Ropsley, Scotland and the Humbys, 18th December 2016

Starting at The Green Man in Ropsley, Phil's walk took us to Scotland (actually just a Lincolnshire hamlet) and across remote countryside and arable fields to Great Humby, the former seat of the Brownlow family until they built and moved to Belton House. There remains a tiny chapel, dating from 1754. Nearby Little Humby has old stone houses flanking a green and a Manor House dated 1631. Ropsley was the birthplace of Bishop Richard Foxe (1448 1528) who founded Grantham grammar school where Isaac Newton was a scholar. His birthplace is marked by a plaque on a former inn close to the Green Man.

Start in Ropsley

Ingoldsby Wood

Chapel at Great Humby

Little Humby

Start and end - The Green Man

Aubourn, 14th December 2016

The walk started in Aubourn which sits in the valley formed by the River Witham as it bends north eastwards, 7 miles south of Lincoln.  The village is enclosed to the north and east by the 'washlands' of the Witham and has historically been prone to frequent flooding.

Start next to the Royal Oak

Note high flood banks along both banks of the Witham to reduce the risk of flooding

St Peter's Church, Auborn

Haddington Dovecote

Auborn Clock Tower

Kinoulton, Colston Bassett, Hickling, 11th December 2016

The Christmas walk from Kinoulton to (almost) Colston Bassett and then to Hickling for mince pies and mulled wine (and chicken and chips for our young visitor).  Then back along the Grantham Canal to the Nevile Arms for Christmas Lunch.

Resting - Colston Bassett Hall in the background

Hicking Basin

St Luke's Church, Kinoulton

Somerby, Cold Overton, Knossington and the Leicestershire Round, 4th December 2016

 

Paul's 10.6 mile walk today (see bottom for route) took us out to Pickwell, Cold Overton, Knossington and Withcote where we joined the Leicestershire Round back to Somerby.  An undulating walk (over 300m of climbing) with fine views in glorious sunshine.

Somerby start

The start near All Saints Church

Coffee, St John The Baptist Church, Cold Overton

It's not as soft as it looks, he said

Picking our way through Owston Woods ...

... and out

Near the end, looking north

Nether Broughton, 27th November 2016

Twently one on John's walk today (see route below) around Nether and Upper Broughton.  Here are some photos.

Start near Nether Broughton Church

Down to Dalby Brook and up to Upper Broughton

Under the railway test track ....

... and over the railway test track

Lunch on Hickling Standard

Ancaster, 13th November 2016

Twenty four of us set out on John Y's walk today starting at Ancaster Station, just off Ermine Street, the Roman road from London to Lincoln and York (see High Dike on the map).  We walked SE to Culverthorpe and back through Kelby.

Ancaster is famous for its oolitic limestone quarries and the fact that the River Trent used to flow eastwards through here rather than to the north.

The start, Ancaster Station

Ancaster Valley - this dry valley is though to have been created by the melting of glaciers on higher ground to the south.  In earlier times it is thought to have been used for chariot racing by Romans from the nearby settlement in Ancaster.

Culverthorpe Lakes

Culverthorpe Hall (1679) a Grade 1 listed building

Escape from Culverthorpe

Licolnshire skies

Kelby

Ecocentre at Screveton, 6th November 2016

Jo led this walk from the Ecocentre, based next to the Farmeco community care farm at Screveton, ... 

... but first we had to be bussed out to Car Colston to start the walk.

Unloading the livestock

Then it was SW over the fields towards Bingham before turning back just before Parson's Hill near Car Dyke, returning by the Royal Oak at Car Colston, behind the church and back to the Ecocentre for the AGM.

Passing by the Royal Oak at Car Colston - something I don't do often (the passing by bit)

St Mary's Church, Car Colston

St Mary's Church, Car Colston

One of several green giants at the Ecocentre.  They were first displayed at the Festival of Neighbourhood at the Southbank Centre, near Waterloo Bridge then they were moved to the Olympic Park for a time.

Thanks to Jo for hosting the AGM at the Ecocentre.  The proceedings will be reported elsewhere.