Lambley Dumbles and Ploughman Wood, 26th April 2026


Starting near the school in Lambley, Howard, led 16 ramblers on a 7.3 mile walk on probably the hottest day of the year so far, taking good field paths and tracks with only two stiles to Lambley Dumbles and Bonney Doles. We stopped for coffee in Ploughman Wood but there was no suitable stop for lunch which a few took in the playground at the finish.

Thanks Steve, John and Terry for the photos and Howard for the route.
Howard's briefing at the start

Our Leader striding out

Ploughman Wood was donated to the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust by the Home Office in 1996. Covering over 32 hectares, this is one of Nottinghamshire’s few remaining ancient woodlands. Documentary evidence shows that it dates back to the 13th century and was part of an area of woodland covering more than 120 hectares. It would have formed part of the south-eastern extremity of the greater Sherwood Forest.

English not Spanish bluebells in Ploughman Wood

More striding out

Coffee stop

On the south side of the wood, two kilns have been installed recently to produce charcoal which is sold through local outlets

Bridge in Bonney Doles, an area of meadow and woodland developed by the Woodland Trust as a Millennium project. Bonney Doles is the traditional local name for this area

Kelham Hills and Averham Park, 19th April 2026

Dave's 6.2 mile walk took 15 of us from Kelham along the former route of the Trent Valley Way and past the Kelham Hills to Averham Park.  From the impressive Equestrian Centre in the Park we turned north to reach Muskham Woodhouse Farm before dropping down Debdale Hill for lunch in the woods.  Some road walking on the quiet Ollerton Road took us back to the Fox Inn and the start.

Thanks Steve, Terry and John for the photos.

View looking downstream from Kelham Bridge

The start on Ollerton Road


Not much galloping today - equestrian or otherwise

PolyTrack 7.5 furlong all-weather gallop

Coffee stop - Averham Park in the distance

Averham Park Farm Equestian Centre - horse walker in the background

Horse whispering



Lincoln Cathedral!

Bravely confronting the lively bullocks

Lunch in the woods

Denton and Barrowby, 12th April 2026

Starting near the church in Denton in glorious sunshine, Paul's 7.3 mile walk took twelve ramblers and two dogs past Denton Reservoir to reach the Grantham Canal at Harlaxton Bridge.  The walk continued along the canal as far as the A1 where we turned towards Barrowby for lunch at the Recreation Ground.  More field paths took us to Surprise View, down to the canal and back to the reservoir and Denton in deteriorating weather.
Very dry underfooot after warm, windy weather

Bridge over the feeder to the reservoir

Halaxton Wharf from Harlaxton Bridge

Grantham Canal Society workboat

Floating wharf - coffee stop

Howard showing off his new B&Q seat -  again


Surprise View (behind you!)
Apparently, Belvoir Castle is visible from Surprise View.  It would look something like this

Leaving the canal at Denton Wharf



Update to Walks Programme, April 2026

The Walks Programme has been updated with all available information up to 23rd June 2026.  Would all Walk Leaders please check for accuracy?

The start points for all these walks can be found on this interactive map.  Pan and zoom to check the information.

Note that there are some gaps.  Please inform Gail if you are able to fill them.  Help and/or training can be given to members who are not fully qualified as Leaders.

Sutton Bonington, Kingston on Soar and the Grand Union Canal, 5th April 2026

From the playground in Sutton Bonington, Elaine took ten members on a 7.6 mile walk past Sutton Bonington Hall and round the back of St Michael's Church to reach and cross the bridge over the Midland Mainline.  The route then took us across fields to West Leake for a coffee stop at the church and then down Kingston Brook to Kingston on Soar for lunch and a visit to see the extraordinary Babington Monument in St Winifred's Church.

After crossing under the Midland Mainline, we reached Kegworth Shallow Flood Lock and then followed the Grand Union Canal / River Soar until we came to the path back to Sutton Bonington.


The start in the car park



St Michael's Church

Midland Mainline

DHL cargo planes to/from Cincinatti, Leipzig and other places

The Star on Melton Lane

First crossing of Kingston Brook

Ascending the ha ha near St Helena's Church, West Leake

Coffee stop

Kingston Hall - now luxury apartments

Weir and sluices to provide a feed into an ornamental lake (The Pool) in the grounds of Kingston Hall

St Winifred's Church

Part of the impressive Babington Monument, erected by Sir Anthony Babington and completed by his son John in the 1530s as a burial vault for his family.
At the top are the arms of Henry VIII which contains the rose and crown supported by a greyhound and dragon.  Below are the Babington arms in the form of a wyvern

The Last Judgment

More of the impressive carvings (in limestone)

Lunch on The Green

About to pass under the Midland Mainline

You'll miss it when it's gone

Kingston Shallow Flood Lock, used as a normal lock from October to March.  At other times, the gates are fastened back except in abnormal flood conditions

Kegworth New Lock on the Grand Union Canal. This lock used to called Kegworth Deep Lock on account of its 12 foot rise but after several narrowboats sank after getting caught on the cill at the upstream end, it was renamed Kegworth New Lock so as not to scare off new users!

Boats at the marina near The Otter pub
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