Vale of Belvoir Ramblers

Retford,the Chesterfield Canal and Babworth, Pilgrim Fathers' Walk, 19th July 2026

Paul's 9.2 -mile Pilgrim Fathers' Walk started in the New Street car park in Retford and took six VBR members and a similar number from other groups including five from Ratford, over the River Idle and through Kings Park to reach the Chesterfield Canal. We then followed it for 3½ miles to Green Lane (once known as the Great North Road), a green lane heading back towards Retford. A diversion across fields took us to Babworth Park and the famous All Saints Church with its connections to the Pilgrim Fathers.

James Brindley's Chesterfield Canal, completed in 1777, runs for 32 miles from the Trent at West Stockwith, through Retford and Worksop to the now-collapsed 1.5 mile Norwood Tunnel near the M1. There is a clearly signposted route though all the way into Chesterfield, the Cuckoo Way, named after the old horse-drawn boats unique to this canal. The canal was built to export coal, limestone and lead from Derbyshire, iron from Chesterfield and corn, timber, groceries, etc. into Derbyshire and was used to transport stone from North Anston Quarry for building the Houses of Parliament.

Map of the Cuckoo Way showing routes of past VBR walks

First view of the Chesterfield Canal in Retford

Canal lock and towpath

Drinks stop

Forest Lock

All Saints Church at Babworth. This church is famous as the community start point for the Pilgrim Fathers who left Nottinghamshire for Holland before sailing from Plymouth to the New World in 1620

River Idle in Retford, source of water for the canal

These wharves near the centre of Retford were important trading centres for two centuries until the arrival of the railways

Narrowboats in Retford Basin

A reminder of when Brenda met Robbie Cumming (BBC Four's Canal Boat Diaries) last time we were here

Harlaxton, Denton and the Grantham Canal Evening Stroll, 14th July 2026

Starting at The Gregory, Rose's 4-mile walk took seven members down Harlaxton Manor drive, through the village and across fields to Denton, then on to Denton Reservoir and up The Drift back to start.

Thanks Terry for the photos.

Distant view of Harlaxton Manor

Harlaxton Lake

Rose's house

Denton Reservoir

Halam and The Tranquil Path towards Farnsfield, 12th July 2025

From the quiet village of Halam, Howard took eleven members on a 7.2 mile, undulating walk on good field and gravel tracks using sections of the Robin Hood Way, via Meadow Farm and through the edge of Combs Wood, in the direction of Farnsfield. Lunch was taken at the site of the Halifax Bomber Memorial before we returned to Halam by a more direct route. Good views and just one easy stile with a gentle breeze to take the edge of the heat.

Howard's brief on Church Lane

This sunken, green lane, known as Rob's Lane on old maps, is an ancient packhorse track that might date back to Norman times

The Robin Hood Way

This long-distance route was planned by members of Nottingham Wayfarers' Rambling Club. It was opened in 1985 and runs for 105 miles from Nottingham Castle to Edwinstowe Church. This cairn is situated approximately halfway round the route and at one of its highest points at 120m

What a difference a year makes
Howard points out the excellent views to the north, last year and this year

Looking north towards Farnsfield

The Halifax Bomber Memorial

The Halifax was returning to its base at Burn near Selby in Yorkshire after completing its 2nd mission of the day to bomb the V1 Rocket launch site at Croix-Dalle in France. It was seen on fire passing over Nottingham and crashed near this spot at 10.25 pm on 6th July 1944. The memorial was established on the 50th anniversary in 1994.

Lunch in the shade at the site of the Memorial

Approaching Halam

Orston, Aslockton and Whatton Evening Stroll, 8th July 2026

Tina's 5¼ mile walk took us from St Mary’s Church in Orston, along Smite Lane, then along the embankment of the River Smite, past Cranmer's Mound to Aslockton. Then we walked through Whatton to take Orston Lane and Lombard Street back to Orston.

St Mary's Church

Unholy trinity

Long stroll = late finish

Whisby Nature Reserve, 5th July 2026

Starting in the car park at Whisby Nature Reserve, Scott took 12 members on a flat, 7-mile walk through Thorpe on the Hill; across fields to Stocking Wood and Housham Wood; through the hamlet of Morton and into Tunman Wood. Then we hacked our way along a path by the side of the Nottingham to Lincoln railway to reach the old Station House and, after re-entering the Nature Reserve, we walked round Thorpe Lake to the cafe for represhments.

On the way back, some of us were fortunate to meet up with a small group being given a guided tour of the On Freedom's Wings structure, a life-size model of a Lancaster bomber. It was unveiled in September 2025 next to the A46 in Norton Disney near RAF Swinderby, a former RAF Bomber Command station. It was erected by the Bomber County Gateway Trust, formed with the object of designing, procuring, constructing and installing an iconic landmark art installation on the county border of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

Scott's briefing

Distant view of Lincoln Cathedral

Let the train take the train ...

... instead of hacking your way by the track

Thorpe Lake, one of several, flooded former gravel pits making up the park

Lancaster Bomber sculpture

One of seven custom-built memorial seats honouring the four airmen who lost their lives and the three who were injured when their plane crashed near RAF Swinderby in September 1942

Woolsthorpe Wharf, Grantham Canal and the River Devon, 1st July 2026

Starting at Woolsthorpe Wharf, Elaine's walk took 13 members along the Grantham Canal and the Sustrans cycle track to Muston Bridge, returning to Stenwith Bridge before dropping down to the River Devon which we followed to Woolsthorpe Village. Good tracks all the way, no stiles and distant views of Belvoir Castle.

Thanks Bill and Terry for the photos.