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 Village; 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 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

Lancaster Bomber sculpture

Custom-built memorial seats honoring the airmen who lost their lives 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

Sponsored bricks

Stenwith Bridge

Route of Grantham Canal, Nottingham to Grantham.
Hickling and Hose not shown

Muston Bridge

Family outing under the bridge

One of the locks waiting to be rebuilt

The remains of Stenwith Mill, Woolsthorpe Lane, Stenwwith

The infant River Devon - not much to see

Off route - livestock

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.

Riverside car park

Karma

The Bromley, Fiskerton

Hazelford Weir and Lock

Bridge to the Hazelford island

Morton Pinfold

Morton Dovecote

St Denis' Church, Morton

Holy Trinity Church, Rolleston

Holy Trinity Church, Rolleston

The Kate Greenaway Trail in Rolleston

Fiskerton Mill

Keyworth, Stanton, Widmerpool and Wysall, 21st June 2026

Starting in the car park off Elm Avenue in Keyworth, Val and Dave took eight of us on an 8¼ mile walk across rolling fields past the new Wolds Wine Estate near Stanton to Wydmerpool for a drink stop. From there, we picked up the Midshires Way to Wysall for lunch and then the Notts Wolds Way back to Keyworth.

This was an undulating walk in very hot and humid weather crossing several small streams which drain the Nottinghamshire Wolds west of the Fosse and into Fareham Brook which enters the Trent at Clifton or Kingston Brook which drains into the Soar.

Note that the Skylarks Evening Stroll on Tuesday has been cancelled due to the forecast high temperature.

Class of 2026

Wolds Wine Estate - Artisan Vineyard ... 

 ... and Luxury Glamping Pods

Six-year-old vines in the 3.3 acres of the vineyard

Hot (and green and slimy) tub

One of a "wake" of eight kites captured on John's camera and enhanced by AI

Thankful Villages are settlements in both England and Wales from which all their members of the armed forces survived World War I.

Lunch in Wysall.  Looking forward to the World Cup

Dave should have gone to Specsavers!
Jubilee Wood
This wood was planted to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 2012 Diamond Jubilee. It is part of Jubilee Woods, a six million tree planting celebration that saw millions of people across the UK come together to create a lasting legacy for futute generations

Fine lavender on Lings Lane near Keyworth