Steve led 12 ramblers on a 7 mile walk beginning at the north end of Waltham village. The group crossed fields to the NATS radio beacon tower then alongside Bescaby Gallops. From Bescaby we followed stone paths looping around woods for a coffee stop at duck ponds at Bescaby Farm. Onwards to Stonesby and through the village churchyard we reached Stonesby Quarry (now a Nature Reserve) for a lunch stop. Finally we crossed fields back to the NATS tower and returned via the first walk leg to finish.
Vale of Belvoir Ramblers
Waltham on the Wolds, Bescaby and Stonesby, 3rd November 2024
Steve led 12 ramblers on a 7 mile walk beginning at the north end of Waltham village. The group crossed fields to the NATS radio beacon tower then alongside Bescaby Gallops. From Bescaby we followed stone paths looping around woods for a coffee stop at duck ponds at Bescaby Farm. Onwards to Stonesby and through the village churchyard we reached Stonesby Quarry (now a Nature Reserve) for a lunch stop. Finally we crossed fields back to the NATS tower and returned via the first walk leg to finish.
Skillington, Buckminster and Sproxton, 27th October 2024
Christine led 19 ramblers on an 8.6 mile walk starting in Skillington. She gave a short history of each of our walk route villages explaining the Viking origin of many of their names. Also, that Maggie Thatcher's father from Grantham used to preach at the Skillington Baptist Church. The weather was glorious with blue skies and sunshine. We walked on good paths reaching Buckminster for a coffee stop at the village church. Crossing fields, we stopped at the churchyard in Sproxton for lunch. returning via paths near the Saltby airfield where we saw Buckminster Gliders Club craft in the sky.
Thanks Steve for ... everything!
Christine's briefing |
Heavy going in places |
Christine leads |
Coffe stop in at St John the Baptist, Buckminster |
St John the Baptist, Buckminster |
Located in the grounds of the church is this Grade II* listed Mausoleum |
St Bartholomew Church, Sproxton - lunch |
Lunch again ... |
...and again |
One of many massive banks of straw bales on the site of Saltby Airfield and destined for the 38MW Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant. Annually this plant burns 240,000 tonnes of straw (approximately 55 bales per hour), sourced mainly from farms local to the Sleaford plant |
Newark's Heritage and Riverside, 20th October 2024
Bridge over the ditch surrounding the Sconce |
Plaque located on the top of the Sconce showing Newark's defences |
Royal cannon monument on one of the four arms of the Sconce |
River Devon in flood |
One of many fine houses in Millgate. Millgate was developed as a dockland area as trade increased along the Trent with houses and businesses mixed together |
The Watermill, first licensed in 1794, the last of seven on Millgate |
The local blacksmith in Blacksmith Lane and a large pile of horseshoes similar to the one in Scarrington |
Otter Park next to the river - sculpture created by Judith Bluck depicting two bronze otters poised on a large piece of limestone rock |
Newark Castle |
3-D map of Newark town centre on display in the Castle grounds. Note the river at the top and Queen's Sconce on the left |
Civil War statue showing a roundhead and cavalier, one a drummer, the other a soldier |
Here is one prepared earlier! View looking downstream from Newark's Trent Bridge of the Grade II listed Clock Tower (1860) and other fine buidings |
Panoramic view of the weir just upstream of Nether Lock, the Britsh Sugar Factory just visible in the background |
A 70kW, Archimedes Screw turbine, installed next to the weir in 2020, provides enough power for about 175 homes |
Coffe stop at Newark Nether Lock, the last on the Trent before Cromwell Lock |
Heading back on the left bank |
The King's Marina |
View of Castle Barge moored on The Wharf, Newark Castle and Trent Bridge |
Newark Castle from Riverside Park |
Town Lock and Thorpes Warehouse |
Another example of the fine brick buildings alongside the river - Trent Navigation Wharf & Warehouse |
Nottingham Waterways to Radcliffe on Trent, 13th October 2024
Elaine's linear, 7¾ mile walk today started at the Carrington Street bus stop outside Nottingham Railway Station and took ten members firstly along the Nottingham and Beeston Canal to the Trent opposite the City Ground. After crossing Trent Bridge, we went along the river, past The Hook Local Nature Reserve to the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont for lunch and to view the white-water rafters. After rounding the far end of the rowing lake, we returned to Radcliffe via Holme Lane and The Green.
View of Castle Wharf from the bridge over the canal |
Castle Wharf |
Setting off towards the London Road Bridge, fine warehouses on the left |
Description of Canalside next to London Road |
Traffic on the canal |
Meadow Lane Lock - canal meets the Tent |
Dragonboat near Trent Bridge |
View from Trent Bridge - City Ground and rowing clubs |
Junction of the Grantham Canal and the Trent |
Apartments at Trent Basin close to the site of the new pedestrian bridge across the Trent |
Nottingham Princess |
Rounding the mark before a struggle upstream in light winds |
Map of Country Park |
Colwick Sluice undergoing refurbishment |
Holme Lock |
White water rafting.. and swimming...and carrying...and diving |
Leaving the site of the white water rafting after an entertaining lunch stop |
Canoe Polo site near Skylarks Nature Reserve |
Return to Radcliffe for refreshments and/or a bus back home, St Mary's Church in the background |