Vale of Belvoir Ramblers: August 2015

Eyebrook Reservoir, August 30th 2015

Bernard is out of action but recovering so Steve D and Brian led 11 ramblers on his walk from Eyebrook Reservoir, Rutland. Built in the 1930's to supply water to Corby Steel Works and used for Dambuster's practice, it's now a trout fishery and SSSI.

The walk went through Great Easton, Blaston, Neville Holt and Stockerston and here are Steve's photos.

Nevill Holt Hall - is a Grade I listed building, dating back to before 1300 but now owned by the founder of Carphone Warehouse!

Blaston clock tower with its interesting variegated brickwork

Stockerston Hall - late-18th-century

Bingham, 23rd August 2015

This walk took us along Bingham's Linear Walk across fields and the Bingham bypass, unusually quiet fortunately.

Skellingthorpe - on the trail of the Eleanor Crosses, 19th August 2015

This is not the view we normally see of Brian who took a day off as back marker to lead today's walk from Skellingthorpe.

The walk started near St Lawrence's Church ...

... continuing on field paths and through woods into Nottinghamshire ...

... and to Harby.

In 1290 on the evening of 28th November Queen Eleanor of Castile, consort of King Edward I, died of a fever at the manor house of Richard de Weston in Harby. Earthworks in the field to the west of All Saints’ Church are all that remain of this historic site. King Edward was grief-stricken at her death and Eleanor was commemorated in no fewer than three tombs and twelve memorial crosses on the route of the funeral cortege between Lincoln and Charing Cross.

A fine view of Cottam Power Station

We returned along the disused Lincoln to High Marnham railway line (now part of Sustrans cycle route 647 from Lincoln to Sherwood Forest) and behind Doddington Hall (and its fine tea shop).

Begun in 1595 by Robert Smythson, one of England’s foremost Elizabethan architects, Doddington Hall was completed in 1600 and is a fine example of a late Elizabethan mansion. It has been a family home for over 400 years.

Derbyshire Weekend, 15th & 16th August 2015 - the Ben Nevis Challenge

It's rumoured that these walks were chosen because together the ascents (600m on Saturday, 760m on Sunday) exceed the height of Ben Nevis - just. There is no truth in this - it's just coincidence. Anyway, thanks for coming and especially to Glen for his guiding on both the recces and the walks themselves.

Saturday's walk started in Eyam village ...

and took us past Eyam Hall ...

... and reminders of the plague, including Riley's Graves on the outskirts of Eyam.

Looking back at the quarries in Middleton Dale

Then it was a descent to the Derwent at Froggatt Bridge and a walk in the woods to Nether Padley and then on to Greasy Joe's cafe at Grindelford Station at the entrance to the Totley Tunnel. Completed in 1893 on the Sheffield to Manchester line, at 6,230 yards long it is the second longest railway tunnel in the UK

Then along past Padley Manor ...

... and down to the river near Kettle House.

Crossing the river at Leadmill Bridge we walked above Highlow Brook with views of Burbage Edge ...

... and Stanage Edge above Hathersage.

We skirted the northern edge of Eyam Moor through Highlow Wood up to the junction of the remote Abney and Bretton Cloughs ...

... before climbing up over the moor and back to Eyam.

Sunday's walk was in the limestone area to the west of Matlock, an area infrequently visited by walkers if any evidence of paths is anything to go by. Leadmining was common in this area and remains of mines and spoil heaps abound.

Starting near the Derwent ...

... at Darley Bridge we followed field paths, tracks and green lanes up to the highest point of the walk (330m) near Bottom Leys Farm ...

... before descending to Bonsall for a late lunch.

Kings Head, Bonsall - the breakaways

T'owd man of Bonsall (one of many on our walk)

Then it was back to Darley Bridge, up and over (again) past the well-hidden Jug Holes. These are both natural caverns and mine workings and the site is recognised for its special scientific interest which embraces many disciplines, including speleology, geology, mining history and industrial archaeology.

Brian reconsiders his back flip into the Jug Hole

South of Kirklington, 9th August 2015

A cooperative pose (for a change)

Dunston and Nocton, August 2nd 2015

Today's walk used a section of the The Spires and Steeples trail from Lincoln Cathedral to Sleaford - with a clever diversion to make it the advertised distance of 8.5 miles.