Hartshorne and Calke Abbey, 11th May 2025

Paul's 9.8 mile walk attracted six VBR members and four visitors who learned about our walks on the Ramblers' website where we are publishing our walks again. In glorious weather, we started at the Village Hall car park opposite the Bull's Head in Hartshorne and enjoyed a  beautiful, undulating rural ramble around the National Forest, through woodland with lots of beautiful English bluebells.  Lunch was taken in the grounds of Calke Abbey.

The start in Hartshorne

Lots of bluebells in the woods near the start of the walk

Extensive tree planting in the National Forest.  Fine views back towards Nottingham

Approaching Calke Abbey

Lunch stop under a fine oak tree at Calke Abbey

Distant view of the church in Ticknall

Part of the Calke Abbey Tramway Trail

Strawberry fields forever

St Peter's Church, Hartshorne

Today's walk and Rab's 2017 route  Also shown is the Calke Abbey Tramway Trail which uses some of the old horse-drawn tramway that linked Ticknall to Ashby