Tag: beauty

Newark’s Queens Sconce: A Walk Through History

Nov 16th, 2025

Hello and welcome back to my blog 😊.

Today Angela and I enjoyed a short circular 4.5-mile walk in Newark. The weather for the past couple of weeks has been very wet culminating in storm Claudia a couple of days ago. Everywhere was water logged so we chose a route with good paths.

We parked in Sconce and Devon Park – the largest open space in Newark. You may be wondering how it got such an unusual name. Well, within the park lies The Queen’s Sconce – a scheduled ancient monument and the river Devon. Neither of us had been here before.

Because it was early on a Sunday morning the park was occupied with dog walkers mostly. The Park Run team were setting up for a Children’s Park Run.

During the English Civil War Newark played a vital role. It was a Royalist stronghold and was besieged on three occasions. At the end of the second siege the towns defences were fortified by building two earthwork defences. A Dutch Engineer named Sir Bernard de Gomme designed the new defences – the word sconce is the Dutch word for fort. The two earthwork forts were named the Kings Sconce and the Queens Sconce – only the Queens Sconce survives.

A view of the Queens Sconce

The Queens Sconce would have been garrisoned by around 150 troops during the siege. The soldiers had their quarters close to the ammunition store in the hollow at the centre of the sconce.

The hollow at the centre of the sconce

The third siege lasted six months and the Royalist forces were weakened by famine and plague. Finally, the King ordered the surrender of Newark. After the surrender the parliamentarians left quickly, not wishing to risk the plague. Hence, the Sconce is still here today.

We crossed over the forts ditch using the attractive bridge.

Bridge to reach the sconce

There is a lovely sculpture of a canon on the high point of the sconce.

From the top of the sconce we could see the swollen river Devon below.

River Devon in flood

As we walked around the park we found that our access was restricted because the river Devon had flooded the paths.

Do you fancy a paddle Angela?

As we left the park, to head for the Trent Navigation, we passed another nice sculpture (by Phil Neal)- a bicycle made from bicycle cogs to commemorate the Tour of Britain in 2017.

Reaching the Trent Navigation we could see that the water was moving quickly.

I love this walk by the Trent Navigation – its steeped in history. You can just sense it.

View from Newark Town Lock gates

Our riverside path took us beside the ruins of Newark Castle.

It was pleasing to note that some restoration works are occurring and what looks like a visitors centre is being built.

At the town wharf an old barge is being used as a café. I imagined it with its sails hoisted.

We continued along beside the river until the path became too muddy. We then crossed a pedestrian bridge with the famous sugar factory stack billowing steam in the background. There was a distinct smell of sugar beet in the air.

Walking along the opposite bank we passed the entrance to Kings Marina and a bridge that we had crossed earlier.

Kings Marina

Our onward progress was frustrated by a path closure and a diversion. We decided that we were not going around the houses and headed back to Sconce and Devon Park. We stopped at the café in the park and enjoyed a coffee.

Rumbles cafe in the park

We will return to the park in the future to enjoy the areas that we couldn’t see today because of the flooding.

Happy Walking! 😊🚶
The Three Amigos: A Memorable Walk in Collingham

Jun 25th, 2025

Hello and welcome back to my blog 😊.

Today, the Three Amigos were back together for a 7-mile circular walk starting in the Nottinghamshire village of Collingham. Chris had suggested the walk, which would take us close to water for a fair part of the walk. It turned out to be a super walk.

Our route

We assembled outside ‘All Saints’ Church which had plenty of road parking. It was a warm start to the day and forecast dry. The bell in the tower was chiming away.

A walk through the village revealed that it was a very charming village. We passed a quaint wooden door built into a stone wall – like something out of ‘The Hobbit’.

Soon, we left the village and headed across open fields. The path had been freshly mowed, which was a stroke of luck because at this time of year many footpaths are overgrown.

