Five Pits Trail

The Five Pits Trail provides an off-road surfaced route for walkers, cyclists and horseriders. It is a 5½ mile linear route from Grassmoor Country Park to Tibshelf Ponds, passing through a mainly agricultural and woodland landscape. The Trail can be extended to 7½ miles by following the route through Williamthorpe Ponds and Holmewood Woodlands.

Following closure of the large collieries and other smaller pits along the Great Central Railway, the landscape has changed drastically. Most of the original railway lines was removed and parts of the land were opencast. Today, the Five Pits Trail follows the approximate route of the original railway. These landscape changes have resulted in the Trail being undulating throughout with a number of long steep slope. Trail entrances are accessible for people with limited movility but surface conditions and the steep undulating terrain may restrict some people's access to some sections.