Scalford, Holwell and Melton Country Park, 29th December 2019

Steve D led twenty one Ramblers on this 7½ mile, undulating walk from Scalford to Holwell, Melton Country Park and back to Scalford via the Jubilee Way. The fields were very muddy and the stiles were very sloppy due to recent heavy rains.

St Egelwin's Church, Scalford (1100 AD)

Stiles

Mud

No printable caption available

More stiles!

Old ironstone mine near Holwell - a cause of local ground subsidence

Holwell Nature Reserve - special interest in the conservation of bats

Coffee on Holwell Village Green

One of Santa's little elves

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Lunch at the cafe in Melton Country Park

Crossing the lake bridge in Melton Country Park

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Elston, Sibthorpe and Syerston, 22nd December 2019

Jim took us on this flat and muddy 8-mile walk from Elston on tracks and some roads to Sibthorpe, along Longhedge Lane to Syerston and then back to Elston.

The start at the junction of Carrgate Lane and Toad Lane

Carrgate Lane - soggy

The wetlands of the Car Dyke "valley" - soggier

Near St Peter's Church, Sibthorpe

Sibthorpe Dovecote next to Car Dyke

Sibthorpe Dovecote. Built by monks in response to a famine of 1360, it housed over 1,200 pigeons in tiny nesting niches perched 24 stories high. It provided a supply of meat, eggs and fertilizer to safeguard against future starvation

Lunch at All Saints' Church, Syerston

Syerston Pinfold

Longhedge Lane - soggiest

All Saints' Church, Elston

Woolsthorpe and Muston, 15th December 2019

Sustrans Route 15

John Y led this short walk, changed like many this Autumn due to the flooding, from the Rutland Arms, along the Grantham Canal to Muston Church for mulled wine and mince pies courtesy of Barbara and the Committee.  Then we went back to Woolsthorpe Wharf before driving to Pauls Restaurant in Bottesford for our Christmas lunch.

Woolsthorpe Wharf

On the canal, approaching the Viking Way

St John the Baptist, Muston

Lunch at Pauls.  Thanks Brenda for organising the lunch, Dave the quiz and Sue the prizes

The first prize is a box of mince pies.
And the second prize is ..... two boxes of mince pies.

Hungarton and Baggrave, Lowesby and Quenby Halls, 8th December 2019

Paul's 7-mile walk, revised and recced several times to avoid the mud, took us across pasture and rolling parkland to three Leicestershire halls, Baggrave, Lowesby and Quenby.

The start near Hungarton Church

St John the Baptist, Hungarton
Spot the deliberate mistake

Baggrave Hall

Approaching Lowesby Hall

Lowesby Hall,owned by David Wilson the builder.  Not a solar panel in sight, just like his houses

Lunch at All Saints Church, Lowesby

Ammonites on track near Quenby Hall

Quenby Hall, a Grade 1 listed building described as the most important early-seventeenth century house in the county

Last leg - approaching Hungarton

Clumber Park and River Poulter, 1st December 2019

Elaine's 8.5 mile walk (allegedly) took us from the cafe in Clumber Park and along the north shore of lake to pass close to Hardwick Village before crossing the A614 and following the River Poulter to Crookford Farm and ford.  The return took us along the Robin Hood Way to Hardwick Village for lunch before walking south of the lake to Clumber Bridge and the start.

On the drive in - Lime Tree Avenue, 2 miles long with 1,296 common limes

The start near the Clock Tower and Stable Block

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Clumber

 

Just made it - edge of the River Poulter

Bridge over River Poulter near Crookford Ford

Not the River Poulter - climbing back to rejoin the Robin Hood Way

Signs of the Bothamsall Oil Field.  In the 1970s, Nottinghamshire was the biggest producer of onshore oil in the UK

One of several nodding donkeys which used to operate in the Bothamsall Oil Field

Approaching Hardwick Village

Footbridge over the River Poulter

Clumber Wetland

Chairman John with entourage

Church of St Mary the Virgin, this time from across the lake

Clumber Bridge under repair