Bourne Woods and Edenham, 28th April 2019

An excellent turnout (twenty one) for Steve's 7½ mile walk from Bourne Woods to Edenham.

The start in Bourne Woods

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There's a first time for everything.  Fortunately, a phone call resolved everything

Elm Terrace, Edenham.  Impressive Grade 2 listed building, formerly cottages built for estate workers on the Grimsthorpe Park Estate in the 1890s

Another for VBR's collection of photographs of log piles

Unusual stone carving in Bourne Woods, origin unknown

Baslow and the Five Edges Walk, 21st April 2019

Roger led nine walkers (including himself and Ashok from Leicester) on Sunday's classic 10½ mile Five Edges walk from Birchen Edge car park near Baslow in superb weather. The walk started from the back of the Robin Hood Inn and took in Birchen Edge, Nelson’s Monument and the Three Ships, White Edge, Froggatt Edge, Curbar Edge and Baslow Edge. Along the way we visited a stone circle, the Eagle Stone and Wellington’s Monument. Some weary walkers took refreshments in the Grouse.

The start at the Birchen Edge car park

Typical mossy landscape below these west-facing edges

The gritstone edges have been the training ground for some of the UK’s greatest rock climbers.

Nelson's Monument

Adder seen on recce

Trig point 310m, Birchen Edge

Coffee stop on White Edge

Trig point 365m, White Edge

Young skylark (allegedly)

Heading down to the Grouse Inn

Lunch

View west from Baslow Edge

Stone Circle

Eagle Stone.  The age old custom is that before they are allowed to marry, the young men of Baslow have to prove their manliness and fitness for marriage by climbing onto the top of this huge stone.

Wellington's Monument on Baslow Edge. Standing high above the village of Baslow, it is dedicated to the Duke of Wellington and a celebration of his victory at the battle of Waterloo in 1815

A distant view of Gardom’s Edge

Heading back to the Robin Hood

South Hykeham, Aubourn and Bassingham, 14th April 2019

Brian led this excellent leisurely 8-mile stroll across the flatlands of Lincolnshire, criss-crossing the Witham and visiting the villages Aubourn and Bassingham (just) after a start in South Hykeham.

The start near the church

St Michael and All Angels Church, South Hykeham

Crossing the Witham for the first time (out of four)

Aubourn 'Old Church' is just a fragment of a much larger medieval building.  In 1862 a new parish church was built to the west of the village and most of the medieval church was demolished, leaving the chancel standing as a mortuary chapel. 

Aubourn Hall dating back to around 1628

Swan walking (yes, walking) up the Witham.  See below

Recently restored Haddington Dovecote dates from around 1420

I'm sure we've been here before!

Distant view of Lincoln Cathedral

Beeston Lock to Attenborough Nature Reserve, 7th April 2019

Elaine led this 6-mile walk from Beeston Lock, down the Trent for a short distance, then back along the Nottingham & Beeston Canal and river bank before turning off through the Nature Reserve and Attenborough itself to the Nature Centre for coffee.  Then it was across to the Trent and back downstream to the start-point and a cup of tea (for some) at the recently opened Canalside Heritage Centre next to the lock.

The group blocking the view of the weir

A better view

Attenborough Nature Reserve

Heron at the confluence of the Erewash and Trent

Beeston Lock gates

Nottingham and Beeston Canal - looking downstream

Canalside Heritage Centre

South Croxton to Queniborough, 31st March 2019

Steve and Carrie led ten of us on this eleven mile rectangular walk with excellent weather and paths.  We walked towards Queniborough across fields with very young lambs and returned via the woods of Barkby Holt and circled Baggrave Hall, although the hall itself was well hidden. 

Walking away from Queniborough

Lunch

Spring is sprung