Category: Medium Walks

Over the nearly sixteen years since this group was founded, we have roamed far and wide, but until our most recent walk, we have only ventured into Staffordshire once I think.

So, we set off this time from Branston Water Park (Branston of pickle fame), and having all successfully negotiated the quite difficult access off the A38, we followed a very pleasant stretch of the Trent and Mersey Canal. The Water Park originates from gravel workings, which are still operative. A surprisingly steep climb, although we had been warned, brought us to our coffee stop at Battlestead Hill, with views south towards the West Midlands.

We were too late for the bluebells in the woods this year, and crossing a footbridge over the A38, we came to our lunch stop, once again at the canal side, where a number of narrow boats were moored. We returned to the water park along the towpath, with both the Burton breweries in sight, after an interesting walk. The forecast for the day suggested that we might get wet, but the only rain we met was a downpour on the M1 returning to Hucknall.

Thanks to Steve and Anne Lawrence for organising this interesting walk, and for the detailed directions off the A38!

Our June walk will be to Car Colston.

To join this group, just use the email tab on our website.

John Tedstone

Ashover

Our April walk started from Ogston Reservoir, not far from Brackenfield and Wessington, on the way to Matlock. After a very muddy walk last month, we had near perfect conditions on a sunny day. This walk may prove to be our most strenuous of the year, and after passing the sailing club we climbed quite steeply, until we were overlooking the Amber valley. Our coffee stop overlooked the abandoned workings of Milltown Quarry, one of a number in the Peak District, and we decided that it was probably millstone grit, rather than the limestone found to the south. Further on, we had a go at ‘guess the house price’ again, after our efforts last year near Grindleford and Hathersage, and research later found that we were quite close with our estimates.

We passed very few other walkers, so had to resort to a selfie for our usual group photo. We also noted that we hadn’t seen any sheep or cattle anywhere, although we did see occasional building work. A quiz question on a sign post, about the link between Ogston sailing club and Sydney Harbour Bridge found us resorting to the power of AI at the end of our walk.

Many thanks to Kevin Varey for researching this walk, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Our next walk will be on Monday 18^th May; new members are always welcome, just use the tab on our website page.

John Tedstone

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