Fern Field Walk


Fern Field Walk (24-10-21)

With no real hills to talk of, this walk might be thought of as a pleasant stroll. Of course, it is never that simple when you are exploring paths of old. It all depends on the season and the weather.

You will be crossing crop-growing fields. If the farmer has just ploughed the field, they will probably have left a fine tilth that is easy to walk over, but the route might not yet have been re-defined: the farmer is allowed 3 weeks to do so.

In the middle of summer, it is likely that crops are growing. The good news is that the farmer and walkers will have left a clear and easy path no matter how high the growth.

The bad news is that some landowners make no effort to define the path and you are left searching for the way to go. If this is the case, let me know so that I can report it to the County Council. Or, you can report it yourself (with photo if possible): click on the Contact tab to find how.

Then there is the weather: if long periods of rain leave the fields muddy, there is no point in clicking the Contact tab, there is no one you can complain to (not, at least, anyone I have contact with).

You may be wondering why I have called this, Fern Field Walk: why indeed? Well I have to call it something and a 1804 map referred to the east side of the parish as "Fern Field".

Where the names, Fern Field, Fern Hill and Fern Road originally came from I have never been able to find out. It is tempting to assume that ferns grew there.

A sure way to dispel this idea would be to discover the old grave of a Mr Fern. Let me know if you find one. Until then, keep a lookout for ferns on your walk.


Tony Jarrow



Fern Field Map
3 miles in 1 hour (both approx)


Fern Field Walk
1. Fern Road, the start of several walks, including this one. The stile just after the nearest telegraph pole, is your entry into the first field.
Fern Field Walk
2. Take care, the stile is a bit awkward. Most stiles include a tall pole for you to hold on – this one does not.
Fern Field Walk
3. Follow the path to the stile in the next hedge.
Fern Field Walk
4. The path beyond takes you past the playing field of the Primary School and the Bloor Homes housing development.
Fern Field Walk
5. At the bottom of the hill there is a right-of-way along both hedgerows. For this walk, turn right immediately you enter the field.
Fern Field Walk
6. Walk alongside the hedge all the way to its end in the corner of the field.
Fern Field Walk
7. In the corner, there is a small bridge into the next field and the path is a straight line to the opposite hedge.
Fern Field Walk
8. In that hedge is a gap into the next field. The route from here may not be clear, especially if the field has been freshly ploughed and a path has yet to be trodden down by numerous walking boots.
Fern Field Walk
9. Unfortunately there are no wayposts with their yellow tops to pick out, and some gaps in the far hedge could well mislead you. From here, the spot you should walk towards is on the far right of this photo – where a large gap appears.
Fern Field Walk
10. Walk straight towards that gap. It is in line with the space between the distant trees, as this photo shows.
Fern Field Walk
11. This is the view when you reach the gap. The route continues in the same straight line and heads to the fencing at the foot of those two trees.
Fern Field Walk
12. Keep walking towards that corner and, once you get close, you will see that there is a metal gate – that is where you are going.
Fern Field Walk
13. Animals may take an interest in you.
Fern Field Walk
14. Make your way through the gate and you will find yourself with less freedom than the animals in their field.
Fern Field Walk
15. No chance of you trespassing along this stretch.
Fern Field Walk
16. At the end, you cross a roadway to the gate on the other side. You cannot make use of the roadway as a shortcut; it is not a right-of-way.
Fern Field Walk
17. From the gate, the path continues straight on to the opposite side. You should be able to make out the gap in the solid hedgerow. If, as here, a path has not been worn down, walk straight towards the gap.
Fern Field Walk
18. Go over the little bridge, but take care: on the other side is a road.
Fern Field Walk
19. It is not a busy road but it is only single track, so take care as you emerge.
Beware, especially, of electric cars (they can be surprisingly quiet) and of groups of cyclists (they can be surprisingly noisy). Go left.
Fern Field Walk
20. After about 3 minutes you will reach this roadway on your left; turn down it.
Fern Field Walk
21. This is Meadow Lane. In a short distance it reverts to an ancient grassy bridlepath and eventually ends up at the Cropwell Butler to Tithby Road.
Fern Field Walk
22. After a few hundred metres, you may think you are coming to a dead end, but it's just that the sharp right-turn is out of sight.
Fern Field Walk
23. Meadow Lane is a lane of two halves – both dead straight. You have walked the first half and, on turning the corner, you have entered the second half.
Fern Field Walk
24. You are not going to walk to its end – although not far short.
When you see this footpath sign on your left, obey it.
Fern Field Walk
25. The right-of-way is a straight line to the far corner this field: the path, in 2021, wavers a little.
Fern Field Walk
26. In that far corner, is a narrow path into the next field.
Fern Field Walk
27. Once through the gap, keep alongside the left-hand hedge.
Fern Field Walk
28. After about a 100m you will meet a roadway on your left: ignore it and carry straight on.
Fern Field Walk
29. You will soon come to the Bishop to Butler road: cross it and turn left.
Fern Field Walk
30. Cropwell Bishop awaits your return with the promise of famous cheese.