Vale of Belvoir Ramblers: Stathern, Belvoir Ridge and Castle, 26th February 2023

This mosaic sign in the centre of Stathern has a different design on each face. The south face shows the old windmill, the church and the Vale Engineering works and the north face the church, the old vicarage and the school

Steve G's 8½ mile walk took twenty five ramblers through Stathern Village and up to Stathern Wood on excellent, dry tracks in fine weather to join the Jubilee Way along the Belvoir Ridge. After admiring the fine views to the north across the Vale of Belvoir we reached Reeded Cottage, a 19th century gamekeeper's house on the Belvoir Estate before dropping down off the Leicestershire Wolds escarpment to head for the Engine Yard and the entrance to Belvoir Castle. Lunch was taken near fields which once were planted with elderflower trees before rejoining the Jubilee way back to Stathern.

Steve starts the walk near the Plough Inn, Stathern

Fine old building, Vale Engineering Works

Saint Guthlac's Church

Quick descent to the stream before climbing up to the Belvoir Ridge

Stathern Wood

View across the Vale

Carrie stands guard in case of invasion

In 1588 , a chain of beacons was laid throughout the land ready to give the alert at the first sight of the Spanish Armada. Belvoir, being the highest point in Leicestershire was one of these sights. This hill is still called Beacon Hill. The occasion was immortalised in the poem by Lord Macauley (1832):

And Belvoir's lordly terraces

The sign to Lincoln sent

And Lincoln sped the message

On o'er the wide Vale of Trent