Blidworth Wood, Papplewick Pumping Station and Sansom Wood, 14th January 2024

On a dry day for once, twenty six ramblers came on this 5.6 mile morning walk starting at the Forestry England car park at Blidworth Wood, Longdale Lane, Ravenshead.  After heading for Blidworth Bottoms in the wood, we returned to Longdale Lane and crossed into Sansom Wood to eventually reach the entrance to Papplewick Pumping Station.  Returning to Sansom Wood, we reached the very deep cutting of the disused Bestwood to Calverton Pit Railway line, crossing it at the Rigg Lane Bridge. A further 45 minutes took us back to the start point through trees severely damaged in winds just before Christmas.

The start in the dog-walkers' busy car park

Setting out on dry, firm paths and tracks

Sykebreck Farm from Blidworth Wood

Other users near the Rigg Lane car park

Coffee stop

Three Wise? Men

First view of the Pumping Station chimney across ponds which were presumably used to store water when the station was in use.  There is a nearby Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Toad Patrol similar to the one near Oxton

Papplewick Pumping Station entrance, Superintendent's House in the background

What we missed - taken in October when the Pumping Station was open

Near the car park, colliery winder brakes from one of many local pits

Steep descent into the Calverton Pit railway cutting

Rigg Lane bridge

One of many recently uprooted trees in Sansom Wood

Before the storm, October 2023

After the storm, January 2024.  Some trees snapped off at the base and many halfway up

Sansom Wood Farm