Tarvin Walks – River Gowy & Walkmill
Start at the Car Park at the top of the playing fields and walk down pass the guide & scout huts, bowling green & tennis courts to the community centre and library. Leave via Meadow Close, the cul-de-sac leading to Crossfields. Turn left there to reach Hockenhull Lane, and turn right to follow the lane bearing left upon cycle route 71 until reaching the A51 bypass road. Go through gates and carefully cross the A51. Go up the lane opposite until it bends right towards Hockenhull Hall, where you bear left on the track by the outbuildings. At gaps in the hedge, look back to see the Hall. The ancient Hockenhull family were living in Hockenhull township in the 12th century.The present hall was begun in the late17th century and sold in 1713 to Hugh Wishaw who enlarged it. Continue down the track to the T junction with Platts Lane
Turn rightto the medieval packhorse bridges. These have low parapets to allow ponies laden with panniers to cross easily. They are surfaced with both setts and cobbles. There is a poplar plantation opposite. Cross all bridges onto tarmac road for 300 yds. Turn left towards Cross farm. After 100 yds turn left through gate. Follow RH boundary for 130 yds to stile. Cross track and stile aiming just left of earth embankment. At this embankment aim ahead for first tree. At tree follow marker aiming for distant footbridge to stile. Cross field over 2 stiles and plank aiming for footbridge over Gowy, then head over the field towards the painted house of Stapleford Mill Farm. Bear right to a gateway, and follow waymarks to stile left of the bridge sited on its sandstone bed. Maybe this was the ford after which the bridge and farm are named.
Turn right onto the road for 150yds. then turn left at the bend onto footpath. The right of way goes across the slightly rising field towards a solitary slate roof to arrive between the river and the pool and building of Walk Mill. There is however a permissive path which aims to the right of the opposite trees and pond, reaching right to a good path to the mill. This rebuilt mill with its undershot waterwheel has a café where walkers are welcome. Its history can be explored inside, as can the milling of its flour from which home-baked bread and cakes are made and sold.
After the Mill, cross the river and go straight ahead through trees to a stile and footbridge. After a second stile, head diagonally left across the field to a water trough, then follow the hedge on your left to a stile by the gate. Climb over, turn left onto the track and left again over a stile by a small building. Skirt the edge of the gardens of Stapleford Hall, passing through a gate. Turn left onto the tree lined drive. At the road, go right with care, then left at the cobbles of Cross Lanes Farm. Continue carefullyfor 400 yds, then fork left into Broomheath Lane.
Alternative return using permissive bridleway: about 1 mile extra.
After the Mill retrace steps across field. Go right at road to Ford Bridge. Continue on road with care for 500 yds to a gateway on left opposite Smithy Farm. A map on a post shows the permissive path. Keep the hedge on your left round 3 sides of the first field, then double back at the gap, still keeping the hedge on your left. At the bottom is a ditch marking the parish boundary between Hockenhull & Bruen Stapleford. Follow the ditch/hedge still keeping it on your left. Pass through a narrow gap towards a barn. Skirt the copse into another field, bearing left all round the edge to a gate onto the road opposite Long Acre. Turn left then fork left into Broomheath Lane.
Go straight on at the crossroads at The Sheaf. Note the boulder protecting the corner of the 3 storey building. Reach the gate at the end. Cross the A51 with care. After passing through the gate pass the first left signposted as the bridle path and take the second left signposted as Community Woodland . Continue along the woodland walk passing over Hockenhull Lane and then onto the Townfields lane. Go along the lane until reaching the A54 main road, then turn immediate right to enter the car park and complete the walk.