Start Point: BBC Nottingham, London Road, Nottingham.
Nottingham Tourist Information:0115 915 5330
Distance: approx 3.2km (2 miles)
Time: approx 1' 10"hour
Walk Conditions:
Paths are well made (pavements) although by the canalside they do vary in width and are less well made. During wet conditions they will get muddy. Because Nottingham was built on a hill there are several steep climbs but remember, there's no rush so just take your time. Because of the good paths the route is wheelchair and buggy friendly although you might need help up the hills and you might have to take street level paths instead of the route along the canal.
We'll
start at the headquarters of the BBC in Nottingham but as this is a circular
walk feel free to pick up the route wherever you like. This is one of the main routes into Nottingham and also an area undergoing tremendous redevelopment. One of Nottingham's key industries, Boots, used to be based on the site now occupied by the BBC and others.
Decades ago you'd be able to see hundreds of pied wagtails gathered in the trees on the site. They'd been drawn to the city because of the warmth it offered.
Cross
the road by the pedestrian crossing close to the Pizza Savai restaurant.
Take care and observe the signals. This is a busy road.
Head on up Hollowstone but just after Dancin' International (a shop selling
dancing clothes and shoes) turn left and left again. This is Chardlace
Walk.
Here you'll see the sandstone rock on which Nottingham is sat. This rock
is millions of years old. You can see evidence of bedding planes and different
strengths of rock. Some has deteriorated quicker than others hence the
holes that have appeared.
You'll also see how vegetation has adapted to grow within the smallest amount of soil found on these rocky outcrops.
Turn
back the way you came back onto Hollowstone. Turn left straight away (this
is still Hollowstone). Don't go past the National Ice Centre on your right.Nottingham is famous for its caves that were inhabited up until Victorian times. This is a great area to see the caves up close (although if you want to go into them you'll have to go on the official cave visit based in the Broadmarsh shopping centre).
They used to be used for habitation, storing ale and as tanneries. Nowadays they are homes to several varieties of bat including pipistrell and long eared.
You've
now reached High Pavement and one of the first buildings you'll see on your
left is the Old Shire Hall. Nowadays it's better known as the Galleries of Justice. If you want to find out more about law and order in Nottingham then you might want to consider stopping off here.
You might be feeling tired after a long climb up Hollowstone but you've now reached the summit. This is the top of the mound on which the original Nottingham town was built.
When the Anglo Saxons colonised Nottinghamshire they established the fortified borough of Snotengaham on a steep sandstone outcrop. The name meant the "ham" of the people of Snot. Luckily for the locals the Normans later dropped the unattractive "S".
Welcome
to Weekday Cross. This was the site of the market-place of Nottingham in
the days before the Norman Conquest. This section of the walk is the perfect example of the old mixing with the new. Next to Weekday Cross you'll see a tram line (and maybe even a tram!), Nottingham's newest mode of cross-city transport. It was opened in 2004.
Carry on down Middle Pavement and across Low Pavement. Cross into Castle Gate and head towards the Royal Children. Cross the busy Maid Marian Way and carry on towards the castle.
Greeted
by the famous statue of Robin Hood, you're now in the shadow of Nottingham
Castle. There's plenty to read about Nottingham castle and if you want you can take a look around, but how about getting up close and personal and looking at the less obvious.
You can see some bricks that look out of place. They are tell-tales, put in to check the movement of the castle back in 1939. Thankfully they haven't moved very much which shows the building has solid foundations.
Carry
on around the castle walls until you get to the Trip to Jerusalem, the oldest
pub in Britain.If you don't fancy a pint continue on to the Brewhouse Yard, which gives you the chance to relive Nottingham life through the ages.
In the grounds there's a hornbeam, a tree grown in Epping forest to supply local bakeries with wood. It's not common to Nottingham.
Carry on along Castle Boulevard towards the Nottingham Evening Post offices.
Turn
right into Wilford Street and head towards the Navigation Inn.Go past the pub and over the white and green bridge. You'll see a sign leading towards the canal towpath. Follow it.
Walk straight on for about fifty yards. You'll come to
a fenced off area and to your left you'll see a tunnel and overgrown vegetation.
This is Tinker's Leen, an overspill from the River Leen.
The canal is also home to a range of wildlife. Heron,
kingfishers, grey and pied wagtails, moor hens can all be seen (if you're
lucky). There are also fish although you can't really appreciate what
can be seen because of the discoloured canal water.
Many years ago there would have been cracked willow trees all along the
canal. All villages used to have willow beds because the wood was used
for basket making. It was the only carrying facility of its time. Today
the canal is mainly used by pleasure and narrow boats.
Above
the canal you'll see the Station Street stop of the new Nottingham tram
system that was opened in 2004. Just beyond you can see the Midland train
station.This and the surrounding area was once known as the Broad Marsh. It was just that - a boggy area. Today it shows how much the city has grown. The marsh was drained, initially for agriculture but latterly for construction.
Today it is an area under regeneration. As you make your
way back to BBC Nottingham you might find you are prevented walking along
the canal because of construction work. If so head towards the Midland
Station and walk down Station Street. This lead to London Road. Turn left
and you will see the BBC Nottingham headquarters - your start and end
point.
This part of the city is being redeveloped. Soon it'll be home to bars,
shops and cafes.
