Nottinghamshire & Lincolnshire

Clumber on the war path circular walk

A black and white sepia photograph of a group of soldiers in dress uniforms, the 206th Battalion at Clumber Park in 1913 — The 206th Battalion at Clumber Park in 1913 | © National Trust

This walk is dedicated to the men of Clumber who served and died in the Great War (1914–1918). It follows a circuit that takes in both sides of Clumber Lake, woodland, heathland and the war memorial.

Near to

Clumber Park

Start point

National Trust Clumber Park main car park, grid ref: SK625746

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 6 (km: 9.6)

Duration4 hours

Not suitable for dogs

*The route is on woodland and heathland paths, with some roads. For further details, see Terrain section.
**Some moderate slopes, uneven ground and gates. For further details, see Access section.

Remembering our heroes of the First World War

The Look Out For sections on our walking trails usually highlight points of interest along the route. However, for this walk, each one remembers one of the men who worked on the Clumber estate for the Duke of Newcastle and lost their lives while serving their country.

Address
Clumber Park main car park, Clumber Park, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 3BE
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Worksop station is 4.5 miles (7.2km) from Clumber Park. Retford is 6.5 miles (10.5km) away.
By bus
Services run from Nottingham and Worksop to Carburton, 2.5 miles (4km) away.
Cycling
National Cycle Network Route 6 runs through Clumber between Worksop and Mansfield.
By road
The route begins 4.5 miles (7.2km) south-east of Worksop, 6.5 miles (10.5km) south-west of Retford, 1 mile (1.6km) from the A1/A57 and 11 miles (17.7km) from M1 junction 30.
Car park
The route starts and ends at the National Trust's Clumber Park main car park.
Toilet
There are toilets, including baby changing, at the visitor facilities at the start of the walk. There are also toilets near Hardwick village car park.
Café
There is a café at the visitor facilities at the start of the walk.
Shop
There is a general shop, a bookshop and a shop selling plants in the Laundry Cottage.
Cycle hire
Cycle hire is available.
The walk includes some moderate uphill and downhill gradients, some uneven ground and some sections on roads. There are kissing gates to go through but no stiles to climb.
Designated parking
There is an accessible car park close to the visitor facilities. If you require these spaces, please tell a member of staff on entry.
Accessible toilet
There are accessible toilets at the Turning Yard, Discovery Centre, main café, walled kitchen garden and Garden Tea House.
Steps/uneven terrain
Total stages: 14
Total stages: 14
Start point
National Trust Clumber Park main car park, grid ref: SK625746
Stage 1
Leave the Turning Yard and head towards the shop. Go through the door in the wall and exit through the wooden gates to the left of the shop. Turn right and cross the road.
Private George Carter 6715
George enlisted in Sheffield on 11 September 1914 . He was living in Worksop and working as an estate clerk for Clumber. He joined 13th Battalion and was attached to the 12th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, part of the Barnsley Pals. On 2 December 1915, he embarked at Davenport for active service in Alexandria, Egypt. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 8 December and landed in January 1916. George died aged 26 on 11 April 1918. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France.
Stage 2
Keeping to the right-hand side of the road, head up the slight incline towards the cricket pitch, which will come into view around the bend.
Private Frank Knight 13670
According to the 1901 census, Frank was one of five children from the village of Walesby, Nottinghamshire. He was a plumber serving his apprenticeship at Clumber. He enlisted on 28 August 1914, aged 23, into the Sherwood Foresters. He was initially posted to the depot and on 3 September 1914 was transferred to the 3rd Battalion. A month later he was posted to the 13th Battalion and finally to the 1st Battalion on 28 August 1915. Frank was killed in action on 11 January 1916. He is buried in Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chappelle D'Armetieres, France.
Stage 3
Keeping the cricket pitch on your right-hand side, head for the wooden cricket pavilion. Walk along the path at the rear of the building and past the practice nets. Continue alongside the road for around 165yd (150m).
Private Rudolph Schmidt 13287
