Launde Abbey, Ridlington and Belton, 29th March 2020

Here is the route of the walk that Richard would have led on 29th March.  It is compared to a previous walk from Launde Abbey done last year.

Remember though that at the moment all Ramblers activities are suspended.  You are encouraged to keep walking but must stick to Government guidelines.  For an update from Ramblers see here.

Launde Abbey

Ladybower and Derwent Edge, 22nd March 2020

There was no VBR Group walk today but here is the route and two photos taken on an earlier walk in the area.

Starting in the car park at Fairholmes, the (clockwise) route passes below the Derwent Dam and along the side of the Upper Derwent Reservoir before climbing across moorland over the summit of Lost Lad to the prominent outcrop of Back Tor on Derwent Edge. It then follows the Edge from where many of the best-known landmarks in the northern Peak District can be seen, before descending to the Ladybower Reservoir.

The drowned village of Ashopton, 1944

Derwent Dam, completed in 1916

Looking over Ladybower towards Derwent Edge.  Taken from Lose Hill in 2004

Bolsover and Sutton Scarsdale Hall, 15th March 2020

At last VBR made it to Sutton Scarsdale Hall but at the expense of missing out Bolsover Castle on Sue's 8-mile walk. Starting on the Stockley Trail, we passed through the Peter Fidler Reserve, a former spoil heap for Bolsover Colliery, crossed the River Doe Lea and paddled under the M1 to eventually reach the hall for lunch.

The start near the Stockley Trail

Peter Fidler Reserve.   Peter Fidler (1769 to 1822), born in Bolsover, was a British surveyor, map-maker, fur trader and explorer who had a long career in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in what later became Canada.  In recognition, there is a monumental cairn in the nature reserve

The unanticipated perils of self-isolating and eating a banana

Under the M1

Sutton Scarsdale Hall, a Grade 1 listed ruin once on a scale and quality with Chatsworth House - but not now!

Distant view of Bolsover Castle

Saltby, Bescaby, Stonesby and Sproxton, 8th March 2020

Steve G and his dog Carrie led 21 ramblers on this 8½ mile walk from St Peters Church Saltby via Bescaby, Stonesby, Sproxton and back to Saltby. Like many of leaders of recent walks, he had recced the walk a few times to avoid much of the local mud! The sky was blue with white clouds and sunshine albeit there was a very strong wind.

Steve briefs walkers at start

St Peter's Church, Saltby

Our leader - with Steve

Coffee stop near Bescaby

Stonesby Quarry

Stonesby Quarry Nature Reserve

Jurasic Lincolnshire limestone

Lunch stop near Sproxton

Old friends

Nags Head, Saltby for a final pint

Southwell and Brackenhust, 1st March 2020

Elaine's planned walk from Southwell, recced umpteen times, had to be changed to avoid a suddenly-closed section of the Southwell Trail and the flooded path by the River Greet.  Eventually a way through was found and nineteen of us set off from near the Cathedral, through the town centre to Lower Kirklington Road to join the Trail just after the closed section.
Then we passed through Norwood Park to eventually reach Brackenhurst College, home to over a thousand students from Nottingham Trent University's School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, before dropping down to Southwell.

The start in the (free on Sunday) car park, Southwell

Passing the Maltings, Lower Kirklington Road

Strawberry Fields Forever, and ever - Norwood Park

A rather posh bug hotel seen in the grounds of Brackenhusrt College

Distant view of the Cathedral on the way back

Evidence of Romans

The Education Garden next to the Archbishop's Palace

Southwell Cathedral

And this is what you missed - a muddy track by the River Greet, hundreds of acres of miscanthus and two mills on the river.

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

Miss Canthus

River Greet in flood

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

Something that could be added to the route if we do it again, Southwell Workhouse

The final track (in green) and the recce route along the River Greet