Walk 4 - Distance Long - 3.24km (2.miles), Short - 0.9km (1,000yds).
Start from Park Road Car Park. Cross Park Road through underpass, turn left and take path on left side of bridge over stream. Follow this past houses in Hyde Avenue to junction with path from opposite side of pond. On the green in front of the houses are a number of hornbeams, distinguishable by silvery vertical stripes on the trunk and by what appear to be clusters of small, winged seeds. In fact the seeds are tiny nuts between leafy bracts.
Cross the Millstream by the adjacent bridge and turn right along the path. Along the stream on both sides are numerous willows; some have been pollarded recently whilst, to judge from the size of their branches others have not been touched for many years and provide walkways across the stream for the adventurous. The path climbs up to 20 feet or so above the stream which has steep banks showing the rock in places. On the opposite side of the stream there was a badger sett until the mid-1970`s with holes in the bank and in the field which the Chatsworth Park Estate now occupies. Some of the holes in the bank are still visible and obviously occupied, probably by foxes which have been seen nearby.
A footbridge connects the two sides and leads by a footpath to Park Road if only a short walk is desired. Upstream from the bridge stands the remains of Morton Mill which is to be incorporated into a new housing development. There has been a mill on this this site for at least six centuries if not longer. A few yards further up the path there is a good view over the fence of the cascade down which the stream flows, most impressive after heavy rain.
Continue along the path to the Gloucester Road and cross to the path opposite. Continue along the stream towards Morton Way. At this point you have a choice of routes depending how far you wish to walk.
If you wish to return from this point, cross the stream by the path just short of Morton Way and walk across the fields through areas of recently planted trees to Nightingale Close. The trees close to the stream were bought and planted by Castle School pupils, the remainder being planted by Northavon. Continue on the path between houses and the stream to the Gloucester Road. Cross the road and take the small road between new houses and the Anchor. This leads back to Park Road whence it is a short walk to the car park.
For the more adventurous, go through the underpass and cross the fence into the adjacent field. Continue in a general easterly direction to a footbridge over the stream. Cross the stream and walk over the stream. Cross the stream and walk up the field to a gate onto Knapp Road East (Crossways Lane). Turn right into the road and continue to Morton Way. Cross the road, turn right and walk along Morton Way to the beginning of the fields. The first path will lead to Nightingale Close and thence back to Park Road by the route described above.
Revision to the above:
Go through the underpass and go left up the slope and along to the stile, cross the field in a easterly direction to the stile, turn left keeping close to the hedge, on reaching the next stile go right to the next stile there`s no sign of a footpath so keeping to the right following the hedge until reaching the gate, again no sign of a footpath so keep right, following the hedge until reaching the gate leading into Crossways Lane, turn right until the junction at Morton Way. Cross the road turn right and walk along Morton Way to the beginning of the fields. The first path will lead to Nightingale Close and thence back to Park Road by the route described above.
Footnote: I hope i`m right in the above directions- it was the only way i could find my way to Crossways Lane..