East Leake and Gotham, 21st September 2025

Rab's 8.3 mile walk took 14 members from the East Leake village car cark on Gotham Road north out of the village, over the Great Central Railway and up past Rushcliffe Golf Club.  After passing by the West Leake Hills, we reached the famous Cuckoo Bush in woods overlooking Gotham.  From there we dropped down into Gotham before walking back over Gotham and Bunny Moors, originally fenland but now drained by Fairham Brook and associated ditches and drains.  Then we recrossed the Great Central Railway, headed south, still on field paths, across the Bunny - East Leake road, past Hill Top Farm and back down to the start.

The start in the village car park

Rushcliffe Halt on the Great Central Railway

Up Stocking Lane near the entrance to the golf course

Approaching the Cuckoo Bush Mound for a coffee stop.
The Cuckoo Bush Mound is the alleged site for the tale of the Wise Men of Gotham's attempt at fencing in the cuckoo, but is actually a Neolithic burial mound. It's about 3000 years old and was excavated in 1847

Overlooking Gotham

One of six illustrated information boards on the Gotham Heritage Trail which  was created to mark the passing of the Millennium in 2000. It consists of a circular walk taking in Gotham Hills and part of West Leake Hills, returning through some of the Gotham village streets, a distance of 4½ miles.
The boards cover some village folklore, past industry and a mention of early Gotham’s inadequate water supply

The Pump and Sun Inn, Gotham

About to cross both Fairham Brook and the Great Central Railway