Vale of Belvoir Ramblers: August 2019

Hose, Colston Bassett and Hickling, 25th August 2019

A very hot day today for Carrie's 10½ mile walk starting near St Michael and All Angels Church in Hose. The route followed the Grantham Canal before crossing fields to Colston Bassett and then Hickling Basin for a welcome cup of tea or ice cream at The Old Wharf. Then it was back along the canal to look at this year's brood of young swans.

St Michael and All Angels, Hose

More work to do before the canal is open as far as Nottingham

Tea time in the shade

St John the Divine, Colston Bassett

A date for the diary

Carrie leads Steve

Tea and/or ice cream at The Old Wharf Cafe

A good crop of cygnets this year

More bridges for the Grantham Canal Society to overcome between Hickling and Hose

Bradwell and Eldon Hill, 17th August 2019

Two contrasting walks this weekend, one exploring the paths used for centuries by local farmers, miners, quarrymen and Romans, up over undulating moorland and the Pennine watershed to reach Eldon Hill overlooking the western flanks of the Peak District. The other was the classic route along the Great Ridge from Mam Tor with views down to the Edale Valley, Castleton and Hope.

(Some of ) the group at the start point next to Bradwell Brook

Looking back at Bradwell

Good going underfoot on one of the green lanes

Strange concrete beams left next to the quarries

A good example of one of the many disused limestone quarries in the area

Group taking lunch at Eldon Hole below Eldon Hill. Not much to look at (the hole that is) but at 55 metres it is the deepest pothole in the area and "one of the Seven Wonders of the Peak"

Eldon Hill from the other side - or what's left of it

Celebrating Bingham Market T-shirt Awareness Month

Hope Cement Works - the highlight of the weekend

And back to Bradwell via the Hope Cement Works - as close up as you get

Castleton, Mam Tor, Lose Hill and Hope, 18th August 2019

Starting in Castleton, John's classic walk went up Cave Dale and across to Mam Tor, along the Great Ridge to Lose Hill, down to Hope and back alongside Peakshole Water.

Ascent of Cave Dale

Looking back at Peveril Castle from Cave Dale

Good example of a quarry road where the Saturday's and Sunday's routes coincided

Approach to Mam Tor (517 m), the Mother Hill and site of a Bronze Age hill fort 3000 years ago

Mam Tor - Lose Hill in the distance

Descent from Mam Tor on the Great Ridge

What's left of the A625 Manchester to Sheffield road following landslides from Mam Tor. The road was closed in 1979

Examining the toposcope on Lose Hill

Down to Hope for ice cream

Lowdham and Epperstone, 14th August 2019

Eleven intrepid and rather wet walkers led by Maggie set off from Lowdham to Epperstone and Woodborough. Here are some pictures.

Lowdham Mill, one of eleven on the Dover Beck

Epperstone Dovecote

Lunch spot

Entering Ploughman Wood

St Mary the Virgin, at the finish in Lowdham

Barnack Hills and Holes, 11th August 2019

An excellent turnout (21) for Phil's popular 8½ mile walk starting at the Barnack Hills and Holes Nature Reserve. This is an SSSI covering 50 acres of a medieval limestone quarry whose stone was used to build Peterborough and Ely Cathedrals.

The walk passed through Uffington Park crossing the River Welland and alongside the disused Stamford Canal (begun in 1664 and used to transport barley for malting from Market Deeping to Stamford). Passing St Leonard’s Priory in Stamford, the walkers stopped at the Princess Diana Garden in Burgley Park and had lunch after crossing Burgley Golf Club. After lunch we were drenched by a heavy shower on the last mile to the finish back at Barnack.

Barnack Hills and Holes Nature Reserve

Barnack Village Cross

Uffington Signal Box

Phil leading the way

Crossing the River Welland

Coffee stop

St Leonard’s Priory, Stamford

Lunch stop

East Bridgford, 6th August 2019

Tina took us on a circumnavigation of East Bridgford, exploring paths we didn't know existed, before returning to the Royal Oak for our annual skittles contest organised by MOC and Chairman John. Thanks Brenda for making all the arrangements.