Cossall & Strelley - Part 03
w/e 10 July 2011
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
The ridge of high ground at Swingate marks the high
point of this circular walk and in this part we make the gradual
descent to almost reach the lowest section at Cossall Marsh passing
Babbington on the way. We took a bus to Swingate and picked up
the route to continue the walk near the Queen Adelaide on Babbington
Lane.
  For
much of the walk so far we have been following the route of the
long distance footpath, the Robin Hood Way but it is here at
Swingate that we part company with it as we begin the return
journey to Cossall. Our route now follows Babbington Lane passing
the water tower that is a significant feature on the skyline
from miles around. The route passes some cottages (left) at the
end of the lane which then becomes a bridle path (right) that
leads to Grasscroft Farm.
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Once through the trees at the end of the lane the views open
up over Babbington to Ilkeston beyond or as Malcolm Sales' "`100
Walks in Nottinghamshire" book describes them "excellent
views over the Erewash valley to east Derbyshire."
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About half way along the bridle path towards the farm, a signpost
indicates a little used footpath along the hedge line where the
gradual descent continues.
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The path leads through the fields and over a number of stiles
to the hamlet of Babbington. Although the path appears to be
little used, its route is obvious although in this particular
field deposits left by cattle mean that care must be taken where
you place your feet!
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The final stile into a leafy path with roses blooming on the
right in this rural setting belies the fact that there was once
a busy colliery at Babbington.
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The path takes us to this track that leads to Westby Lane but
the colliery is long gone and farming is now high on the agenda,
the barn ahead being full of cattle.
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Passing the barn we must now follow the long Westby Lane that
provides the only vehicular access into Babbington from Awsworth
and Cossall.
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Over to the left and seen here zoomed across the intervening
countryside is Cossall, our ultimate destination to complete
the walk but we will eventually reach it from the other side
of the village.
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As we continue down Westby Lane, there are cows to the left and
horses to the right but if there were to be a soundtrack to this
composite of images, it would be the barking of dogs from Babbington
Hall Kennels and Cattery which is over to the right. There
is also a Rescue
Centre here caring for stray and abandoned dogs.
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Westby Lane continues to Awsworth but at a significant zig-zag
in the lane our route is straight ahead along a footpath to Awsworth
Lane at the area known as Cossall Marsh. There are several seats
along this path but the views from them are far from inspiring
as they only look into the dense greenery   on the other side of the path.
At Awsworth Lane it would seem natural to turn left to head for
Cossall but the route we are following initially takes us to
the right where, in about fifty yards on the opposite side of
the road is another footpath that we will follow when we return
for the next part. On this occasion however we caught a bus from
here back into Ilkeston.
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