Long Clawson, Holwell Mouth and Nether Broughton, 30th December 2018

Phil led twenty nine ramblers on this seven mile walk from Long Clawson. The group left the village on a long upward path passing the old village mill.  Coffee was taken at Holwell Mouth, with a fallen tree providing good seating, and lunch at the edge of Nether Broughton before we climbed Slyborough Hill to return to Long Clawson. The weather was dry and warm for the time of year.

Briefing in Long Clawson

 The old village mill - now Mill Farm

3

 Phil leading the way

Looking north-west across the Vale from Bleak Hills.  Spot Ratcliffe Power Station!

Coffee stop at Holwell Mouth - the chalybeate (mineral) spring here is the source of the River Smite

Heading towards Little Broughton

Lunch at the edge of Nether Broughton

St Remigius Church, Long Clawson

Kirklington, Farnsfield and Bilsthorpe, 16th December 2018

Steve G assisted by Carrie his dog led seventeen ramblers on this 10 mile walk starting from St Swithin's Church in Kirklington.  The group walked along the Southwell Trail to the outskirts of Farnsfield and on to Bilsthorpe before returning via the Robin Hood Way. The weather was cold but the sun shone!

Steve briefs the troops

St Swithin's Church

Southwell Trail

Severn Trent pumping station near Farnsfield

Carrie leads the way

Heading home

The new designs of electricity pylons at the National Grid Training Centre near Eakring

Denton and the Grantham Canal, 9th December 2018

The mulled wine attracted about 30 walkers today for Gail's Christmas Lunch walk from Denton, along the nearby disused mineral railway as far as the Viking Way and then along the canal for the seasonal refreshments at Casthorpe Bridge.  Then it was more canal walking to Denton Wharf and back beside Denton Reservoir.

The start in Denton

The nearby St Andrew's Church dates back to about 1200

View from Longmoor Bridge where the Viking Way crosses the canal

And this is what Roger was photographing ...

... and this ... 

... and this.

Mulled wine at Casthorpe Bridge

Denton Bridge

Denton Reservoir

Christmas Lunch at Pauls Restaurant, Bottesford

Sproxton and Saltby, 2nd December 2018

Again a large turnout (25) this week  for Steve's 8½ mile walk from Sproxton, around Saltby Airfield to Sproxton and back, cut slightly short by the adverse weather conditions.

The start in Spoxton village centre

Iron stone quarry - quarrying was carried out at Sproxton from 1925 to 1973

One of many massive banks of straw bales on the site of Saltby Airfield, possibly destined for a biomass power station somewhere

Coffee stop at the RAF Memorial, US and Polish flags in evidence
"Memories of all comrades who served at Saltby Airfield in World War II"

Aircraft from Saltby played an important role in the D-Day landings

  It's now the home of Buckminster Gliding Club

Part of the memorial, plaque of a Douglas C47

Saint Peter's Church, Saltby - lunch stop

We three kings of orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star

Old friends in Saltby