Five Pits Trail
The Five Pits Trail is a walking route amongst the old mining villages of north-eastern Derbyshire. It is a ‘rail trail’, as it follows the route of the former Great Central Railway which served the five main coal mines of:
The route is just five and a half miles long running from Grassmoor to Tibshelf, and consists of a network of surfaced walkways for recreational use. The Trail can be extended to seven and a half miles by continuing along the route to Williamthorpe Ponds and Holmewood. The Five Pits Trail was created in 1989.
Part of the trail (between Station Road, Pilsley, and Tibshelf) has been identified as the "Tom Hulatt Mile" and is marked at the side of the trail. This mile commemorates local runner Tom Hulatt who took place in the race that created the first four-minute mile.[2]
The Tibshelf end of the trail runs past Newton Ponds and joins the Silverhill Trail, which connects to the Brierley Forest Link Trail, and to Teversal Trail in Teversal.
Access
- Location map: 53°12’1"N, 1°23’5"W
Access to the Five Pits Trail is possible by numerous footpaths which cross it and by a number of roads which cross it. There are car parks provided at several locations: Church Lane in Tibshelf, Station Road in Pilsley, Timber Lane near Astwith, and at both the Birkin Lane and the Mansfield Road entrances to Grassmoor Country Park.
References
- ↑ "Five Pits Trail". Derbyshire County Council. https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/access/walking/walks-and-trails/five-pits-trail.aspx. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ↑ Tom Hulatt, Derbyshire Heritage, retrieved 1 May 2014