Best walks in Nottinghamshire by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in Nottinghamshire and plan your next day of green.
Nottingham Station to East Midlands Parkway Station
18km. Gentle ascents. 4h30–8h.
Canal, river, wooded track, and roadside footpath. Short stretch on busy A453.
Lunch stops: Wilford Farm (1h30–2h30 in), or Dovecote Barn Café (3h–5h30 in).
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Attenborough Station Circular via Nature Reserve
15m direct from Nottingham.
15km. Flat terrain. 4h–6h30.
Good paths, nature reserve, canal, and river. Check for flooding.
Lunch stops in Beeston Lock (1h–2h in): the Riverside Bar, Boathouse Cafe, or Canal Heritage Centre. Other lunch stop: Restaurant Sat Bains (2h–3h30 in).
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Burton Joyce Station to Fiskerton Station
15m direct from Nottingham.
17km. Flat terrain. 4h30–7h30.
Riverside, good paths, and open views. Irregular train times.
Lunch stops in Gunthorpe (3h–5h in): the Unicorn Hotel, the Anchor, or Tom Browns.
End-of-walk rewards: the Wheatsheaf Inn, or the Cross Keys.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
East Midlands Parkway Station Circular via Gotham
15m direct from Nottingham.
19km. Moderate ascents. 5h–8h30.
Lunch stops in Gotham (3h–5h in): the Sun Inn, the Cuckoo Bush Inn, or the Star Inn.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Bingham Station Circular via Screveton
15m direct from Nottingham.
Easy: 12km, flat terrain. 3h30–5h30.
Village greens and countryside.
Lunch stops: Caffe Velo Verde (1h30–2h30 in), or the Royal Oak (2h–4h in).
End-of-walk reward: the Butter Cross.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Lowdham Station to Burton Joyce Station
15m direct from Nottingham.
15km. Flat terrain. 4h–7h.
Countryside and river.
Lunch stops in Gunthorpe (3h–4h30 in): the Anchor, or the Unicorn Hotel. Other lunch stops: the World's End (30m in), or the Red Lion (2h–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Wheatsheaf Inn, the Cross Keys, or the Lord Nelson.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Fiskerton Station Circular via Southwell
30m direct from Nottingham.
13km. Gentle ascents. 3h30–6h.
River, lanes, and racecourse.
Lunch stop: Southwell Minster Refectory Café (2h30–4h in).
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Beeston Station to Ilkeston Station
5m direct from Nottingham.
15km.
Urban and suburban streets, golf-course path, woodland, abandoned canal towpath (partly waterlogged), and active canal towpath. Bennerley Viaduct gives expansive valley views — Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station is visible 10+ miles distant. Approximate walking time 4–5 hours. Heavy traffic at the dual-carriageway crossing near Nottingham; canal paths shared with cyclists.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Hucknall Station to Newstead Station
15m direct from Nottingham.
9km.
Tranquil river crossing through gently hilly, wooded Sherwood Forest country. Suburban footpaths, parkland, field paths, woodland, riverside, and gravel tracks. Newstead Abbey was Lord Byron's ancestral seat; Byron is buried at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Hucknall. Newstead Colliery (closed 1987) has a pit-wheel monument on the route.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Radcliffe Station Circular via Rockley Memorial Park
15m direct from Nottingham.
2km. 1h.
Village streets and pavements with views over the River Trent and the Triassic red shale cliffs. Set on the south bank cliffs overlooking the River Trent. The "Rad" in Radcliffe is Old English for the dark red colour of the cliffs.