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.
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| The start near Bestwood Lodge |
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| Alexandra Lodge (1877), the base for the Park Rangers and a study centre. |
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| Mill Lakes - now a nature reserve but once the site of a water mill, one of several in the Leen Valley |
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| Forge Mill (1787), one of only three remaining mills on the very industrialised River Leen |
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| Crossing the LRT tramline to Hucknall (prepared previously) |
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| Bulwell Hall Park |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Dynamo House, the former electrical sub-station serving the colliery |
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| The short walkers, distant views of Hucknall in the background |
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| 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 |
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