B6014

Route

The B6014 links Mansfield with the edge of the Derbyshire Dales, almost reaching Matlock.

Part 1: Nottinghamshire

Under the Teversal Trail

Starting at a signalised crossroads on the A38, the B6014 heads west and climbs up through the suburbs of Mansfield. After a short distance, there is a side turning serving the Ladybrook estate, and a 40mph limit beckons. The route enjoys good views to the south, with the hospital site and Kingsmill Reservoir in view. The road then crosses the A617 at a signalised crossroads, with the Dalestorth Road (for Sutton in Ashfield) immediately splitting afterwards. We are now in Skegby, one of the many areas of the Ashfield conurbation, and the road is distinctly suburban. We pass through the old village, and on to Stanton Hill, where we meet the B6028 at a small roundabout.

From Stanton Hill we drop down a steep hill towards Teversal with another well suited 40mph limit. Passing under an old railway bridge, now part of the Teversal Trail, we make a sharp left turn and head out into open countryside. The rest of the route through Nottinghamshire takes in a mixture of open farmland, small hamlets and industrial buildings. Just before the road passes over the M1, we cross the county boundary into Derbyshire.

Part 2: Derbyshire

Tibshelf

Shortly after crossing the M1, we enter the village of Tibshelf, famous for having Britain's first inland oil wells (or perhaps better known for Tibshelf services). We cross a mini roundabout with the B6039, and bear left into the main village itself. The road has many speed ramps on its way through the narrow main street, We leave the speed ramps behind quickly and, before leaving the village, we negotiate another mini-roundabout with the B6025, with our road bearing to the right.

After heading back out into open countryside our road makes a long turn to the left. From here on to the village of Morton, the road is bolt-straight, and indeed fairly straight through the first part of the village. We are now in the centre of England, as the village name plate suggests, and a reasonably pleasant village. On leaving Morton, we have a short journey before we reach the A61.

The route follows the A61 north for a hundred yards or so, and then bears left at the White Bear public house. We now see a change of character for the B6014, changing from a pretty normal rural B-road to a narrow, twisty dales road. After less than a mile, we TOTSO again, making a left fork, the main route becoming the B6036 to Ashover. Both routes pass through Woolley Moor, ours passing to the south of the village. We cross a corner of Ogston Reservoir, popular with sailing groups.

The following mile takes in some great driving, with hills, narrow sections and the odd hairpin. The route, however, does straighten out, passing a turning for the A615 eastbound (via an unclassified road). Our route finally ends at a T junction with that A-road just outside the village of Tansley.

History

It should be mentioned that at one time the B6014 ended on the A615 at BOTH ends. Originally the A38 from the A61 to Mansfield had that number; however this was renumbered in 1977.

Having said that, the A615 has only run west of Alfreton since the early 1970s. In Tansley the B6014 originally met the B6024 and then continued west into Matlock, where it ended on the A6 in Crown Square.