Rudolph was born in France into the household of Mrs F. K. Candy, the 7th Duke's mother-in-law. Upon his Swiss mother's death he was fostered to the Anderson family at Clumber, aged 7. By 1911, Rudolph was a house carpenter/domestic and a keen sportsman, playing cricket and football, as well as being a member of the choir. He enlisted on 25 August 1914 and was posted to the Sherwood Foresters. Married on Valentine's Day 1916, he adopted the name Richard Smith as anything Germanic sounding raised questions at that time. Rudolph died aged 24.
Stage 4
At the junction, carry straight on, past the Garden Tea House and the estate office buildings on your right. This section of road is free of cars apart from estate vehicles.
Lance Corporal Thomas Merrills
In 1901, Thomas was an agricultural labourer but by 1911 he was living in the 'Bothie' at the Walled Kitchen Garden as an apprentice. He enlisted in Worksop and died while serving in 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters. His family received a letter from his lieutenant, W.E. Brown, stating 'The poor lad had been ordered to make a counterattack on Villers Brettoneux and our corps was leading the way to make the position. They came under very heavy machine gun fire. Your son was wounded early in action, and was killed instantly'.
Visitors outside the former Head Gardener's House, now the Garden Tea House, at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire | © National Trust Images/John Millar
Stage 5
Continue along the road as it turns from tarmac to red shale and pass our event field on your right. You'll soon reach a log barrier across the track. Walk around this and through an area of recently felled woodland, which is being restored to a natural broadleaved woodland after commercial use. At a junction of tracks, take the path in front of you and walk down the hill under the power lines towards the lake. Cross the lake via the causeway and rejoin the tarmac road, which bears to the right. Follow the road up the hill through the trees.
Gunner George Whittaker 89409
In 1911, George was living with his widowed grandmother in Austerfield, Bawtry, in Yorkshire and was a Game Keeper. He enlisted in Worksop into the Royal Garrison Artillery on 6 December 1915. On 11 August 1916 he was posted to 193rd Siege Battery RGA. He was admitted to hospital on 24 April 1918 with debility and died, aged 30, from polyneuritis on 4 May 1918. George is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery in France.
Stage 6
At the top of the hill, turn right towards the wooden bus shelter. A short distance after this on the left is the Clumber Park War Memorial, with the names of those who gave their lives. Once you're ready to move on, head through Hardwick Village and continue towards Hardwick Grange Farm at the bottom of the hill.
Private Frederick Albones 1352
The 1911 census has Frederick, aged 19, living with six other children in Hardwick village. Fred at the time was a dogman, his twin brother a labourer, Charley his younger brother an agricultural labourer and their father a horseman, all working on Clumber Estate. Fred enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters at Worksop on 29 August 1914. Later joining the 2nd Battalion, he embarked on 12 May 1916 to join the Battle of the Somme. Fred died, aged 24, during heavy artillery fire on the morning of 16 September 1916.
Stage 7
At the bottom of the hill, bear left at the junction and follow the sign pointing to the ford.
Sapper Cecil Dunsmore Welbourne
The 1911 records have Cecil lodging with the Lamb family in nearby Milton, Tuxford. He was employed as a joiner. The Lamb family were also joiners and wheelwrights. Cecil enlisted at Victoria Park, Middlesex, into the 511th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Cecil died, aged 29, on 29 October 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
Stage 8
When you reach the ford, cross over the footbridge. Look out for large fish patrolling the shallows. Carry on along the road to the junction at the brow of the hill. Turn right along the road.
Private Frederick Norman Gascoigne
Census records show Fred working as a labourer in 1901 and, by 1911, as a footman to the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle. He enlisted in Worksop to the 6th Battalion Kings Own Royal Lancashire Regiment and trained at Thorseby. He was sent to Mesopotamia approximately four months before his death, of suspected dysentery. Fred died, aged 30, on 2 July 1916. He is buried in Amara War Cemetery, Iraq.
Stage 9
Walk past Cabin Hill House on your left and, 55yd (50m) later, a green electricity substation. In another 55yd (50m), turn right onto a track into woodland. This is Tank Wood. Follow the track along the hedge line next to the field for 550yd (500m). At the bottom of the hill, turn left through the trees and climb the short incline to reach the top of the dam wall. You are now on the lakeside path. Stay on this path with the lake on your right. It will take you through a variety of habitats.
