Vale of Belvoir Ramblers

Gunthorpe, River Tent and Caythorpe, 9th June 2025

A very pleasant stroll in glorious sunshine started at The Unicorn Hotel in Gunthorpe and took ten members past Gunthorpe Lock and along the River Trent to cross the Dover Beck where it meets the Trent. Leaving the river on field paths, we reached Caythorpe and the site of its water mill, now a private residence. More field paths took us back to Gunthorpe.

Trent ketches were built specifically for use on the Newark Navigation. They were able to travel long distances and could transport cargoes up to 40 tons between Newark and the seaports. Coal, grain and stone were the main cargoes carried.

View across to Gunthorpe Weir and the gypsum beds in the cliffs near Radcliffe

Dover Beck sluice gate

Clapper gate in poor condtion. Clapper gates are a distinctive type of self-closing double gate, unique to the navigable reaches of the River Trent. They were erected along the towpath of the river in the 18th century and allow people and horses to pass through the field boundaries on the river bank, but prevent livestock from straying

Caythorpe Mill, one of eleven on the Dover Beck

A diversion at the end to visit the newly-created Gunthorpe Riverside Nature Reserve was declined! This is "a community-led aimed at creating a peaceful haven for wildlife and providing public access to a natural space. The reserve features winding footpaths, diverse habitats, and riparian planting along the Cocker Beck to support local water quality and flood management."

Fiskerton, Rolleston and Upton, 6th July 2025

Starting in unusual conditions (rain), Dave took six members and two visitors from the car park next to the Trent and immediately north onto the banks of its flood defences. These were then followed to Fiskerton Mill where we encountered the River Greet for the first time. After some field walking, we reached Rolleston, former home of the children's illustrator Kate Greenaway, crossed the Nottingham to Lincoln railway line and the Greet flood plain to climb up to Upton, home of the British Horological Institute. After a drinks stop at the church, we followed the Greet to pass by Southwell Racecourse and Southwell Golf Club to reach Rolleston Mill and then Rolleston Church. Returning to Fiskerton, we joined the Trent before walking downstream back to the start.

Yes, it was indeed pouring down at the start

Flood defences

Fiskerton Mill

Crossing the River Greet

The Kate Greenaway Trail in Rolleston

Kate Greenaway's blue plaque and examples of her illustrations seen on walls in Rolleston

Fields of buckwheat and lacy phacelia, used as a cover crop

Depicting the nearby Horological Institute
- ravaged by time

St Peter and St Paul's, Upton - on a brighter day

Looking across the River Greet towards Southwell Racecourse

Rolleston Mill - view downstream from the golf course

Rolleston Mill and the River Greet looking upstream

Carefully crossing the railway line

Holy Trinity, Rolleston

Nottingham Universiy Gardens and Wollaton Park, 1st July 2025

Starting at the Lakeside Arts Centre, Angla led six members on a 4.7 mile walk exploring the several and varied gardens of the University and the broad expanse of Wollaton Park and its lake.

The start in the Lakeside Arts car park

Trent Building across Highfields Lake

Rare example of Nottinghamshire's naturally-exposed bedrock next to Highfields Lake

Trent Building

Highfields Walled Garden (1797)

Millennium Garden

Taking care not to approach the deer

Wollaton Park Lake

View back towards The Stables from the (just closed) entrance to the Wollaton Hall Formal Garden

The sunken Jekyll Garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll in 1911

Lenton Firs Rock Garden restored 2006-2008 by student volunteers and Friends of University Park

Another rare example of Nottinghamshire's bedrock on top of which lies the Rock Garden

And finally, here is something created earlier. Guess the painter.

Bingham and Car Colston, 29th June 2025

Paul led seventeen Ramblers on this 4.9 mile walk starting at The Buttercross in Bingham Market Square. After crossing the Nottingham to Grantham railway at the bottom of Moor Lane, we walked by Archers Lake to cross fields to the fishing lakes north of Bingham. Emerging from the undergrowth, we crossed by Car Colston Cricket Ground and then stopped by the Royal Oak for drinks. After a slight diversion to avoid cattle, we took the footpath back to the bridge across Car Dyke and then over Parsons Hill to Bingham.

Then to celebrate VBR's 30th Anniversary, members and friends enjoyed tea and cakes in the orchard at Appletrees provided by hostess Elaine and other members of the Committee.