Summary: This pre-Xmas dinner walk is open to all who fancy a walk with me in this attractive location in and around Rufford Country Park. This is a very pleasant and easy-going walk and one to savour!!!
The walk in a nutshell…… After leaving the coach 
we revisit the A614 again but only briefly as we soon make a turn into ‘May Lodge Drive’. I mention this because this road is adorned on both sides with beautiful grand houses and gardens. Following that pleasurable meander we make the transition onto the Robin Hood Way and soon find ourselves walking on and along a Golf Course… all with easy-going paths (tarmac tracks).
We change direction just before reaching North Laithes and then walk along field edges and across fields too, all perfectly sound in their makeup. After crossing a disused rail track we pick up a lane that will take us to a road on the outskirts of Wellow. Heading towards Wellow, we get to the centre of the village 
where a very tall Maypole proudly stands. For your information the village green, where the Maypole is permanently located, is a rare triangular shape. The point of the isosceles triangle is aimed directly at Nottingham Castle and it has the same proportions as a medieval arrowhead. The annual Ribbon Dancing takes place around the Maypole and is hosted on Spring Bank Holiday Monday every year.
Shortly after leaving the Maypole we negotiate some school grounds where we shortly arrive at the same disused rail line that we crossed earlier. This time, however, the ground is a lot higher than it was before, resulting in quite steep steps (both down and then up). I counted 71 steps on the ‘up’ and can only guess that there’ll be 71 steps downwards too?.... we will need to take our time going downwards. A slight hill has to be negotiated now, not steep in anybody’s language. That done, the Rufford Hills Farm circumnavigated, and mastering three styles (one a tricky one because 
of prickly Holly!!!), we head for Rufford Mill at the top end of Rufford Lake. A pleasant amble along the edge of the water brings us to the remains of Rufford Abbey and the visitor centre where the seasonal stores, café and visitor centre are and shortly afterwards…… our coach!!!
This is not a difficult walk – it is ideal for working up an appetite before our Xmas Lunch.
ENJOY YOUR DAY!!!
'C' Walk - Leader- Jane Taylor. Distance - 3.4 miles. Ascent - 124 ft. Grade - easy. Anticlockwise.
Being a Nottinghamshire Lass, Worksop born and bred, I look forward to an opportunity to spend time in the area. On our recce the low winter sun was shining through the trees and reflecting on the gold-brown leaves that are still hanging on to the increasingly bare branches. 
Rufford Abbey, the destination for this year’s Xmas walk, is south of Worksop near Ollerton and was founded in the 12th Century as a Cistercian monastery within Sherwood Forest, around the time that Robin Hood and his men may have been roaming the area. Since those early days it has undergone several changes of ownership and purpose, including during both the First and Second World Wars.
It was most recently purchased by Nottinghamshire County Council and in 1969 it was designated a Country Park.
Our walk around the park today is a very easy and gentle affair, just enough to stretch our legs and work up an appetite for our Xmas lunch and enjoy one another’s company.
We will begin in the Courtyard Café for our usual morning refreshments then head out to walk around Rufford Lake towards Rufford Mill, walking along the eastern side. We take the bridge over the weir and pass the mill itself, now a wedding venue where we might sit a while if the weather allows to watch the wild birds and take in the view.
We will have walked a little over a mile at this point and my walk from here takes us out of the park and over the A614. Alternatively, anyone who prefers to stay within the park can follow the main footpath or follow the woodland trails back towards the Courtyard Café and the main buildings. You can’t get lost.
Out of the park and over Old Rufford Road we follow a track then turn left before joining the access road to Centre Parks Holiday village. This is a quiet road through the woods with a wide grass verge heading down towards Robin Hood Way 
which we will follow, crossing the main road again back in the direction of Rufford. After passing some very nice properties we find ourselves back at the entrance to the car park and back where we began.
We may have missed this year’s Christmas Market but there is the Gift Shop and the Orangery and Garden Centre for any last-minute shopping or you should have time to explore the gardens and sculpture park………or even visit Santa’s Grotto!
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