Fifteen Pathfinders enjoyed a lovely, gentle five-mile sunny walk in October. We started from the car park at the South Forest Complex, Edwinstowe and made our way through a nearby housing estate to the Dukeries Pub. From there, we joined the footpath that runs alongside the old Thoresby Colliery railway line towards Ollerton. This track was once part of the old Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway (LD&ECR) and later served both Thoresby Colliery and the High Marnham Test Track.

After carefully crossing the busy A614, we followed a footpath and bridleway to Rufford Abbey. The Abbey began life as a 12th-century Cistercian monastery before being dissolved by Henry VIII and turned into a private country house by the Talbot family. Over the centuries it’s seen plenty of changes, and today the beautiful ruins and grounds form part of Rufford Abbey Country Park, managed by Nottinghamshire County Council.

Unfortunately, long queues at the Coach House Café put paid to our coffee stop, but some clever members came prepared with their own drinks—or made a beeline for the ice-cream parlour (no queues there… can’t imagine why on a chilly day!). Suitably refreshed, we made our way back to the starting point.

Our next outing will be on Thursday 4th December—a leisurely 3-mile walk around Sherwood Forest. We’ll start and finish at the Royal Oak, Edwinstowe, and those who fancy lunch afterwards are very welcome to join us there.

If you are not on the Pathfinder email distribution list and you would you’d like to come along—just for the walk, or for the walk and lunch—please drop me an email at groupconvenor.mansfield@gmail.com