Creswell Crags and the Welbeck Estate, 11th September 2022

Sue's 8¼ mile walk today started at the Museum and Heritage Centre of Creswell Crags, the spectacular magnesian limestone gorge that straddles the border between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.  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

After walking along the gorge and past the caves, the route took us close to Whitwell Quarry and on to the hamlet of Belph before heading northeast to enter the Welbeck Estate.  After lunch we passed through Manor Hills Woods to reach the entrance to the 5th Duke of Portland's famous tunnel at South Lodge where we joined the Robin Hood Way and followed it along the line of the tunnel, across Welbeck's Great Lake and eventually back to the Creswell Gorge.

Caves on the south (Nottinghamshire) side of the gorge

Arch Cave on the north (Derbyshire) side of the gorge

Pin Hole cave on the north side

Whitwell Quarry, source of a million tonnes of high purity dolomitic limestone per year

Whitwell Quarry works

Cottage in Belph

Manor Hills Woods

Entrance to the tunnel at South Lodge

Following the line of the tunnel - on the right

Memorial dedicated to the five Canadian aircrew of a Wellington bomber which crashed near here in 1944

Today's route compared with another in the same area

Hickling, Kinoulton and the Grantham Canal, 4th September 2022

 Angela's 6¾ mile walk today started at The Old Wharf at Hickling Basin and took 14 of us along the Grantham Canal to Kinoulton for coffee.  We then headed across fields towards Colston Bassett before turning south to reach the canal at Clark's Bridge and the way back along the towpath to Hickling.

The start at Hickling Basin

Heading towards Kinoulton

The closest we got to Colston Bassett

Recently restored Clark's Bridge

Hickling Lengthsman's Hut built to provide a resting place for the workers who maintained this section of the canal

And back for refreshments - beer at The Plough Inn or tea and cakes at The Old Wharf

Derwent Water Weekend Away - a taste of things to come

This September's VBR Weekend Away wil be based at HF Holidays Ltd, Derwent Bank, a pleasant  1½ mile walk from Keswick via Portinscale.  Three walks have been recced for Saturday, Sunday and Monday with options to shorten or lengthen them.

Saturday - Derwent Bank to Rosthwaite

From the HF house we will take a lowland route on pleasant tracks to the end of the lake (3 miles) where there is an opportunity for some to cross the River Derwent at the head of the lake to reach the Lodore Hotel and Falls and then catch the half-hourly bus service back to Keswick Bus Station.

An alternative is to continue to Grange and pick up a bus there (4½ miles).

We then follow the Derwent up Borrowdale through woods, round Castle Crag to Rosthwaite and the famous Flock Inn Tea Room (7 miles), returning to Keswick by bus.

Launch on Derwent Water - hourly trips in both directions round the lake with seven landing sites

Crossing over to the Lodore Hotel and Falls on boardwalks

An alternative route in the event that the boardwalks are flooded is to continue to Grange and pick up a bus there (4½ miles).

Lunch stop near the River Derwent

Path round the base of Castle Crag

Recently improved path to Rosthwaite beside the river

The more adventurous can climb over to Watendlath from Rosthwaite returning to the lakeside via Ashness Bridge to pick up a launch or bus to Keswick (10½ miles).  This photo was taken in 2006 after a walk that also took in Cat Bells and the lakeside path back to Keswick (19 miles!)

Sunday - Railway Trail

From the Railway Station we will take the recently reopened Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail in the beautiful valley of the River Greta with its impressive bridges and tunnels, returning around the flanks of Latrigg with its view up the Derwent Valley and mountains beyond.

Two miles after leaving the station, some may wish to return along the trail or climb up immediately to Latrigg (5.8 miles).

The start at Keswick Railway Station (see map below).  The Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail follows an old train track that stretched from Cockermouth to Penrith.  The line was officially opened in 1865 and was fully closed by 1973 and parts of it eventually made into a footpath between Keswick and Threlkeld

Storm Desmond
On 6th December 2015 180 mm of rain fell in Keswick and two of the original Victorian railway bridges that cross the River Greta were washed away and the route to Threlkeld was completely cut off.  After  5 years and £7.9m it has now been reopened for walkers and cyclists 

View up the Greta on the outskirts of Keswick

The renovation of the trail included the reopening of the Bobbin Mill tunnel under the A66 so that for the first time in almost 50 years the trail to Threlkeld can now be walked and cycled after tons of rubble were removed from the structure

Distant view of Derwent Water, Keswick and Cat Bells from the route down from Latrigg

Pooley Bridge and Ullswater

From the new bridge on the edge of Pooley Bridge, we walk through the village and climb on excellent tracks to the old Roman Road of High Street and The Cockpit Stone Circle with panoramic views up the lake. Dropping down towards Howtown we turn off to follow the banks of Ullswater back to Pooley Bridge.

Notes: there is a nearby, alternative 4-mile walk over Gowbarrow Fell from the National Trust's car park at Aira Falls on the west shore of Ullswater; or take a stroll to see the waterfalls there; diverting from the A66 to either Aira Falls or Pooley Bridge adds only an extra 5 miles to the return journey.

The new, stainless steel  bridge which replaced the 18th Century stone structure destroyed during Storm Desmond in December 2015

Climb up to High Street

Looking back at Pooley Bridge

Cockpit Stone Circle (part of)

Descent towards Howtown with views up Ullswater.  The lake was described by Alfred Wainwright as "that loveliest of lakes, curving gracefully into the far distance"

Note path to Portinscale, Long Stay Car Park and Railway Station

Zoom and pan to see more detail. Click on the recced routes (red) or possible alternatives (blue)

Radcliffe on Trent and Cotgrave Country Park, 28th August 2022

 Nine VBR members on Heather's rearranged 7¾ mile walk from Radcliffe on Trent to Cotgrave Country Park and back making full use of the multi-use path on the track of the old colliery railway line and the Grantham Canal.  Here are some photos courtesy of Rab and Jan.

The start in Radcliffe

Sunflowers

Early coffee stop

Canal lock in the Country Park

Early lunch (look closely, you may see Ratcliffe Power Station in the distance - due to close but just today asked to remain open for a little longer to prevent blackouts this winter)

Blackberry Solar Farm (4.2MW) viewed from the old railway line

Launde Abbey and Braunston in Rutland, 21st August 2022

 Eleven VBR members plus a visitor from Newark on Maggie's 9½ mile walk from Launde Abbey, across the valley of the River Chater to Braunston in Rutland and back.  Along farm and field tracks in undulating countryside with excellent views.

Launde Abbey is an Elizabethan manor house, originally built on the site of an Augustinian priory.  The building is used as a conference and retreat centre by the Church of England dioceses of Leicester and Peterborough

Coffee on a bridge over the River Chater which joins the Welland near Stamford

All Saints Church, Braunston in Rutland

The Braunston Goddess leaning against the wall at the back of the church - this strange, carved stone figure is thought to represent a grotesque female form

Views over Leicestershire and Rutland

Water stop - one of many

Almost back ...

.. and back

9.5 miles