Hoveringham Lakes, Thurgarton and Bleasby, 13th September 2026

Val and Dave took 14 members on a 8½ mile walk passing close to two lakes developed on mature gravel pits - Railway Lake and Sailing Lake, which are rich in bird life.  From Hoveringham, we headed towards Thurgarton Station across fields and wooded areas and then to the village of Bleasby for lunch. We then went down to the river near Hazleford Lock and along the Trent Valley Way back to the start.

The start next to the river at Hoveringham

Hoveringham Cricket Club Pavilion

First drinks stop

Second drinks stop.
Excellent poster on the platform of Hoveringham Station, designed by David Moore and erected by Friends of Lowdham and Burton Joyce Stations

Thurgarton Beck

Lunch stop in Bleasby

St Mary's Church, Bleasby

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

Hazelford Lock Moorings

Reflections on a very still river

Flood protection where Causeway Dyke meets the Trent

Hoveringham Sailing Club

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

The only boat on the Trent on a beautiful afternoon!

And back to Hoveringham