Dave's 9½ mile walk took sixteen ramblers firstly through Bothamsall to its motte and bailey castle for coffee before rejoining the Robin Hood Way to continue into Clumber Park and down to Harwdick Village for lunch. The return followed the River Poulter back to Elkesley.Thanks Steve for the photos.
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| The start at St Giles' Church, Elkesley |
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| Bridge over the River Poulter near Elkesley |
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| River Poulter overflowing the footpath. Easy passage today but sometimes a foot deeper after heavy rain |
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| Our leader |
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| Bothamsall Hall built by the Duke of Newcastle |
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| Wind pump in Bothamsall |
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| Our Lady and St Peter's Church, Bothamsall |
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| Attractive Village Hall |
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| Castle Hill, aka Bothamsall Castle, is a Norman (or Saxon) motte and bailey castle (but without a bailey) - coffee stop |
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| View from Castle Hill. In the middle is a bridge over the River Meden and in the distance the River Maun; both rivers join the River Poulter near Elkesley to form the River Idle which joins the Trent at West Stockwith |
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| Signs of current oil or gas extraction from the Bothamsall Oilfield |
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| Capped-off oil well (see map below) |
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| Approaching the A614 on West Drayton Avenue, part of the Robin Hood Way. The Avenue was one of the favourite drives of the Newcastle family and stretches from the Clumber Lake to their mausoleum at Milton near the A1 |
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| Entry to Clumber Park near the A614 |
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| Descending to Hardwick Village |
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| Clumber Lake and Hardwick Village |
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| Washed away footbridge near the ford nessitates a diversion |
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| Outfall from Clumber Lake |
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| River Poulter and Clumber Wetlands |
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| Hardwick Village - lunch |
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| Bridge over the Poulter at Crookford - section of the alternative 8.6 mile route in the event of wet weather |
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| Today's route in orange and an alternative when the path near Elkesley is underwater. The red dots are locations of oil wells on the Bothamsall Oilfield |