Vale of Belvoir Ramblers

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.

Elaine's briefing outside The Duck at Woolsthope Wharf

Low water levels in the Grantham Canal

Setting off

Grantham Canal Society's weed skimmer

Good, dry tracks by the canal

Distant view of Belvoir Castle

Fiskerton, Morton and Rolleston, 28th June 2026

Starting at the riverside car park near Fiskerton, Paul took 13 members along the River Trent to Hazelford Weir then across fields to Morton. After returning to the outskirts of Fiskerton, the walk took us north to Rolleston, then back across the River Greet and past Fiskerton Mill to the start.

Thanks John, Paul and Terry for the photos.