Cropwell Bishop, Cropwell Butler and Tithby, 10th August 2025

Val took 17 VBR members and visitors on a 5.9 mile walk from the Memorial Hall in Cropwell Bishop along the Grantham Canal to Fosse Bridge and on to Cropwell Butler for a drinks stop.  Field paths then took us to Tithby and then back to Cropwell Bishop in fine weather.

Val's briefing at the start

Setting off on the Grantham Canal

Crossing the Grantham Canal at Lock 11

Settling ponds next to new development in Cropwell Bishop.  Note solar panels .. or not

Start: Memorial Hall car park by the Grantham canal, Nottingham Road, Cropwell Bishop,  SK679355

Bradgate Park and the Three Peaks of Leicestershire, 3rd August 2025

Elaine's 8.7 mile walk took fifteen Ramblers from Swithland Woods into Bradgate Park and up to Old John Tower (Peak 1, 216m) then down to cross Lingdale Golf Club.  A gradual climb took us up to Beacon Hill (Peak 2, 245m) with views in all directions.  We then dropped down to the Beacon Hill Country Park cafe for lunch before walking on to Windmill Hill (Peak 3, 147m).  After walking through Woodhouse Eaves to view the Forest Rock geopark and church, we re-enterd Swithland Woods to walk back to the start.

Thanks Terry for the photos.

The start in Swithland Woods

Bradgate Park map

Origin of rocks in Bradgate Park

Climbing up to the first peak

Built by the Greys in 1784, Old John is, by local legend, a memorial to John, an estate worker killed in a bonfire accident during celebrations of the 21st birthday of the future sixth Earl of Stamford

Old Jan, Old Rab, Old Steve and Old Phil sitting on Old John

Toposcope next to Old John.  Views of Melton Mowbray – 15 miles, Burrough Hill – 14¾ miles, Leicester Cathedral – 5¾ miles, Scraptoft – 8¾ miles, Rothley Temple – 9¼ miles
Tilton on the Hill – 14¼ miles, Billesdon Coplow – 12½ miles

Toposcope on Beacon Hill.
Distant views of Boston Stump, Derby, Nottingham Leicester, Loughborough and Lincoln

Distant view of Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station

Old Man of Beacon Hill - from certain angles

Workshop of Peter Leadbetter, local chainsaw artist in residence ...

... and some of his wood carvings in Beacon Hill Park

Beacon Hill Country Park Cafe - lunch

Surprisingly brief deluge

View from Windmill Hill looking towards Nottingham

Stone base of the old post mill on Windmill Hill.  Open but platform inside decaying and dangerous

Tractor outside The Curzon Arms, Woodhouse Eaves

Fine stone cottages

Original post mill and large model on Main Street, Woodhouse Eaves

Known as Forest Rock, Stone Hole or Church Cave, this unusual site used to be a hive of activity in the 19th century with stone being extracted to construct new buildings in Woodhouse Eaves

Fine locally-sourced stonework at St Paul's Church, Woodhouse Eaves

Start: Swithland Wood South Car Park, SK537118
Distance: 8.7 miles; ascent: 380m

East Bridgford Evening Stroll and Skittles, 30th July 2025

Sue took seventeen members and guests on this 3½ mile Evening Stroll starting at the Royal Oak in East Bridgford. We first went past Stokes Mill and round the outskirts of East Bridgford to the edge of Springdale Wood before turning to pass through the lanes of the village.  After crossing fields to the north east, the route took us along Occupation Lane, Kneeton Road, through the village again and across Butt Field playing fields to join five other members at the Royal Oak for skittles, food and drink.

Thanks Sue for organising the Skittles and leading the walk, John for arranging the four (or was it five?) teams for skittles and Dave for keeping score.

The start in the Royal Oak car park

Stokes Mill

Sunflowers near Springdale Lane

John tries to explain the rules

John and Malcolm look on in astonishment as a skittle is knocked over

Start point: SK691431

Measham, Donisthorpe, Moira and Oakthorpe, 27th July 2025

Starting at the car park behind Measham Library, Sue and Dave took six members on an 8.4 mile trip through the heart of the Leicestershire Coalfield along Ashby Wolds Way, the Ivanhoe Way and Ashby Canal to the Moira Furnace, visiting the sites of Donisthorpe, Moira and Oakthorpe Collieries and Conkers Discovery Centre.

Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail, formerly the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway is now a multi-use trail in the heart of the National Forest

Group outside the site of Donisthorpe Colliery (1871 – 1990)

Ashby Canal Mine Underground seam marker-posts located on the Ashby Canal towpath indicating: the Mine Seam; the Seams Worked; Metres Below Ground

Donisthorpe Woodland Park, a 36-hectare former colliery site in the National Forest

Remains of a railway semaphore signal base structure

Moira Junction, formerly a railway junction and train depot, was transformed into a nature reserve starting in 1991 and designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1994

One of four sculptures located at key nearby industrial sites - Moira Junction South, Bath Yard Basin, Hicks Lodge and Thorpit Pit

Unusual triple-gated Moira Lock near the termination of the Ashby Canal

Moira Furnace (1806) one of the best-preserved blast furnaces in the country

Bridge near the end of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal which connected Moira with the Coventry Canal. It was opened in 1804 and a number of tramways were constructed at its northern end to service the collieries.  Around 9 miles passes through the Leicestershire Coalfield

Examining one of the two plinths where Oakthorpe Colliery shafts are capped

Returning to Measham across the A42

Start point: Measham Library, SK331119