Idle Valley Nature Reserve, 26th May 2019

Although only 10 miles long, the River Idle drains a significant area (500 square miles) of north Nottinghamshire with contributions from as far away as Kirkby, Huthwaite, Bolsover and Rainworth (Rivers Maun, Meden, Poulter and Rainworth Water).  Originally, it flowed northwards to meet the River Don but was diverted eastwards by drainage engineers in 1628 and now meets the Trent near West Stockwith.

Sue's (very flat) 8-mile walk started in the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, created from a former gravel quarry and abandoned power station settling lagoons and now managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.  The walk took us around the nature reserve, beside rivers and lakes to Lound Village and back.

Here are some of Roger's photos taken on the walk.

Lound Hall, not to be confused with Lound Hall in Bothamsall

Miller's Dale, Tideswell, the River Wye and limestone dales, 19th May 2019

Elaine's interesting and varied walk explored the limestone country in and north of the Wye Valley.  We started at the recently renovated Miller's Dale Station, walking along the Monsal Trail to visit some old lime kilns before descending to the Wye in Chee Dale and then climbing up to the village of Wormhill.   After a look at the Brindley Memorial we dropped down to the head of Monks Dale for coffee before going over to Tideswell for lunch in Fountain Square.

Passing by Litton, we then dropped down Tansley Dale to Cressbrook Dale and the Wye before climbing back up to the Monsal Trail at Litton Mill and hence back to the start. 

The start at Miller's Dale Station

Miller's Dale Station built in 1863 by the Midland Railway on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway from Rowsley.

Miller's Dale viaduct, Manchester to London Express, 1952

The original route was up Monk's Dale - you can see why we changed it

From 1880 until 1944, these impressive lime kilns produced over 50 tonnes of quicklime a day

After leaving the Monsal Trail and dropping down into Chee Dale

Weirs in Chee Dale

Wormhill Hall, a Grade II listed building, built in 1697 for Adam Bagshawe 

2004 and 2019 - wearing well?

James Brindley, pioneer builder of Britain's canals, was born in 1716 in the hamlet of Tunstead within Wormhill parish

John, who else?

On the way to Tideswell

Tideswell

St John the Baptist Church, Tideswell, the Cathedral of the Peak

Litton

Dropping down through the lead mining spoil in Tansley Dale, one of the rarest plant habitats in Europe

Early purple orchids, cowslips and cuckooflower in Tansley Dale

Dried up bed of Cressbrook Dale

Swathes of wild garlic

Ravensdale Cottages deep in Cressbrook Dale - early nineteenth century leadminers' cottages

Cressbrook Mill was built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1779 but this burnt down in 1785 and was rebuilt by Richard Arkwright Jnr in 1787

Back on the Wye - Water-cum-Jolly Dale

Run of the river water wheel on the Wye

Litton Cotton Mill, built in 1782

Signs of lava flows in Miller's Dale from volcanic activity

Looking down at Raven Tor (famous for its very difficult climbing routes)

Brauncewell and Temple Bruer, 12th May 2019

Rab's walk started in Brauncewell and took us across flat, open, Lincolnshire countryside using a section of the High Dike path, part of Ermine Street . The highlight of the walk was the 12th century Knights Templar preceptory tower.

The start

Temple Bruer Preceptory is one of the few Knights Templar sites left in England where any ruins remain standing.  Its name comes from its Templar ownership and its position in the middle of the Lincoln Heath, bruyère (heather) from the French language current at the time.

Inside the tower

St John the Baptist Church, Temple Bruer

No way, Jan, am I going to include a photo of you hugging a concrete tree.
Oh, go on then!

South Clifton, 5th May 2019

Starting in South Clifton, Angela's 6-mile walk took us away from the Trent keeping just in Nottinghamshire, returning via North Clifton and the Trent Valley Way.

Statue outside Pure Land Meditation Centre & Japanese Garden, North Clifton

Fledborough Viaduct - built in 1897 to carry the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway over the Trent but used most recently for delivering coal to High Marnham Power Station.  Now part of Sustrans Route 647, Worksop to Lincoln Cycleway

'No Spring Till Now' taking advantage of the ebb tide

Clapper gate, unique to the Trent.  Fledborough Viaduct in the background

High Marnham Power Station cooling water intake