Category: Medium Walks

Our last walk of 2025 was at West Hallam on an ideal day for walking, after the deluge a few days previously. Our walk leaders Steve and Anne Lawrence had made a few adjustments to avoid a path which had become a stream over the weekend.

Starting from the Newdigate Inn, we followed a circular route taking in many of the walking routes within Shipley Park. Looking across the lake, new housing has taken the place of the American Adventure theme park of the 1980s, probably for the good! The park was looking attractive in autumn colours, and there are several cafes which have appeared, I think, since our group first walked this area some years ago.

Our next walk will be on 19^th January – this will be our Nottingham City Centre photo quiz, being organised again by John Saunders and David Jackson.

We always welcome new Medium Walks members – to get in touch, just use the contact email on the Hucknall U3A website. John Tedstone

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.

John Tedstone, Group Leader

For our July walk we ventured north to Ollerton village, and followed a circular route, pausing at Wellow for our coffee stop, and to hear about the history of the famous Maypole which stands in the centre of the village green.

The photo stop was on the steep steps at the side of the old railway line which we crossed – we recreated a similar photo of around 7 years ago when we last used that particular path.

Although it was not yet August, the large field of wheat which we crossed looked ready for harvesting. We then walked around to Rufford Country Park, where the ford across the road became briefly famous on YouTube, before being closed on safety grounds.

Finally, we made our way back to Ollerton village, avoiding the forecast thunderstorms, which appeared as we were heading back home.

Our next walk will be on Monday 18^th August – new members are always welcome to join us, just use the contact form on our website.

John Tedstone

After battling with the ‘Ring go’ roadside parking app (other parking apps are available), 15 members departed from the café at Grindleford Station, suitably fed and watered, in ‘period surroundings’. We headed upwards towards Hathersage, in our second foray into the Peak District this year, stopping to look at some relics of the area’s industrial past.

Enjoying perfect walking weather, the walk began with an exhilarating escalation of elevation that was eminently worth the effort, as the views were super.  After descending into Hathersage we passed the popular open-air lido before proceeding to the lunch spot at the side of the Derwent and the final push back to the café to complete the 6 mile walk.

Along the way, we were entertained with Mark Jackson’s ‘guess the house price’ competition (answers of at least 7 figures), and also gruesome information about the abandoned riverside chapel, now grade 2 listed.

Our next walk will be in the Ollerton area on Monday 21^st July.

New members are always welcome to join this group.

John Tedstone and Mark Jackson

Tansley and Riber

We had a welcome return to the Peak District for our latest walk. From the start at Tansley, it was mostly either uphill or downhill, and by general agreement a very enjoyable walk, and also slightly longer than usual at just over 7 miles.

After passing Riber Castle, we needed a few minutes to get our bearings, looking down to Matlock Bath, with the cable car in view. We then headed south, above Cromford, before starting our return route near the Azalea gardens at Lea.

After 3 months of very little rainfall, the paths were all dry, and we agreed that this was not a walk for the winter or after bad weather.

Refreshment at the Tavern at Tansley was very welcome, by which time the sun had appeared, and was warming us up considerably.

Our thanks to Kevin Varey for planning and leading this walk. Our next walk in June will be to Hathersage.

John Tedstone