The Oaklands & Scaddows
A pretty circular walk on the outskirts of Ticknall. There is a section of road and it crosses fields that do have sheep in on occasions so you should take leads for dogs. Owners of larger dogs also need to note that several of the stiles are not dog friendly (you may need to lift them over). Do expect vegetation (including brambles) on the track through the woods to be quite well grown at this time of year.*If you wish to avoid the section along Ashby Road, Ticknall there is a public footpath marked on the map which leads off by ‘The Orchards’ and rejoins the road near ‘Jasmine Cottage’. As this path seems to end via someone's garden I have not included it. You will find it marked on the ordnance survey map if you would prefer to follow this route.*
This walk takes around 1½ hours, and passes close to the rear of Scaddows Farm Shop where there is also a café.
Leave Ashby via Smisby Road, passing over the by-pass onto the B5006 towards Ticknall. After a couple of miles turn left onto Coal Lane (signed Hartshorne). Just after the bend in the road there is space to pull in on the right.
Go through the entrance by the pull in to enter The Oaklands, a pretty area of new woodland with wide, grassy paths. Take the path straight ahead of you, following it down to a wooden barrier with a ‘No Horses’ sign. Continuing ahead through the gap keep an eye out for a narrow track leading off right into woodland (just after passing the pond, and where the path starts to bend left). This is a public footpath but little is left of the signs to see and it is quite hard to see as there is so much foliage at this time of year. There is a fascinating old stone by the entrance to the path.
Follow this track taking the left fork after 20 yards to go into the woodland. Keep on this path right through the wood, it passes over several fallen tress and is narrow and well grown in places. As you near the end of the woods bear left to pass around the edge of a marshy bit and you will see a stile leading into the fields. Go up the field edge and over a further stile to reach a track where the path turns right to cross the fields behind Scaddows Farm.
Stay straight ahead on this path as it crosses firstly a field where dogs must be on leads and then passes across the tops of 2 fields of strawberries. Contine straight on until you will cross over a narrow plank bridge and stile, then bear left to emerge onto the Hartshorne to Ticknall Road by Scaddows Cottage.
Turn right and keep to the verge for 100 yards to find a wooden pubic footpath sign which takes you off to the left onto a clear path over the fields. Follow this path until you emerge onto Ashby Road, Ticknall - take care here as you come out directly onto the road. Cross over to reach the pavement and turn right. Walk alongside the road for about a mile (*there is an optional footpath here that avoids some of this road section, see notes on the right*). You can keep to the pavement as you leave Ticknall until you get to the bus shelter, then you will need to use the grass verge as you pass Top Farm.
Cross back over when you reach the public footpath on your right, just after Jasmine Cottage and close to the PYO sign. Keep to the right hand side of the field until you are near the top and then bear left so that you are walking parallel to the top of the field. This will lead you through a gap and there is now woodland next to the field edge on your right. At the top corner of this field cross the stile close to the end of the woodland. A short narrow track leads you back public footpath you took at the start and into The Oaklands. Turn left up the wide path to return to the start.
Walk by Liz (Ashby Life)