Just how freshly mowed it was, was revealed when we caught up with a chap riding a quad bike towing a mower! We decided to walk behind the mower which was acting rather like an ice-breaker opening up a path across an iced sea.

We arrived at the RSPB Langford Lowlands Nature Reserve, created from the old sand/gravel pits.

A walk through shaded wooded paths brought us to an entrance into the reserve. Chris had been here before and recommended walking through the reserve – so we did!

Chris took us to the highest viewing point where we met a RSPB ranger enjoying the birdlife. There were lush reed beds all around the lakes. Chris enjoys spotting the birds and I have a feeling he will return soon.

Langford Lowlands Nature Reserve

Our route took us to the river Trent – we could hear it before we saw it because we were close to the weir at Cromwell Lock and could hear the roar of the water as it spilled across the weir.

Cromwell Lock Weir

Anglers sat close to the shore below the weir – we noted that the river looked quite low, which is hardly surprising given the lack of rain in recent weeks. I wondered how a fish would feel having successfully survived the weir only to be caught by an angler shortly afterwards. Gutted, I imagine.

We followed the river bank as it meandered northwards. More Anglers were enjoying a spot of fishing.

Anglers on the river Trent

Further along we came to a footpath diversion in place because of demolition work on a disused sand conveyor and wharf. No work was taking place so we passed through.

sand conveyor and wharf

We left the river Trent and arrived at Bestwood Nature Reserve. Chris knew of a bird hide so we followed him there to take a break.

Bird Hide at Bestwood Nature Reserve

Inside it was hot so the windows were opened and refreshments taken whilst looking out of the windows. There were plenty of small flying insects about today and they were quite irritating being very persistently getting in your face!

View from the bird hide

Inside, people have recorded their bird siting’s in a diary and there was obviously a rich variety of birds to see.

After our break we headed back to join the river Trent for a short walk before heading back into the Nature Reserve.

River Trent

We enjoyed walking around various small lakes.

One of the lakes in the Nature Reserve

Eventually we passed the quarry where sand / gravel is currently being worked.

We were following the Trent Vale trail apparently.

A walk along a narrow road brought us into Collingham after crossing the river Fleet.

Road into Collingham

I think we were all glad to reach the cars because it was getting quite hot and muggy. It had been a splendid walk though, one to add to our repertoire.

Happy Walking! 😊🚶
Exploring The Leicestershire Round: Frolesworth to Burbage Common

May 7th, 2025

Hello and welcome back to my blog 😊.

Today, myself and Mick completed another leg of The Leicestershire Round (a 100-mile route around Leicestershire) walking 10.7 miles from Frolesworth to Burbage Common.

After a rocky start, where I struggled to find the meeting up point (Burbage Common Visitors Centre), I eventually found it, and we set off in one car to Frolesworth – the point where we finished our previous leg last week. It was a chilly morning – roll on summer!

Our route was, as usual, across arable land and meadows.

Mick checking out the wildlife

The land was bone dry. We had half the normal rainfall in March and the sunniest April on record and I must say, with my walking hat on, this has been great news. I fear however, that we will pay for the fine weather now with a very wet June and July – I hope that my fears prove unfounded.

Typical meadow

Passing through the small villages of Claybrooke Magna and Claybrooke Parva we were heading for High Cross.

High Cross, at the junction of two important Roman roads, was the geographical centre of Roman England. The Fosse Way (Lincoln to Exeter) and Watling Street (Dover to Wroxeter near Shrewsbury) met here.

We approached a nice street sign just before we came to the old Fosse Way.

A few large boulders (from Croft Quarry) mark the Geographical Centre and it had a bench which we took advantage of for a break.

Boulders marking the geographical centre of Roman England

After a break we followed the very straight Fosse Way towards Sharnford.

The Fosse Way

The route took us through Fosse Meadows where there was a lake and forestry. We paused in a bird hide to peer at the lake. The surrounding wetland was dry. Mick spotted a duck on the lake.

