IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Abbott Crescent, NEWARK, NG22 8LN

The Southwell Trail follows former railway lines. At Farnsfield there was a junction which the Southwell Trail reproduces. In the picture the lefthand fork follows the course of the Rolleston Junction - Mansfield line which here opened in 1871, closed to passengers in 1929 and to all traffic in 1965. The righthand fork follows the course of the former LMS/LNER Joint railway from Farnsfield Junction to Ollerton. The line opened in 1931 and this section closed in 1963. It was purely a mineral railway serving two collieries and never carried passenger traffic.

Near the site of the old Farnsfield Station on the Mansfield, Southwell and Rolleston Junction Railway, built in 1847, closed to passengers in 1959 and wholly in 1964. Behind and straight ahead, the trackbed has been converted into a trail for walkers, cyclists and horseriders known as the Southwell Trail, which runs through from Southwell. To the right is a branch which ran to Ollerton (opened 1931) which has also been converted into a trail.

The Mansfield, Southwell and Rolleston Junction Railway, built in 1847, closed to passengers in 1959 and wholly in 1964 has been converted into a trail for walkers, cyclists and horseriders known as the Southwell Trail, which runs through to Southwell. As is commonly the case, the bridge over Broomfield Lane in Farnsfield has been demolished, resulting in a dip in the trail to cross the Lane at grade.

The dip in the road reflects the fact that there was once an overbridge here, carrying the Southwell to Mansfield railway.

Broomfield Lane crossing in the winter

Sections of the Southwell Trail, the Robin Hood Trail and Route 645 of the National Cycle Network all cross the dipped part of road ahead. The two walkers are leaving behind the section to the north of Farnsfield and are heading towards the northbound (Farnsfield-Cockett Farm) section. There is pedestrian access into the Hexgreave Park Estate ahead and the village of Farnsfield is 10 mins away on foot in the other direction.

In the snow storm.

Sections of the Southwell Trail, the Robin Hood Trail and Route 645 of the National Cycle Network all cross Bloomfield Lane here. Any walkers or cyclists crossing from this side of the road would be leaving behind the section to the north of Farnsfield and once over on the other side they would be heading towards the northbound (Farnsfield-Cockett Farm) section of their walks/rides. To the right there is pedestrian access into the Hexgreave Park Estate within approximately 5-10 minutes and Farnsfield village is 10 mins away on foot in the other direction.