Vale of Belvoir Ramblers

Launde Abbey and Braunston in Rutland, 20th January 2019

Richard led 28 walkers on this rolling, (360m of ascent) 9-mile walk from Launde Abbey, past Launde Park Wood to cross the Leicestershire / Rutland boundary, past Priors Coppice and on to Braunston-in-Rutland.

The route makes use of the many long distance paths criss-crossing this part of the world including the Leicestershire Round, the Rutland Round, the Macmillan Way and the Leighfield Round.

Briefing outside Launde Abbey

Launde Abbey is used as a conference and retreat centre by the Church of England dioceses of Leicester and Peterborough. And it has a tea shop!

Just about to lose the sun

Chapter Farm, Braunston dates back to the 15th century

Lunch at All Saints' Church, Braunston

The Braunston Goddess - the one in the middle.
This stone which stands in the churchyard was found in about 1920 when the church doorstep needed to be replaced. It may have had an apotropaic purpose.

Stathern and Belvoir Castle, 16th January 2019

Twenty one on Glen's 8½ mile walk below the Belvoir Ridge to the Castle and back along the Terrace Hills and Jubilee Way.

Glen gives the briefing in Stathern

On the Jubilee Way

Looking back at Stathern

Sugar beet and wind turbines near Newark

In 1588 , a chain of beacons was laid throughout the land ready to give the alert at the first sight of the Spanish Armada. Belvoir, being the highest point in Leicestershire was one of these sights. This hill is still called Beacon Hill. The occasion was immortalised in the poem by Lord Macauley (1832):
And Belvoir's lordly terraces
The sign to Lincoln sent
And Lincoln sped the message
On o'er the wide Vale of Trent

Looking across the Vale towards Bottesford

Coffee stop

Then the rain - Belvoir Castle in the distance

Creswell Crags and Welbeck, 13th January 2019

Sue's 8-mile walk started in the limestone gorge of Creswell Crags and went via the hamlet of Belph along field paths and quiet roads to the Welbeck Abbey estate.

The start at the Creswell Crags Museum & Heritage Centre

The caves in the gorge were occupied during the last ice age, between around 43,000 and 10,000 years ago and contained the northernmost cave art in Europe

Pin Hole Cave on the north side of the gorge

Whitwell Quarry produces approximately 1 million tonnes of high purity dolomitic limestone per year

Lunch on the logs at Manor Hills

Entrance to the tunnel at South Lodge, Welbeck, built for the 5th Duke of Portland

The line of one of the Duke's 10km of tunnels

Wysall and Willoughby on the Wolds, 6th January 2019

Paul led nineteen ramblers on a 5½ mile morning walk from Wysall towards Willoughby and close to the site of the medieval village Thorpe in the Glebe. The conditions were sunny and dry underfoot.

Leader's briefing

Coffee stop

Leading the way

Holy Trinity Church, Wysall

Long Clawson, Holwell Mouth and Nether Broughton, 30th December 2018

Phil led twenty nine ramblers on this seven mile walk from Long Clawson. The group left the village on a long upward path passing the old village mill. Coffee was taken at Holwell Mouth, with a fallen tree providing good seating, and lunch at the edge of Nether Broughton before we climbed Slyborough Hill to return to Long Clawson. The weather was dry and warm for the time of year.

Briefing in Long Clawson

The old village mill - now Mill Farm

Phil leading the way

Looking north-west across the Vale from Bleak Hills. Spot Ratcliffe Power Station!

Coffee stop at Holwell Mouth - the chalybeate (mineral) spring here is the source of the River Smite

Heading towards Little Broughton

Lunch at the edge of Nether Broughton

St Remigius Church, Long Clawson

Kirklington, Farnsfield and Bilsthorpe, 16th December 2018

Steve G assisted by Carrie his dog led seventeen ramblers on this 10 mile walk starting from St Swithin's Church in Kirklington. The group walked along the Southwell Trail to the outskirts of Farnsfield and on to Bilsthorpe before returning via the Robin Hood Way. The weather was cold but the sun shone!