Get your big coat on and your woolly hat because we’ve found the perfect winter walking route that will help get your steps in and show you one side of Nottingham that has magnificent views - as community reporter Keimae Blake reports…
Winter isn’t everyone’s favourite season. The dark nights and cold days aren’t everyone’s cup of tea - but personally, I love the pumpkin spiced lattes, oversized jumpers and seeing the night lit up with festive decorations.
I had never been for a walk through Clifton Village before, usually my walks end up in Arnold, Sherwood or Wollaton. For those who know me, know I’m scared of dogs - especially when they’re off the lead but I challenged myself to take this walk in the woods and it may be one of my new favourite walking routes.
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Even though it was around four degrees on my walk, the sun was belting down. Wrapped in my scarf I was still cold and, having accidentally left my flask on the kitchen table, I didn’t have my tea to keep me warm.
Entering Clifton Village, I admired all the big houses with well-kept gardens and headed to the Clifton Grove Nature Reserve. Before I got to Clifton Hall, a man stopped me and smiled.
"Merry Christmas, it’s a bit nippy isn’t it?" he said. We got into a conversation for a little while until we parted ways. Walking through the woods hearing the crunch of the leaves under my feet, the sun was hidden away by all the trees.
The whole walk of Clifton Grove generally takes around two hours - which I never did - but my walk was still nature-filled nonetheless. Making me jump, a squirrel scurried past me into the bushes as I walked past the River Trent.
Surprisingly, there weren't that many people on my walk. Altogether, I spotted four people - and luckily, there weren't that many dogs! Around 45 minutes into my walk, I decided to turn around and walk back through the wooded area.
I could have tried to find a different way back to the car park and main entrance of the nature reserve but with my battery on 30% it was best I went the way I came to avoid getting lost in the unfamiliar grounds of Clifton Grove. One day, I’ll have to complete the full two hours of the walk.
For those who have never been to Clifton Grove, I highly recommend it.
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