2026 Walks Programme map

Location of start points of upcoming walks.  Zoom out and pan to see more start points and click on red dots or circles to see details.

Lady Bay, Holme Pierrepont, Bassingfield and Gamston, 28th December 2025

Starting at the Poppy and Pint in Lady Bay, Val and Dave's 8½ mile walk took 22 VBR members and guests through The Hook Nature Reserve to the River Trent to view the new Waterside Bridge.  We then followed the river to Holme Pierrepont Water Sports Centre and across Adbolton Lane to reach  Skylarks Nature Reserve for lunch.  After crossing the A52, we crossed fields to reach Bassingfield and the Grantham Canal which we followed into Gamston and West Bridgford and back to the pub via more of the canal.

The start outside the Poppy and Pint

The recently installed Waterside Bridge connecting Trent Basin to Lady Bay

Map of Holme Pierrepont Watersports Centre

Canoe slalom course

View of Holme Pierrepont Hall near the lunch stop

Crossing Polser Brook.  This short stream is the proposed route of the so-called Trent Link,  a canal link between the River Trent and Cotgrave Country Park which would pass under the A52 and join the river without requiring a lock

Beh..i...nd you!

Grantham Canal - approaching Gamston

Bingham and Car Colston Christmas walk, 22nd December 2025

A good turnout of 20 members and invited guests on Gail's 4½ mile walk starting at Bingham's WI Hut on Station Street.  After crossing the railway, the route took us over Parson's Hill and across Car Dyke on to the Royal Oak on the Green in Car Colston for a drinks stop.  Better tracks brought us back to Bingham by way of Archer's Lake, the Industrial Estate and Moor Lane to join five other members for a fuddle at the WI Hut.

Thanks Bill for the photos.

Views, what views?

Drinks outside the Royal Oak

Early gathering for the fuddle

Bottesford, Kilvington, Staunton and Alverton, 14th December 2025

Paul's 8.7 mile walk from Bottesford made use of the dismantled Melton to Newark railway line and the banks of the River Devon to head north to Kilvington and Staunton-in-the-Vale.  After a stop for drinks, we walked on round Kilvington Lakes to Alverton for lunch in the Garden of Rest.  We then returned to the line of the railway and back to Botteford.

Thanks John for the photos.

The start in the Walford Close car park

First crossing of the River Devon on the outskirts of Botttesford

Magnificent sky behind the Nottingham to Grantham line

The Winter Beck flows from Belvoir through Muston and west of Bottesford to join the Devon just south of Staunton.  Flooding in Bottesford in 2020 and 2025 was primarily caused by the Winter Beck, not the River Devon.  The Grantham Canal was identified as a contributing factor with large volumes of water overtopping the canal banks at Muston Gorse.

Approaching Kilvington

Church of St Mary, Kilvington

Church of St Mary, Staunton

Memorial to the crew of AVRO Lancaster W4270.

On the 18th of February 1943, a crew from 61 squadron, RAF Syerston had been on a long cross country training flight when, at 22.56 hrs, after 6 hrs 45 mins flying, a con rod broke on the inner starboard engine, causing a fire, which despite their best efforts, they failed to put out. A combination of this and the fact the landing gear was in the lowered position, caused them to lose control and the aircraft crashed killing all seven members of the crew.

The Memorial includes a propeller from the Lancaster and displays the official insignia of the Royal Air Force.

River Devon after heavy rain near Staunton

The Staunton Arms

Ryland sheep, one of the oldest English breeds

Caunton, Norwell and Bathley, 7th December 2025

Starting by the church on Main Strret, John took 11 members along field paths and tracks to Norwell for a coffee stop. Then, to avoid the worst of ploughed fields and waterlogged areas on the original route, we took a shortcut along Bathley Lane to rejoin the route which took us to the outskirts of Bathley.   More muddy paths took us down to Caunton Beck and back to the start.

