Hoveringham, Gibsmere and the River Trent, 16rh August 2023

A terrific turnout, eighteen, for Steve and Carrie's last walk as leaders before they leave the club on moving home to Oxfordshire. Before the walk began John presented Steve with a framed photo of Steve and Carrie leading an earlier VBR walk as a token of thanks for his past service to the club as Chairman and regular Walks Leader.

The walk began at the Ferry Farm car park in Hoveringham and left the village across the cricket ground.  Field paths led to Hazelford Ferry where a coffee stop was taken on the banks of the Trent. The return stretch was along the Trent Valley Way back to Hoveringham.

Briefing at the start near the river

John and Steve

River Trent

Coffee near site of Hazelford Ferry

Before the building of the first Gunthorpe Bridge in 1875, Hazelford Ferry was an important crossing point over the River Trent and was the main route to Lincoln avoiding expensive bridges at Newark and Nottingham. This location was thought to be the point where King Charles I crossed the Trent on his way to negotiate with the Scots at Southwell

Memorials to the crews of two Lancaster bombers which crashed in nearby fields in January1945 with the loss of all the men on board