Refreshments

Fiskerton
The Bromley Arms - Bar Meals

Morton The Full Moon - Bar Meals

Bleasby
Wagon & Horses - Bar Meals

Route and Points of Interest For Location Map click here

1. From the car park walk along the river bank towards Fiskerton. King Edwyn’s grant of 956 first mentions the village and ever since has been noted for its fishing. The river Trent and the nearby trout stream - the Greet were so full of fish that the old English name ‘Fiscere’ was added ‘tun’ to mean “the farm of the fishermen” and appeared in the Doomesday book as “Fiscartune”. The fishing is still good to this day as can be verified by the many fisherman “pegged out” along the banks of the Trent. Next to the old wharf is the Bromley Arms. Up until the middle of this century there was a ferry boat service over to the other side of the river at Stoke Field. This is where on 16th June 1487 the armies of Henry VII and the Earl of Lincoln fought which ended the battle of the Roses. This was two years after the defeat of Richard III at the battle of Bosworth. This was In those times the river could be forded and the army of one side crossed over on foot and by horse to meet the enemy at Red Gutter. So named after the severity of the carnage. Some 6000 including the Earl of Lincoln perished. The weirs and locks upstream have now made the river slow and deep. Continue by the river, passing the Bromley Arms and follow the river round through a series of clapper gates until after about 2 kilometres you reach Hazelford lock and weir. Continue along the river for another kilometre to Hazelford ferry. There is car parking here. This used to be an important crossing point of the Trent, taking the main Nottingham to Newark road. Nabbs Island in the river made it fordable and up until recent times O. S. maps showed stepping stones here In the Southwell Charter of 956 it was mentioned a “the paved way” (possibly Roman and in 956 was part of the parish boundary) running through Bleasby to the ford. The large building by the river previously “The Star and Garter Hotel” is now a nursing home.

2.Turn right along the lane at Hazelford ferry. After ˝ kilometre cross over the cross roads and walk down the road to Bleasby and after ˝ kilometre you reach the small church of St Mary. This church dates back to 13th century and rebuilt in 1853. It has a giant cedar tree in its churchyard. Turn right down the lane, passing the Wagon & Horses inn (c17th century, probably once thatched) on the left. Just off the road on the right can be seen the Old Hall. (best view from footpath). The plain exterior of the Old Hall gives little indication of its age or history. In fact it dates back to c1500 when it was much smaller consisting of just a small two storey building with hall and parlour on the ground floor and a bedroom over with a small single storey area with a kitchen and buttery. This would be typical of its time. Between the road and the Old Hall is a small field measuring exactly one furlong. This dates back to well before 16th century when it first appeared on maps.

3. Just past the church turn right down the road, now known as Gypsy Lane. This road was constructed in 18th century and follows very old field boundaries until you meet the main Fiskerton - Bleasby road. After about 1 kilometre there is a sharp bend in the road to the right and a footpath that goes straight on Take this footpath over the wooden style and follow the left hand field boundary, then over a second style to a gap in the hedge at the end of the next field still following the hedge on your left. About 15m before the end of this next field there is a gap in the hedge, cross over the style into the next field.

4. Follow this footpath keeping the hedge to your right and at the end of the field you join a farm track to the right of Fiskerton Grange. Follow the track to the road and turn right towards Morton.

5. After about 200m take the left at the Y fork in the road into Morton. Continue through the delightful village of Morton, past the Full Moon Inn and after 100m take the footpath on your right. The small and pretty Church approximately 100m further on down the main road dates back to 1756 approx. and serves both the villages of both Morton and Fiskerton.

6. The footpath initially goes down a driveway towards a detached house and then passes by the left hand side of the house down a narrow path between fences. Cross over a small footbridge taking the path to the left which leads to a gap in the hedge into a field. Although the footpath generally goes in a straight line for the next kilometer it crosses from field to field. Initially follow the left hand field boundary and once you have passed under power cables take the style into the next field with the hedge now on your right. Cross over two styles close together into the next field. After approximately 200m cross over into the adjacent field and continue to follow the hedge passing through the style by the right side of a metal gate. Follow this long grassy strip to another metal gate and cross the wooden style on the left back into the large field. Follow this footpath with the hedge now to your left until you reach the Fiskerton to Bleasby road. Turn right towards Bleasby. Take care here, the road is busy and their is no footpath. After 150m take the path to the left.

7. Follow this old sunken tree lined path, back to the river Trent. This path appears to be very ancient and leads back to the river. It was probably the road from the ferry leading towards Nottingham. At the river turn left, returning past the Bromley Arms and then back to the car park and your start point.