Category: Medium Walks

Mid-length walking group, 16^th March 2026

After two amazing walks based within Nottingham City, our third walk of the year was centred within the Hidden Valleys area in the countryside north of Hucknall. Despite wind chill temperatures of 5 degrees and the prospect of muddy conditions 21 walkers assembled at Brinsley Lodge Inn.

As promised, we were soon presented with mud; tractor ruts compounding the issue. Ascending the path to the top of the rise we turned East and were again confronted with boggy conditions; (“How can it be so wet up at the top of a hill?”. “A lot of rain!!!”.

Proceeding through fields, along gravel tracks and farm tracks we accessed the mineral line that used to serve the Brinsley colliery, eventually arriving at the infamous Yew Tree pub. (closed in 2010, converted to an Indian restaurant, derelict, a cannabis farm 2017; now a private dwelling). Taking a path North we arrived at our coffee stop at Underwood Hill. At this elevated point we were amazed at the number of landmarks that could be identified on the horizon; – Radcliffe power station, Eastwood church and the Jessop monument to mention a few. Many such vista were appreciated along the walk as we continued through Westwood and Jacksdale. We also had horse’ encounters, inquisitive steers and the ever-present mud.

After 6 miles several walkers had a well-earned pub lunch; all took home two souvenirs – muddy boots and mucky trousers.

An enjoyable rural walk.

Medium Walks – Nottingham City Walk

We continued our custom of choosing a city walk for each February, and walking on firmer ground, while seeing locations which members of the group may not be familiar with.

We set off from the Nottingham station tram stop, after finding one of our members who went temporarily missing. We walked along the canal towpath towards Trent Bridge, then into the old Cattle Market site, after looking at the football heroes mural and sculpture near Notts County’s ground. An interesting feature at the Cattle Market entrances is the bulls’ heads on top of each gate post, which are listed structures.

Crossing Lady Bay Bridge, we paused to look at the new footbridge, built in Hucknall, and recently installed over the river. Once opened, this will link Colwick Park with Holme Pierrepont, for walkers and cyclists.

After a welcome coffee stop at the Trent Bridge Inn, we carried on along the Wilford side of the river, getting very wet in the process. After pausing at the War memorial on the Embankment, we returned via the Meadows area, noting the very different styles of housing, where 3-storey Victorian villas contrast with the 1970s redevelopment.

Finally, it was back to Hucknall on the tram, and in some cases via Wetherspoons. Our next walk will be on Monday 16^th March, at Brinsley.

John Tedstone

Annual Photo Quiz

28 members of our Medium Walks Group recently took part in our City Centre Photo Quiz.  This has become an annual fixture for our January walk and this year we had 4 teams who each set off with a list of 26 streets and 28 small photos, the object being to locate each of the building features pictured.  Some of these are quite small and can be 3 floors up in some cases.

This year, the weather was less cold, but also slightly damp after the start, and could have been a problem for writing down the locations; we had pencils, so we were prepared. One team suffered a slight delay when they found that their chosen Wetherspoons, for planning their route (and coffee), was closed all week!

Mark Jackson was in charge of the winning team, pictured, with 17 features located, and unusually we needed two tiebreaks to decide the team placings.

As in previous years, we retired to the Three Crowns pub opposite the Theatre Royal for a buffet lunch, while our organisers worked out the scores. Thanks go again to John Saunders and David Jackson for all the organisation and planning involved.

Our next walk will be on Monday, 16^th February, and will be another City walk, taking in areas around the City centre which people may not be familiar with. New members are always welcome, just make contact via the tab on our website.

John Tedstone

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