7k Run Newark: Scenic Southwell Trail from Broomfield Lane

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 6.8km out-and-back route along the Southwell Trail offers a refreshingly flat and accessible run through the heart of the Newark and Sherwood countryside. Starting from Broomfield Lane in Farnsfield, runners will enjoy a well-maintained, unpaved surface that feels soft underfoot—ideal for a steady recovery run or a focused tempo session. With only 32 meters of total ascent, this trail is exceptionally beginner-friendly and lacks any significant hills, allowing you to maintain a consistent rhythm as you head toward the village of Bilsthorpe and back through scenic tunnels of greenery.

Steeped in industrial heritage, the Southwell Trail follows the former trackbed of a branch line of the Midland Railway, which once connected the local collieries to the wider network. As you run, you are following a path that replaced rumbling steam trains with tranquil nature corridors, now designated as a Local Nature Reserve. The area between Farnsfield and Bilsthorpe is a haven for local wildlife; keep an eye out for kestrels overhead and wildflowers along the embankments, which serve as a reminder of how nature has reclaimed this vital piece of Nottinghamshire’s Victorian engineering history.