Waltham is nearly 180 metres above sea level and there are a number of local transmitting aerials/masts that take advantage of this high elevation. The first part of walk passed the NATS Station broadcasting to aircraft using East Midlands Airport. The local, tall TV mast is the main TV and radio broadcasting mast for the East Midlands. Built originally in 1966, the first mast collapsed and was rebuilt in 1968. In recent years the change from analogue to digital broadcasts reduced the aerial height to its current 300m.
At Bescaby, the walkers passed the gallops which are part of the former Croxton Park Race Course. This operated from the 1820s to 1914 and in its time attracted many famous jockeys for flat and hurdle racing. It did not survive the First World War. However, the Croxton Park Novices Race is still held annually at Leicester Racecourse.
Saltby operated an RAF and US Army Airforce airfield during the Second World War. It is now used by Buckminster Gliding Club and used seven days a week. Gliders and a Lancaster bomber fly-past provided an aerial spectacle during lunch and the afternoon.
Many of the local villages have a heritage of quarrying for limestone and iron ore. Sproxton was still quarrying iron ore until the 1960’s.
The ramblers returned via the aptly named Stonesby whose quarry was used for landfill in the 1990’s and is now a wildlife nature reserve.
Here are some photos taken on the walk.
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| As big as dinner plates |
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| My little pony - gender stereotyping not discouraged in the Ramblers |
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| Blogger tries to remain anonymous |
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| Lunch at Sproxton Village Hall |
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| Ironstone house, Sproxton |
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| Crown Inn, Sproxton - a missed opportunity |
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| Steve's new headgear means you can never get lost near Waltham |
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| Sproxton to Waltham - part of the Scalford to Buckminster Mowbray Way. This 9 mile Long Distance Footpath !! links the Jubileee and Viking Ways. |
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| St Peter's Church, Stonesby - take five |
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| Motif known as the Belvoir Angel on a headstone in the churchyard - carved in slate in the late 1600's and now the logo for the Team of nine parish churches, in the Diocese of Leicester, which runs from Bottesford to Long Clawson |
