Category: Medium Walks

Our October walk set off from the Brinsley Headstocks car park for a circular walk, which headed across to the route of the old Cromford Canal and proved to be very good trainspotting country.

Our walk leader Paul Haigh outlined the history of Brinsley pit, where we paused by the site of the headstocks. These were recently newsworthy when they had to be dismantled due to the unsafe condition of the timber. The adjacent land has just been prepared for the planting of an orchard of 27 fruit trees, to commemorate the miners who lost their lives while working at the pit.

The going proved to be quite muddy in parts, after recent rain, especially the day before, as we headed northwards, towards Westwood and Jacksdale. After a slightly damp lunch stop, we returned to Brinsley via the White Lion pub for most of us, and the obligatory photo stop.

A very pleasant walk, without travelling far from home.

Our final walk of 2024 will be on Monday 18^th November, and before then we will be planning our walks for 2025, which will start in January.

New members are always welcome to join this group; just use the email tab on our website or have a chat with me at the main monthly meeting.

John Tedstone

For our latest walk, we set off from Chilwell tramstop and headed for the River Trent, through the Attenborough nature reserve. We had a perfect late summer day, in contrast to the gales and rain early this year, when we first planned this walk, and which we reluctantly postponed at the time.

We paused at the popular Lock-keepers’ cottages, at Beeston lock, where we had our coffee stop in their garden, and where an obliging customer took our group photo.

We then set off along the canal towpath, and wondered why we kept passing groups of people walking the other way, all with their identity cards, and not really suitably attired for walking!

It was good to see the canal well used by narrow boats, and we also saw a group of volunteer litter pickers at work. We finished our walk with our picnic stop at the new Broad Marsh landscaped area, which was already looking well established in the very sunny weather.

Thanks to Philip and Liz Attenborough for planning this walk for us all. Our next walk will be at Brinsley on Monday 21^st October, and we always welcome more members in this group.

For our August walk, twelve of us met at Hallgates Car Park, near Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, for a 6.5 mile walk led by Mandy James and Chris West. We were slightly depleted this month, due to the summer holidays and a National Trust Group outing clash!

We headed first across meadows towards the lovely Swithland Woods – ancient Charnwood Forest woodland and the site of old Swithland slate quarries. We meandered through the winding footpaths then crossed over into Bradgate Park, taking a route which involved a steady incline up to the well–known (to Leicestershire folk!) monument, Old John. The photo includes 3 Johns, who are sat on Old John!

There we took a well-earned rest and coffee break, taking time to enjoy the amazing views across many miles of Leicestershire countryside. We then went across to the rather exposed and windy war memorial for more panoramic views! From there, thankfully, it was gradually downhill all the way, past copses and through the ancient deer park to the Tudor remains of the Grey family home, where the shortest reigning English monarch, Lady Jane Grey, lived for most of her tragically short life. After a quick history lesson, we had our lunch down by the Deer Barn café, before heading off for the final leg of the walk, taking us by Cropston Reservoir, back to the car park.

After their aquatic adventure at Aslockton earlier this year, our walkers have been on drier ground recently. Firstly, they enjoyed a walk starting from Farnsfield, and including the memorial site for the Halifax bomber which came down in 1944. Then, in July, we set off from Edwinstowe for a circular walk around Sherwood Forest. We first stopped at the railway crossing, now a test track; in 1953, a day excursion by train to Chesterfield was 2/3d return, but only on Market days!

The photos show our group, being well-behaved, evading the old ‘lock-up’ in Farnsfield, then at the very recognizable Major Oak at Edwinstowe.

Thanks to firstly Kevin and Keith, then Steve and Anne for organizing these two walks. Our walks continue on the third Monday of each month, except for December. We can always welcome new members – to join us, just use the contact details in the Newsletter.

After the hottest day of the year, the drizzly grey skies that greeted us at the start of the walk at Pentrich were a bit of a contrast.  The weather improved as the walk progressed and the “gentle undulations” afforded some lovely views towards Fritchley, with Crich Stand in the distance. 

We learned about the Pentrich Revolution of 1817 and the Butterley Gangroad Rail Tunnel, which is the oldest railway tunnel in the World, all whilst negotiating many styles of stiles and 2 fields of curious cows. 

Post walk refreshments at the Dog in Pentrich were most welcome.