Around Southwell

The small Nottinghamshire market town of Southwell is dominated by its 12th-century minster, which was technically elevated to the status of a cathedral when the new Diocese of Southwell was created in 1884. Make sure you set aside some time to explore this spacious and splendid building, which has a fine example of a Norman nave, plus a chapter house containing intricate 13th-century carvings of leaves, which were supposedly modelled on trees from the old Sherwood Forest. Outside are the ruins of an earlier archbishops’ palace, while the two distinctive conical towers make the minster a recognisable landmark from several points on the walk. The tempting Minster Refectory and shop are also well placed to round off your visit. 

Halfway around the walk, amid the rows of soft fruit and orchards, you’ll notice a rather grand-looking house over to your left and a small fishing lake to your right. This is all part of Norwood Park, the last surviving of four elegant parks created around Southwell for the Archbishop of York, since Southwell was originally one of three collegiate churches in the huge York Diocese (the others were Beverley and Ripon).

An apple a day…

Another of Southwell’s claims to fame involves the humble apple. According to the well-told story, in 1809 a local girl called Mary Ann Brailsford planted some apple pips in her garden on Church Street, one of which grew particularly vigorously. After the cottage was sold to Matthew Bramley around 1850 a local nurseryman named Henry Merryweather noticed the thriving tree and asked if he could take a cutting. Bramley agreed, but said that if the fruit should prove commercially successful it must bear his name. Of course, the propagation was a success and the classic English cooking apple has never looked back. It’s remembered locally in the Southwell Galette, a delectable pastry confection of sultanas, hazelnuts and Bramley apples. 

Such is the appeal of this enduring and popular English cooking apple, that along some of the route of the walk you will see waymarkers for the Bramley Apple Trail and there’s even an annual festival celebrating the humble fruit when all manner of food, drinks and other apple-related products are promoted.

The last days of a king

As you walk through the centre of Southwell at the beginning of the walk you pass a 16th-century inn originally called the King’s Head. Here Charles I spent his last hours of freedom before surrendering to the Scottish army, which was based at Newark Castle. The inn’s name was changed to the Saracen's Head when Charles was beheaded.

From the car park, facing the minster, turn right on to Church Street and walk up to the junction at the top in the town centre. Turn right opposite the Saracen’s Head, then cross the road and turn left into Queen Street. Follow this for 350yds (320m), then turn left on to a short drive, opposite a road called Ropewalk. 

At the end continue uphill on an alleyway by a school, and at the far corner turn right along the top of the playing field. At a junction of paths go forwards, down a few steps, and straight on along a path behind back gardens, keeping in the same direction. Ignore all turnings off left and right until eventually you cross a road.

Continue on a field-edge path (not the driveway next to it) on the far side. Where this approaches a road bend turn sharply right for a short path across the field. Cross the road at the far side and go through a gap in the hedge to pick up a broad track past a fruit farm. Continue ahead until you reach an open junction of paved lanes.

Keep straight ahead, signposted 'public footpath', past the golf course on your right, then clubhouse and driving range on the left. At the road at the end turn right, then turn left on to a Maythorne Lane. After a couple of bends the lane is crossed by the former Mansfield–Southwell railway line, now the Southwell Trail.

For a direct return to Southwell turn right here; otherwise continue to the far end of the lane and go through the former Maythorne Mill in order to turn left, across the bridge and through the gate, and then veer right at a choice of paths. Go over a short footbridge and stile, and turn right for a riverside path along the River Greet for just over a mile (1.6km). 

At another converted mill building turn right on to Station Road and walk up past the Southwell Trail car park and The Final Whistle pub to the crossroads. Go over this and up the tree-lined Burgage Green to the war memorial. Take the side road half left, and at the end turn left on to Burgage Lane. Just before Hill House turn right on to a narrow alleyway called Becher’s Walk down to Church Street. Turn right for the minster and car park.