Visit to Nostell near Wakefield on Thursday 30th October
Sixty five members of the National Trust group set out on two coaches to visit Nostell.
The journey up the A1 was uneventful and with roads generally quiet we reached Nostell in under an hour and a half. By now the sun was shining and most members took advantage to walk one or more of the beautiful grounds. Others started the day with a hot drink and cake in the restaurant.
The gardens also proved popular during the sunny weather.
The House then proved a good place to visit in the afternoon as skies clouded over. The House was very expansive and featured many interesting offerings.
Visits to the gift shop, plant shop and for many a last hot drink completed a lovely day at a super venue.
Our October walk took place recently in South Nottinghamshire, following a circuit from Cotgrave to Tollerton and Clipston on the Wolds. Walk Leader Greg Umney had organised ideal walking weather, in an area that we have visited less frequently over the 15 years or so of this group.
Our final walk of this season will be at West Hallam on Monday 17th November.
During 2025, we have walked in these areas, with only one cancellation, which was due to forecast gale force winds in September:
Nottingham City Centre – Annual photo quiz
Nottingham City walk – Dunkirk pond, Nottingham – Beeston canal and University campus
Bestwood Country Park
Elvaston Castle, near Borrowash
Tansley, near Matlock (our steepest walk)
Hathersage, Peak District
Ollerton and Rufford
Bunny and East Leake
Cotgrave and Tollerton
West Hallam
New members are always welcome to join us – just use the contact email on our website.
We will be running National Trust coach trips from March to October in 2026. We depart at 8.30 am from Hucknall Market and start our return journey at 4.00 pm
We travel with Vallance coaches.
Dates and venues
Monday 23rd March to Dunham Massey, Warrington area. T.B.C.
Tuesday 21st April to Upton House, Worcester
Wednesday 27th May to Croome. Worcestershire
Thursday 25th June to Ickworth, Suffolk
Monday 20th July to Dudmaston Estate, Shropshire
Tuesday 25th August to Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Wednesday 23rd September Shrugborough Estate, Stoke on Trent
Thursday 22nd October to Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
These visits include five venues new to our group.
Coach fares to follow.
We will also be visiting a Christmas Market in December.
At our meeting in October, group member Dr Jolanta Adamczewska gave a presentation about lubricants with a specific focus on petrochemicals.
She explained that petrochemicals are chemical products derived primarily from oil, petroleum and, to a lesser extent, from natural gas.
Petrochemicals are predominantly organic compounds, meaning they are composed mainly of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. The simplest petrochemicals are hydrocarbons, which can be classified into three main categories based on their structural features.
Jolanta demonstrated the structure using atomic models first starting with
Methane (CH4): The simplest alkane, consisting of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms in a tetrahedral geometry.
She then explained how Lubricants are made for combustion engines and how the resulting lubricant undergoes rigorous testing for properties like viscosity, thermal stability, and cleanliness before marketing. This production process ensures that the lubricant can effectively reduce friction, prevent wear, and operate reliably under demanding engine conditions.
Much of the testing is done using actual engines that are removed from production model cars- not all science investigations only use test tubes!
She concluded with a reference to electric powered vehicles and how the motor lubricants are different from those in petrol and diesel vehicles basically because they are not subject to explosions and high temperatures in the engine cylinders.
After the break we considered some significant medical advances since 2015.
Our next meeting is 21st November at JGC, and we are also meeting on 19th December.
On our October walk we had a very informative guided tour around the Bennerley Viaduct which was led by volunteers from ‘Friends of the Viaduct’.
We learnt a lot about its history and that of the surrounding area.
The Bennerley Viaduct is an iconic iron railway structure spanning the Erewash Valley near Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Built in 1877, it is celebrated for its elegant lattice girder design and remarkable engineering, being one of only two surviving wrought-iron viaducts in Britain.
Stretching over 400 metres, the viaduct was originally constructed to carry coal trains between Nottingham and Derby. Today, it stands as a testament to Victorian ingenuity and resilience, having survived both natural challenges and threats of demolition. Now restored, Bennerley Viaduct offers a scenic walkway for cyclists and pedestrians, whilst preserving local heritage.
Currently the Nottinghamshire end is closed off whilst the easy access route and visitors centre are being completed, and we have been invited back for a longer walk next year.
Our next walk is on 20th November
We are starting form the parking area at the bottom of Felley Lane South for a walk in the area which was a favourite of D H Lawrence.