Private Aylmer Erling Tomlinson
In 1911, 13-year-old Aylmer was recorded as living at Cabin Hill, Clumber. At the time, Aylmer's father was head forester and inspector on the Estate. Aylmer enlisted in Worksop with the Lincolnshire regiment, 63872. He later joined the 1st/4th North Lancashire Battalion. While serving with the Lancashires, he was killed at the third Ypres Battle, Passchendaele. Aylmer died, aged 20, on 31 July 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.
Stage 10
You'll reach an ornate temple on your left. Continue for a further 109yd (100m) then take the cycle path to the left. Follow this for about 20 metres, going through a kissing gate then taking a grass path to the right. Stay on his path until you reach a heavily used path bearing right. Walk down the hill, passing an information board about Sherwood Forest. Cross over the heathland towards the kissing gate ahead of you and go through it. Follow the path up a slight incline and bear left after about 33yd (30m). Keeping the woodland plantation to your left, you'll soon exit the paddock and reach Drayton Road.
Stage 11
Turn right onto the road, heading towards Clumber Bridge. The road is open to traffic so take care. As you follow the road, the view across the parkland opens up with views towards the chapel and other buildings.
Private John William Tarr 1332
In 1911, Joe was boarding with the Andersons on the estate. His parents lived in nearby Budby. Joe lived at the park for 16 years and for the first five worked at the kennels. John enlisted on 25 August 1914 at Derby into the Sherwood Foresters 9th Battalion. He was one of the first of the 'Clumber Boys' to join the Colours. John died, aged 30, on 26 September 1916. He is buried in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, France.
Stage 12
Cross Clumber Bridge, go down the left-hand fork in the road and continue for 33yd (30m). Take the road to the left, walking around the log barrier, and follow it for around 550yd (500m) until you reach Lime Tree Avenue.
Private Cecil John Spyve 28482
The 1911 census shows Cecil, the eldest of seven, living with his parents in Bothamsall, Nottinghamshire. His father was a general agricultural labourer and Cecil was to follow in his footsteps. Cecil enlisted in Worksop into the Sherwood Foresters and was attached to 2nd Battalion. According to his obituary in the Worksop Guardian, he had been working in the drainage department on Clumber Estate before enlisting. Cecil John Spyve died, aged 25, on 17 December 1916. He is buried in Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy, France.
Clumber Bridge, spanning the lake at Cumber Park, Nottinghamshire | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler
Stage 13
Take a sharp right turn onto Lime Tree Avenue and walk between the two rows of mature trees. As you continue along the avenue, the larger trees planted in 1840 will give way to the much younger ones planted in 1994 to mark the National Trust's centenary. At the next road junction, take another sharp right, walk around the log barrier and go down the left-hand fork in the road. Continue along this road and straight over at the next crossroads. Be careful of road traffic here.
Private Charles Henry Wilson 30644
In 1911 Charles was living with his family at Carburton Lodge on the Clumber Estate. The family also had a lodger, Arthur Scott, 'estate rabbit catcher'. On 21 March 1918, the German army launched their Spring Offensive called Kaiserchlact, the Kaiser's Battle. This led to German troops advancing onto lands gained after the Battle of the Somme. It is likely that Charles was killed in this battle. Charles died, aged 25, on 21 March 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.
Stage 14
Once you pass the woodland on your right, the views start to open up again as you head back to your starting point at the heart of Clumber. Follow the road for 220yd (200m). When you reach the post and rail fence ahead of you, bear left and keep the fence on your right. Go past the toilet block on your left and back into the Turning Yard, where you can pick up refreshments at the café or shop.
End point
National Trust Clumber Park main car park, grid ref: SK625746
Trail map
The Clumber on the War Path walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Trail

A glimpse of southern Clumber

Stroll through woodland and agricultural land in some of the quieter parts of Clumber, then finish by the lakeside on a walk that's perfect for all seasons.