Vale of Belvoir Ramblers: January 2022

Wellingore and the Lincoln Edge, 30th January 2022

Paul's 8.6 mile walk today took 22 of us from The Memorial Hall in Wellingore to the villages of Navenby, Boothby Graffoe and Coleby which lie along a stretch of the limestone ridge of the Lincoln Edge. The Edge or Lincoln Cliff runs for over 50 miles from the Leicestershire border near Grantham to the Humber Estuary and is broken only twice by river gaps at Ancaster and Lincoln. Part of the route follows the Ridges & Furrows Arts & Heritage Trail, a 30 mile trail running along the Lincoln Edge in North Kesteven between Sleaford and the Millennium Green in North Hykeham.

View from Lincoln Edge across the Trent Valley

Somerton Castle, a 13th century tower and a 17th century farmhouse

Stop for coffee near Somerton Castle

Coleby in the distance

Lunchtime refreshments in the garden of The Tempest Arms in Coleby

Lincolnshire limestone house in Coleby

St Peter's Church, Navenby

Cropston, Branston and Eaton, 23rd January 2022

Starting at the layby near the Geese and Feathers in Croxton, John's 8 mile walk took us first near Croxton Park, now part of the Belvoir Estate but in medieval times the site of Croxton Abbey. We then passed through Branston to Eaton for lunch, returning to Croxton via Branston. An undulating walk (300m of ascent) exploring the headwaters of the River Devon.

The start near the Geese and Feathers pub, Croxton Kerrial

Windmill Hill, a mound which is all that remains of an old post mill

Coffee stop on the way to Branston, Belvoir Castle in the distance

Unfortunately, going past not into The Wheel Inn, Branston

Tricky steps down to an ironstone gullet - a long, deep and narrow trench or pit from which ironstone was quarried

Lunch at St Denys' Church, Eaton

St Guthlac's Church, Branston

The Old Schoolhouse, Branston

Croxton's famous water spout (see on pub sign above)

Waltham and Bescaby, 16th January 2022

Steve led a good turnout (25) for this 4.8 mile walk from the Village Hall in Waltham, through the village and across fields to the medieval village of Bescaby and back past Bescaby Racecourse and the NATS (National Air Traffic Services) tower prior to the VBR AGM at the Village Hall in Waltham.

The start at the Village Hall

Bescaby farmhouse across the fishing ponds

Coffe stop near Bescaby

Hall Farm House (1865) in Waltham

Bestwood Country Park (and Bulwell Hall Park), 9th January 2022

Two walks today, 6 miles round Bestwood Country Park and a longer one of 8.6 miles which included a trip across to Bulwell Hall Park. An impressive turnout of 33 (including nine visitors from Gedling) started the walk near Bestwood Lodge before crossing the Park to circumnavigate Bestwood Village and pass by the Mill Lakes on the River Leen. The long walkers led by John J then crossed the LRT to enter Bulwell Hall Park before returning to Bestwood Country Park. Both groups visited the impressive Winding Engine House before climbing up to the top of the old tip (124m) with excellent views towards Hucknall.

The start near Bestwood Lodge

Alexandra Lodge (1877), the base for the Park Rangers and a study centre.

Mill Lakes - now a nature reserve but once the site of a water mill, one of several in the Leen Valley

Forge Mill (1787), one of only three remaining mills on the very industrialised River Leen

Crossing the LRT tramline to Hucknall (prepared previously)

Bulwell Hall Park

The Winding Engine House is the last remaining part of Bestwood Colliery - one of the busiest coal mines in Nottinghamshire and the first in the UK to produce over a million tons per year. The winding engine lowered colliers into the mine shaft, and winched mined coal up to the surface. It houses a large winding engine, originally powered by steam. At its peak, the mine employed 2000 men

The headstock and winding house of Bestwood Colliery, 1875 to 1967. There are free tours between 10am and 12 noon on Saturdays and Bank Holidays

Dynamo House, the former electrical sub-station serving the colliery

The short walkers, distant views of Hucknall in the background

Bestwood Lodge, now a hotel, is a large 19th century country house originally a medieval Royal Hunting Lodge set within what was once a part of Sherwood Forest

Ropsley and the Humbys, 2nd January 2022

Starting at the Green Man in Ropsley, Rab led 16 members on this 7 mile, gently undulating walk around Lincolnshire's quiet wolds and villages on a mix of footpaths and tracks, including King Street, an old Roman road, and the Cross Britain Way.