Nottingham 1

Walk Details:
Date: 27/4/2007
Total ascent: 34m/ 112ft
Total distance walked: 2.04 miles
Walkers: Anth, Jim
Car Parking: We parked on Knowle Lane in Swingate at SK 503 442.
Accessibility: Public footpath takes you close to top. Top is on far side of field from footpath – there are gaps in the boundary hedge into the field but it is private land.

Top details:
Name: M1
County top number: 145 of 206
Grid reference: SK 50660 43285
Height above sea level: 130m/ 427ft
Description/Notes: The highest point in Nottingham Unitary Authority is an indeterminate point near a small copse of trees a few dozen metres from the M1. Mapperley (see separate report) is also the same height.

The Walk:

This one had a challenging start. We found the stile at the start of the public footpath (it’s at the south-east corner of the recreation ground at the end of Knowle Lane in Swingate). We followed a faint path into a field of pasture, where it swiftly disappeared and walking became tiring in the knee-deep grass with hidden potholes. The real challenge came at the far end of the field where we couldn’t get out. Beyond, according to the map, the path was meant to cross a farmyard, but the exit appeared to have been chained off. After a brief search for other exits, we realised that the chains were just a cunning new variant on a stile – pulling a hinged post aside, we were able to step through and continue on our way.

From here on it was a mile long trudge along a farm track to our destination. In one of the gardens behind us there was a derelict half-size windmill; in front of us the occasional rabbit ran across the path. Otherwise there was nothing to enliven the journey bar the steadily growing noise from the M1 ahead.

On reaching the M1, the track turned sharply left and upwards to reach a farm bridge over the motorway. Strangely, according to the OS map, the public footpath stops dead at the turn – what’s the point in that? We, however, quickly nipped up to the bridge as it was the only photoworthy (at a push!) point in the area.

The actual high point was close to the bridge, across the far side of a ploughed field; an indeterminate point where the unitary boundary ran along the edge of a copse. As the field contained no crops we took the opportunity to nip across and bag it, after which we returned slightly dispiritedly and longing for breakfast from whence we’d come.

Verdict:
A fairly miserable top, of interest to only the most committed county top baggers.