Vale of Belvoir Ramblers

Rutland Water, 25th September 2016

No photographs of this walk I am afraid except one from Gordon who asked to me translate the motto - Etoupe Mon Vieux Canard. If you have a better one than:

ay up me old duck

then let me know.

Ruddington Ramble, 21st September 2016

Here are a few photographs from the 9-mile walk lead by Rab. We started from Rushcliffe Country Park and took in Bradmore, Bunny and Gotham. We didn't see any trains on the Great Central Railway. But only one stile on a stylish walk.

The first selfie!

Ludlow Weekend Away, 16th - 18th September 2016

Many thanks to Sue and Dave for organising the VBR Weekend Away, the five walks and the pub grub. And also to Sue for the photographs of Ludlow Castle ...

... and the Shropshire Hills.

Brown Clee Hill (540m) in the distance, the highest hill in Shropshire

Click here to see the routes of the three long walks - Friday's and Saturday's short walks were versions of these.

Friday's 10-mile walk started at the Castle ...

... before crossing the River Teme at Dinham Bridge and then climbed out of Ludlow to explore the forested hills south-west of the town.

Short walk route back to Ludlow

Ludford Bridge - end of Friday's walk

On Saturday, the longer route followed the Shropshire Way past the racecourse and before rejoining the short walk route at Bromfield Mill.

Shropshire Way - receiving some pruning

Bromfield Mill - the rebuilt stone weir in the foreground will channel water to a new archimedean screw generator to be installed, one of two new hydropower schemes on this stretch of the Teme

Both walks then returned through Oakly Park to Ludlow though not without some difficulty.

Maze in maize

Saturday's long-walkers, Ludlow Castle in the background

On Sunday we started at the Park & Ride and walked out eastwards along the Shropshire Way towards Caynham Camp, an Iron Age Hill fort, and then back.

Almost there

Bottesford, 28th August 2016

Roger kindly stepped up to take over this walk from Bottesford with a good attendance - 24.

"We did a bit of local history about St Mary's church and Flemings bridge before taking in some splendid views at the beacon. We visited the Flower festival at Muston church at lunch and we're grateful that they offered to open up for us especially when John Johnson and I recee'd the previous Friday."

Here are some photographs taken by Adam Tooms, a new walker. It's possible they are not in the correct order.

Eaton, 11th September 2016

Twenty four on Angela's walk today in glorious sunshine south of the Belvoir Ridge. Here are some photos.

Start at Eaton Village Hall

Typical undulating landscape

Stile - one of many, this one broken and dangerous

Looking back at Eastwell

Dead beans

Stanley Common, 4th September 2016

Phil led ten ramblers on this 12-mile walk from Stanley Common to Morley, Locko Park and Stanley.

St Matthews Church at Morley

Lunch at the lakeside in Locko Park

Gordon warming down at the finish!

Youlgreave, Lathkill Dale, Monyash and Bradford Dale, 21st August 2016

Sunday's walk started in Youlgreave, descending through the village to pick up the lower reaches of the River Bradford and then following it to Alport where it joins the Lathkill.

Bradford Dale (on a brighter day)

Wet weather gear in evidence despite the good forecast

Alport near the junction of Lathkill and Bradford Dales

Lathkill was of course heavily industrialised and there are remains of old lead mines, pumping houses, crushing circles, ponds, aqueduct and leats everywhere.

One of the most unusual devices was a disc pump which can be seen by descending a shaft over a footbridge and into the remains of Bateman's House.

Near Bateman's House

We contiued up an increasingly dryer and rockier dale, past the source where the river emerges from the right bank, eventually reaching Monyash for lunch.

Lower Lathkill Dale

Lathkill Head Cave - the source of the river. Dry in summer, gushing in winter

Upper reaches of (the now dry valley of ) Lathkill Dale

Cottage in Monyash

Picking up the Limestone Way ...

... we approached the listed One Ash Grange Farm, originally a farming outpost of Roche Abbey settled by the Cistercian monks of Roche Abbey in 1147, and its pig styes.