Keyworth, Wysall and Widmerpool, 12th January 2024

Starting in the car park off Elm Avenue in Keyworth, Rab took eigtht of us on an 8¼ mile walk across rolling fields to Wysall for coffee. From there, we picked up the Midshires Way to Widmerpoool for lunch and then the Notts Wolds Way back to Keyworth.

This was an undulating walk crossing several small streams which drain the Leicestershire Wolds west of the Fosse and into Fareham Brook which enters the Trent at Clifton or Kingston Brook which drains into the Soar.

The start

Approaching Widmerpool

Coffee stop in Widmerpool

Lunch stop in Wysall

Almost home - approaching St Mary Magdalene Church, Keyworth

Keyworth's sites of interest on fine display board

Martyn's Barn (1651) Grade 2 listed

Erewash Valley Trail and the Bennerley Viaduct, 5th January 2025

Why we cancelled the walk.

Levels have risen at the Pinxton river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall and snow melt. Consequently, flooding of property, roads and farmland is imminent.

Areas most at risk are Langley Mill, and Shipley Gate, including Derby Road, and Cromford Road.

Bottesford towards Allington, 29th December 2024

From Walford Close Car Park, Paul took seventeen members on a 5-mile walk over  Beacon Hill on grassy paths in the direction of Allington and back.  All managed to complete the walk.  An enjoyable walk in the sunshine - boots were clean by the end of the walk.

Thanks Paul for the photos.

The start in the Walford Close Car Park, Bottesford

Coffee stop

Coffee stop

 Georgian footbridge at The Green

Woolsthorpe Wharf and the Grantham Canal, 22nd December 2024

Paul led twelve members on this six-mile walk starting at The Duck at Woolsthorpe (aka Dirty Duck aka Rutland Arms) next to Woolsthorpe Wharf. It took us along the Grantham Canal to Denton Wharf and on to Denton Reservoir for coffee. After walking through Denton itself and along the road to Woolsthorpe by Belvoir we picked up the disused railway line as far as the Viking Way to re-join the canal back to The Duck.

The briefing

The Duck at Woolsthorpe

Denton Reservoir - coffee

Gedling Country Park and Lambley, 15th December 2024

Following a short walk around the Country Park, with good views over Gedling, Sue took twenty members on a well-researched 6½ mile walk down across Cocker Beck to Lambley School for mulled wine and mince pies. We then did a loop north towards Lambley Airfield before returning to the village and then taking field paths back to the park for lunch.



Thanks Elaine and Barbara for the mince pies and mulled wine and John for the photos. And Sue of course for doing the recce several times and without Dave to help her.

Briefing at the start

Fine mosaics at the cafe

Views over Gedling towards the Belvoir Ridge

Cocker Beck aka Lambley Dumble

Mince pies and mulled wine in Lambley

All dressed up and nowhere to go

Lambley Church - a lunch stop on previous walks

And back to the park for coffee or back to Lambley for something else

Barnstone and Dove Cottage, 8th December 2024

Six ramblers braved Storm Darragh and undertook Steve’s walk starting from the new Langar cum Barnstone Community Hall built with funding from local Trusts, Councils and businesses and opened in 2023.  In view of the bad weather and poor ground conditions the walk was shortened to five miles.  We started by taking Works Lane, passing the old cement works and then the new anaerobic digestion plant that generates methane gas from crop sileage.  After passing alongside Langar Airfield and crossing muddy fields we reached Dove Cottage for our coffee stop. The tearoom is now closed but we had permission to use the garden pergola and seating for our own snacks.  Afterwards we retraced our steps back to Barnstone.

Thanks Steve for the photos and description.  Sorry we all turned up and you couldn't just go home!

There's no such thing as bad weather (AW, 1973)
Oh yes, there is!!

Cement Works, still going strong after 150 years

A rather smelly anaerobic digester plant

Broken bridge on footpath

Works Farm

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Londonthorpe Woods and the Bellmount Tower, 1st December 2024

Starting at the Woodland Trust's car park on Five Gates Lane, Scott's very muddy 5½ mile walk took sixteen members through Londonthorpe and Alma Woods and on to Londonthorpe itself for a coffee stop at the church. Leaving the village, we first dropped down towards Five Gates Lane before climbing up to woods round the back of Bellmount Tower.  Mist and rain spoiled the views towards Belton House and across the Trent Valley. The route back took us on paths next to Five Gates Lane.

Scott briefs the members in the car park

Londonthorpe Woods and Woodland Trust volunteers

Relic of WW2 army camp

Approaching Londonthorpe

 St John The Baptist's Church, Londonthorpe, dating back to the early 1200s, with Commonwealth War Graves in the churchyard and fine views over the Lincolnshire countryside (in good weather)

Carved heads on the church walls

Approaching the Bellmount Tower from the north