Vale of Belvoir Ramblers

Cropwell Bishop, Cropwell Butler and Tythby, 13th June 2021

Marion took 15 of us on this 6 mile morning ramble from Cropwell Bishop to Cropwell Butlet and Tythby using a short section of the Grantham Canal but mostly field paths and tracks.

Approaching Cropwell Butler

Coffee stop at Holy Trinity Church, Tythby

St Giles' Church, Cropwell Bishop

Southwell, Potwell Dyke Meadows and the River Greet, 8th June 2021

A fine turnout (16) on a fine night for this first Evening Stroll of 2021, a 5.4 mile circumnavigation of Southwell led by Elaine. The route started in the Minster car park before exploring the orchids in Potwell Dyke Meadows, the last natural remnant of the Archbishop of York's deer park and hunting ground.

Then it was over Cundy Hill, through Norwood park to reach the River Greet, returning through Southwell town centre.

Thanks Bill for the photos.

Group passing in front of the Minster

Potwell Dyke Meadows

Southern Marsh, Common Spotted, Bee or Pyramidal orchids

Download an information leaflet from here

Distant view of the Minster from Cundy Hill

Crossing Potwell Dyke upstream of Southwell

Starkeys Fruit Farm strawberries in Norwood Park

Approaching Maythorne Mill (1785) on the River Greet, a cotton mill which later became a silk mill and operated until the middle of the 20th century

Crossing the Greet at Maythorne Mill

Miscanthus fields in May, June and February

Along the River Greet, part of the Robin Hood Way

Cauldwell's Mill from the River Greet

Caudwell's Mill on the site of Southwell's medieval Burgage Mill

Whatton, Orston, Thoroton and Aslockton, 6th June 2021

A flat walk today for seventeen VBR members round the villages in the Vale of Belvoir.

Maggie explains the route at the start on the village green, Whatton

Under the Nottingham to Grantham railway line

Along the Smite

St Mary's Church, Orston - coffee stop

Modelling for garden gnomes

Bridge over the River Smite

Dovecote in Thoroton

Fine house in Thoroton

The first in our survey of Nottinghamshire stiles. 440mm from the top step to the highest bar. Not bad but still more than the recommended maximum of 350mm

Hickling, Old Dalby and Upper Broughton, 30th May 2021

Starting at Hickling Basin, today's 9½ mile walk explored the hilly ground on the southern border of Nottinghamshire with a short excursion across into Leicestershire for lunch in Old Dalby. A good turnout again, twenty one, in fine weather with good views in all directions.

Hickling Basin on the Grantham Canal

Climbing up Hickling Standard with views across the Vale of Belvoir

Clever cows know all about staying 2m away from ramblers

Ladies first. This route would have been tricky in wetter weather due to the many stiles and muddy patches caused by the inquisitive cows.

To an appreciative crowd, John explains the third-rail system on the Old Dalby Test Track ...

... used in 1984 to test crash a nuclear waste flask

Old Dalby, Leicestershire Wolds in the background

Old Dalby, Belvoir Ridge in the background

Descent into Old Dalby on Debdale Hill

St John the Baptist Church, Old Dalby - lunch stop for some

St Luke's Church, Upper Broughton

Dalby Wind Farm (7.2 MW) in the distance

The end for some ...

... the Plough for others, opened for the first time this weekend after five recent floods

Incidentally, in view of the difficulties some (many?) of us are experiencing getting over stiles, you may be interested in this excellent publication from Durham CC, Guidance on stiles and gates. The single most important feature I think is probably the distance between the top step and the top bar which should be no more than 350mm, i.e. about half my inside leg measurement, not slightly more than like yesterday. Ouch!

Radcliffe on Trent and Cotgrave Country Park, 23rd May 2021

Heather led 16 ramblers on an 8.5 mile walk. Starting at the Health Centre in Radcliffe, the group walked across fields and tracks to Cotgrave Country Park and returned via The Greenway, the new multi-use track along the disused railway, some walkers opting for shorter return walks at 4 and 6 miles.