Dave C's 8.4 mile walk started in the Ratby Burroughs car park and took 18 of us past the south of Thornton Reservoir to Bagworth Heath Country Park and on to lunch in glorious weather on the north bank of the reservoir. Just to the south of the car park is Bury Camp, an Iron Age hill fort which gives the area its name (burrough means living next to a hill fort).
As well as using parts of the Leicestershire Round and National Forest Way, the walk took us on the Coal Tips to Country Parks route which passes through former coal mining sites now transformed into woodlands and country parks.
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| Ratby Burroughs car park |
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| Misty view of Thornton Reservoir spillway and dam (1854). The water used to be treated locally but is now treated at Cropston Reservoir next to Bradgate Park |
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| Coffee and remembrance near Thornton Village |
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| Desford's Hanson Forterra brickworks, the largest in Europe. When production commences at the upgraded plant in 2022, it will see brick capacity reach approximately 700 million bricks per annum. The raw material comes from the nearby clay pits (see map below) |
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| This pit winding wheel in Bagworth Heath Country Park is from the old Desford Colliery (1902 - 1984) and sits on an island in the centre one of the three lakes caused by subsidence |
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| Three wise men (according to their self-assessment forms) |
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| Lunch by the side of Thornton Reservoir in improving weather |
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| Looking back at the dam and Thornton Village |
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| Recalcitrant gate - many hands .... |
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