Best walks to or from Worksop

Worksop Station to Retford Station

an excellent route; very enjoyable. An off-road and peaceful route using byways, the Chesterfield Canal towpath, farm tracks and with some walking through housed areas on safe pavements at either end. The canal section can get hemmed in by bracken and undergrowth; no serious hills. Follows the Chesterfield Canal towpath; passes Babworth Church, linked to the Pilgrim Fathers, with a display board; few benches in the middle third.

17km.

Lunch: The Chequers pub at Ranby is the only refreshment option in the middle third and needs a detour off the towpath; stock up at the start otherwise.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Shirebrook Station to Worksop Station

An excellent route. A fairly direct, mostly off-road route on good traffic-free tracks, old railway path and field/parkland through the Welbeck Estate, with some pasture (potential cattle) and 3 stiles and 4 short flights of steps near Worksop. Some pavement walking from the stations at either end. Passes through the Welbeck Estate and Creswell Crags; the path runs over a tunnel created by the 5th Duke of Portland; a loop into Creswell village offers shops, buses and trains halfway.

19km.

Steps at the crossing of the A57, which has no assistance for walkers; two further road crossings need care; pasture fields on the fringe of parkland mean potential cattle.

Lunch stop: Creswell Crags Visitor Centre cafe.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Kiveton Bridge Station to Worksop Station

An excellent route; There are always good views, changing with the seasons. Highly recommended; This is a route to be enjoyed! An easy, flat, direct route running virtually all along the Chesterfield Canal towpath, part of the well-signed Cuckoo Way. The towpath is mostly a bonded or stone surface, with some muddy stretches where the right-of-way path runs north of the canal and plus passages through landscaped former-colliery land and community woodland. A few steps at Turnerwood. Follows the Cuckoo Way along the Chesterfield Canal, with many locks and canal information boards. Turnerwood is a Conservation Area. Served by four stations along the way for bailing out, and passes Kiveton Community Woodland.

11km. Moderate ascents.

Parts of the path on the north side of the canal can be muddy after wet weather. A few steps at Turnerwood spoil the otherwise easy going.

Lunch: Pubs and cafes along or just off the route at Kiveton Park station and Shireoaks, plus a shop at the Shireoaks road crossing.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route