Early snowdrops in Norwell

Schoolhouse Farm, Norwell

Norwell Pinfold
Built circa 1830 to replace an earlier pinfold used to pen stray animals which could then be reclaimed on payment of a fine to the Pinder.  Norwell Parish Council, 2002

Approaching Caunton

Caunton Beck
The Beck's catchment includes Kneesall, Eakring, Maplebeck, Kersall and Norwell (but not Bathley).  It flows into the (tidal) Trent at Carlton, north of Cromwell

Caunton Beck

6.1 miles, ascent 80m

Starting at the Forestry England car park off Longdale Lane, Ravenshead, Dave took thirteen members on this 7.7 mile walk on surprisingly good forest tracks given the recent rain.  We first headed north to Blidworth Bottoms before returning to Longdale Lane and walk a short distance to Papplewick Pumping Station. The route then took us through Sansom Wood, across the disused Bestwood to Calverton Pit railway line to follow The Robin Hood Way into Burnt Stump Country Park for lunch. After walking round the park, we re-entered Sansom Woods and walked back to the start.

Blidworth Wood

Coffee stop near Rigg Lane

Small lake which was used to store water when the Papplewick Pumping Station was in use

Papplewick Pumping Station entrance

View of The Burnt Stump pub across cricket ground  - lunch stop

7.7 miles, 231m elevation

Minutes of VBR AGM, 23rd Vovember 2025

 

VALE of BELVOIR RAMBLERS

Annual General Meeting 2025

November 23rd

Whatton Jubilee Hall at 1.30pm

1. Present
Rab Bird, Dave & Sue Cobley, Ann & Brian Durant, Alex Ellis (Notts Area Chair), Paul Fenton, Heather Fletcher, Rose De Fusto, Dave & Elaine Hobson, Barbara Jones, Ian Powell, John & Janet Rea, Tina Russell, Scott Saxelby, Jan Tilsey, Angela Turner, Rod Vooght, John & Kim Young.

2. Apologies
Val Moreland, Steve Deacon, Sheila Pedley, Gail Parkinson

3. Minutes of 2024 AGM
These were circulated prior to the AGM. There were no matters arising and they were agreed by those present.

4. Officers' Reports
These were published on the VBR blog before the meeting.

Treasurer’s Report
John Young pointed out that the Ramblers Association are not giving groups sufficient funds. He pointed out that the AGM in 2024 cost the group more than one quarterly payment.

Publicity Officer’s Report
Dave pointed out that the January to March 2026 Walks Programme needs walks.
At the meeting, maps and walk leaflets were displayed for potential walk leaders.

Rights of Way Officer’s Report
Paul drew attention to the Great North Road Solar Park which the Rights of Way Committee are involved in. Paul intends to become involved with them in the New Year

12. Election of Officers

This year Elaine and Angela had joined the committee. Sue had agreed to become social secretary and manage Summer events.
It was then proposed and agreed unanimously to elect the following officers:
Chairman: Angela Turner
Secretary: Elaine Hobson
Treasurer: Scott Saxelby
Membership: Barbara Jones,
Walks Co-ordinator: Gail Parkinson
RoW Officer: Paul Fenton
Publicity: Dave Hobson

Social Secretary: Sue Cobley

13. AOB

Weekend Away
Scott reported that he had made enquiries with HF for a group Weekend in September 2026. The only HF house available for the required dates 25th to 28th Sept. was at Church Stretton. The price £425 pp and an extra £5 pp per day for a single room. The deposit on booking had increased to £175 pp.
There followed a discussion on increase in price and alternative accommodation
Scott agreed to email the group with this information and sound out interest.

Walk Leaders’ Training
There followed a discussion on the Ramblers training insisting on all walks to be recced and lack of insurance if rules are not followed.

Gail had reported at the last committee meeting that 7 members qualified by experience and another 7 had undergone training in 2025. Notts Area had agreed that if an untrained walk leader had done a recce they could lead as long as the there was a qualified Walk leader on the walk who was prepared to take responsibility

First Aid
The Committee will organise a First Aid Training Course in 2026 to update all VBR members.

Area Ramblers
Alex Ellis (Notts Area Chair) spoke about her thoughts on the proposed changes in Ramblers Governance. She believes Ramblers need to have a more modern image with reference to the changes in governance. Alex advertised the Area Ramblers AGM at Oxton Feb 1st 2026 and encouraged members to attend and put their views.

The meeting closed at 14.10