Bingham, Car Colston and Screveton, 30th June 2024

Dave C took eighteen members on a 9.4 mile route from Newgate Street car park in Bingham, up to the Margidunum roundabout and past Burrowsmoor Holt to The Green at Car Colston for coffee near the Royal Oak.  Then it was across fields to Red Lodge near the A46, down Lodge Lane into Screveton for lunch at the church, along field paths towards Scrarrington and then back to Bingham through the Industrial Estate.

Thanks John and Steve for the photos and Sue for the route.

Dave briefs members in Newgate Street car park

Coffee outside the Royal Oak, Car Colston

Our Leader

St Mary's, Car Colston

St Mary's Bug Church

Heading for the A46 at Red Lodge

Hollyhocks at Screveton

St Wilfrid's, Screveton

Field paths, some good, some not so good

Deer with identity problem near A46

Car Colston and the Trent Hills, 23rd June 2024

 Starting at the Royal Oak, Car Colston, Val and Dave's 7.3 mile walk (it seemed much longer in the heat) took eighteen of us firstly along the Screveton Road past the converted Wesleyan Chapel and St Mary's Church, then across fields to Red Lodge and over the A46 at the Kneeton junction.  More field paths took us towards Kneeton before a steep drop down to the Trent with fine views over the Trent Valley.  Lunch was taken after climbing back up the escarpment and was followed by a descent down Occupation Lane to return back over the A46 to Car Colston for refreshments.

The start on The Green outside the Royal Oak

Converted Wesleyan Chapel on the road out of the village

Saint Mary's Church

Good crops at last - leaving Car Colston

Fine brickwork on Shackerdale Farm

Dropping down steeply to the Trent, looking towards Hoveringham and Ferry Farm

A first for VBR - seats provided by our leaders who politely gave up their own

Occupation Lane - heading for the A46 bridge

Before and after - but which is which?

Calverton Pit and Watchwood Plantation, 19th June 2024

Starting at the car park on Gravelly Hollow north of Calverton, Howard led eleven members on a lovely undulating walk over the site of the former Calverton Colliery, visiting the Polish War Memorial, before returning through Watchwood Plantation and past Fox Covert Nature Reserve with expansive views and mainly on hard-surfaced tracks.

Calverton Colliery (1952-1993). Maximum output 1,2 million tons (1963/64), maximum manpower 1,837 in 1958.  Lots more on the history of the pit, photographs and videos here

Gravelly Hollow

Setting off

Pit Top, 161m

View over Calverton Village from Pit Top

Common Spotted Orchid and Kidney Vetch

Drinks stop

Memorial in Watchwood Plantation commemorating the deaths of three Polish airmen who crashed here on October 13, 1940

Barnby in Willows, Fenton, Stubton and Claypole, 16th June 2024

 

Starting at the church just on the Nottinghamshire side of the River Witham, Scott's 8-mile walk took fourteen of us into Lincolnshire to explore the fenland landscape to the east of Newark.

All Saints, Barnby

Setting off

Looking back at the church and the bridge over the Witham

Another All Saints, this time in Fenton - coffee stop

Stubton Hall, Grade II listed country house, built in 1813-14 and now a hotel and wedding venue

Good example of field paths today

Claypole - spaced out for lunch

Wish you were here, John and Kim

And back - crossing the Witham back into Nottinghamshire

Southwell Minster, Potwell Dyke Meadows and the Southwell Trail, 13th June 2024

Six of us on a fine evening for Elaine's 4.8 mile stroll starting in the Church Street car park.  After passing through the grounds of the Minster, we took a slight detour to explore the orchids in Potwell Dyke Meadows, the last natural remnant of the Archbishop of York's deer park and hunting ground.  Then it was over Cundy Hill and through Norwood park to reach the Southwell Trail before returning through Southwell Town Centre.

The Palace of the Archbishop of York next to the Minster

Archbishop's Palace Gardens

Examining the Common Spotted Orchids in Potwell Dyke Meadows.  Southern Marsh, Bee and Pyramidal Orchids can also be found here

Distant view of the Minster from Cundy Hill

Starkey's apple trees in Norwood Park

Norwood Park Country House

View of 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

Missing bridge over the River Greet

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

Station House.  Southwell was connected to the Midland Railway network 1847 and the line was in continuous use until 1968.  The section to Farnsfield, part of which we walked, is now a nature reserve

The alternative but longer route in red is taken from the Robin Hood Way Book.  It is currently blocked near Maythorne Mill due to a missing bridge