gate (11). Follow the bridleway south for just over a kilometre where it’ll change to Hall Lane, passing large houses to the right. Follow it to the end where it will meet Blidworth Waye B683 (12). Turn left and cross the road, picking up the roadside public footpath which winds alongside the road for approx. 800m. Arriving at the two large metal gates (13), turn right following the marked path across the field, past the pylon. At the bottom, turn left and follow the path alongside the woodland before going trough the gate and slightly right through the trees. Follow the path for approx. 450m before alighting on a track. Cross over and take the footpath to the right of the wood which turns left slightly before following the field edge to the A60 (14). Carefully cross the road and proceed along Kighill Lane. At the end of the road, cross over Longdale Lane onto Chapel Lane before turning immediately right onto the marked footpath (15). Follow the footpath for almost 2km, arriving at the B6020 (16). Turn right keeping to the right of the road, cross Calverton Road and after 100m, turn right into the field following the Public Footpath sign (17). Follow this path across the field, through an allotment, then another series of smaller fields before alighting on Field Lane (18). Turn left and head up the hill back to the Black Bull.