Bunny Hop, 27th June 2018

An excellent turnout (twelve) for Rab's 5-mile Hop from Bunny including three visitors who found the walk in the Notts Guided Walks programme.  Here are Roger's photographs.

St Mary The Virgin Church, Bunny

Setting out from Bunny

Distant view of Bradmore

Barnstone, Langar and Colston Bassett, 24th June 2018

Roger's revised route today took us: from Barnstone Village Hall, down Works Lane and across fields to Langar; along the gated road to Colston Bassett; up to the derelict Saint Mary's Church for coffee; and then back almost the same way (thus avoiding the rape jungle) to Brenda's for Lunch in the Garden.

The start outside Barnstone Village Hall

Tangling with the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride

St John's Church, Colston Bassett was erected in 1892.  A local legend claims a boulder lying in the churchyard is a meteorite, but it has been identified as cinnabar (the common ore of mercury) probably from Peru.

Colston Hall - a Grade 2 listed building dating back to 1704

St Mary's Church, Colston Bassett stands prominently on a site known to originate from Norman times

The original route back - the rape jungle

St Andrew's Church, Langar

Lunch in the Garden - thanks again Brenda for laying on this splendid annual feast

Branston and Croxton Kerrial, 19th June 2018

Tina's 5-mile Evening Stroll started near Saint Guthlac's Church in Branston and explored the ups and downs (200m of ascent) of the headwaters of the River Devon before ending at The Wheel Inn in Branston.

St Guthlac's Church, Branston

Hidden in the undergrowth this time but visible when we last did this walk in March 2017

Interesting pub sign in Croxton Kerrial - The Geese and Fountain.  Note the famous Croxton Kerrial water spout

Refreshments at The Wheel Inn, Branston

Lowdham, Hoveringham Mill and Gonalston, 13th June 2018

The turnout for this, the second of our Evening Strolls was boosted by walkers who found us advertised in the excellent guide to walks in Nottinghamshire, Notts Guided Walks. Elaine's route started outside the (sadly closed) Old Ship Inn in Lowdham before crossing fields to reach Cliff Mill and Hoveringham Mill and then returned via St Laurence's Church, Gonalston.

No photographers on this stroll, so here are some library photographs.

Cliff Mill

Both these mills are on the Dover Beck which was the southern boundary of Sherwood Forest from the 13th century.  The river rises near the village of Blidworth in the heart of the forest and flows southeast to join the River Trent near Gunthorpe and Caythorpe.  The Gonalston Mill, formerly known as Cliffe Mill, was one of eleven on the Dover Beck.  The eleven were: Salterford Mill, Oxton Mill, Epperstone Mill, Woodborough Mill, The Paper Mill, Carby’s Mill, Parkinson’s Pit, The Lord’s Mill, Cliff Mill, Hoveringham Mill and Caythorpe Mill.

See Mills on the Doverbeck by W A James for more information.

Hoveringham Mill

St Laurence's Church, Gonalston

Scalford and Wycomb, 10th June 2018

A good turnout (19) for Steve's undulating and overgrown  walk from Scalford in fine weather.

Lined up at the start outside ...

 ... Saint Egelwin's Church, Scalford - one of Leicestershire's Ironstone Churches

Beware large burrowing animals

Our Footpaths Officer taking his job very seriously

Stiles we like - but not exactly sheep-proof

Fine example of local ironstone

Not so easy going at times

And off to the pub in Scalford

Harlaxton and the Grantham Canal, 5th June 2018

The first of the Evening Strolls ...
...led by Rose, started at the Gregory before leading us up the long drive towards Harlaxton Manor.

We then passed through Harlaxton itself before taking Peashill Lane to an overgrown bridleway ...

... and on to Denton Reservoir for a break.

Then it was across fields to Denton Wharf and back along the canal ...

... to Harlaxton Bridge before climbing The Drift back to the Gregory for a drink.