View from the bird hide of the wetland by the lake at Fosse Meadows

I enjoyed the meadows with the bright yellow buttercups sprinkled across the grass and the white hawthorn bushes lining the sides.

Fosse Meadows

A lovely walk beside a stream brought us into Sharnford.

Mick commented that there had not been as many stiles compared with the last leg. A fatal mistake, because subsequently, we had 23 stiles to cross! – quite a few of which were in perilous condition.

After walking through Sharnford we crossed fields to reach the hamlet of Aston Flamville. A very attractive hamlet with houses to drool over.

More buttercups

Shortly, we crossed a bridge over the M69 motorway.

M69 Motorway

Descending steps adjacent to the Motorway we walked beside it for a while then headed off across stiles/fields, touching the edge of Hinckley and towards Burbage Wood. We skirted the outside of the woods arriving into Burbage Common, 200 acres of access land. Clearly a popular spot -there were plenty of people enjoying a walk.

Burbage Common

We arrived back into the car park – the nearby café was very busy. All that remained to do was for Mick to drive me back to Frolesworth to collect my car. It had been a nice easy walk – most pleasant.

Next week we will walk another leg – to Market Bosworth, I am looking forward to it.

Happy Walking! 😊🚶
Exploring Boston: A Scenic 7-Mile Walk

Apr 4th, 2025

Hello and welcome back to my blog 😊.

The fine sunny April weather continues (will we pay for this in the summer I ask myself?) so today I decided to do a walk that I have been itching to do for a while now – A 7-mile circular walk from Boston town centre, beside water, along the Maud Foster Drain, the Frith Bank Drain and the River Witham. The last few miles beside the River Witham gave impressive views of Boston Stump – the tallest church tower in the country. Sometimes an itch just needs to be scratched!

The river Witham and St Botolph’s Church

The route

Boston was once one of the greatest ports in England with a flourishing trade across the North Sea and Baltic. A slump in the wool trade and the silting up of the Witham caused it to decline in the 16th century. However, agricultural development of the drained Fens and subsequent dredging of the river led to its revival in the 18th and 19th centuries, and it still functions as a port today.

Perhaps Boston is remembered most, as being home for the Mayflower Pilgrims, who sailed across the Atlantic in 1620, landing in New England and founding a new colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower

The first Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie A. Brownscombe

Replica of Mayflower docked at Plymouth, Massachusetts

With an early start, myself and Angela avoided the worst of the rush hour traffic and found parking in the former Cattle Market. We set off following the brick lined banks of Maud Foster Drain.

Maud Foster Drain

We passed Maud Foster Windmill, built in 1819, and the tallest working windmill in the country. It is unusual in having five sails. They were static the morning we passed by.

Maud Foster Windmill

Shortly, the brick-sided banks disappeared and we had a more open vista.

Maud Foster Drain

To our right we saw fields covered in fleece to protect the crops from frost. We had seen many fields like this on our drive to Boston.

Fleece lined fields

Arriving at Cowbridge, a junction of five drains, we crossed a bridge over Frith Bank Drain and headed along the road beside Frith Bank Drain.

Cowbridge Junction

At Cowbridge

View of West Fen Drain

This road turned out to be much busier than we had expected – we thought it was probably due to another road closure in the area. The sun was working its magic and the temperature was rising so top layers were removed.

We left the road, crossing a rickety footbridge over the drain and entered a woodland.

Frith Bank Drain

A short walk through the woodland brought us to the River Witham – it is quite wide at this point.

We walked beside the river back into Boston. A chap who was volunteering at litter picking told us that this stretch of water is one of the straightest in the country and is used by the England Rowing team to train. We passed Boston Rowing Club as we walked further on. The Stump was clearly visible as was the Marina.

Boston Rowing Club on the right hand bank.

We walked under the railway bridge and passed the Grand Sluice Lock – built in 1766 to prevent extensive flooding between Boston and Lincoln.

The Grand Sluice and railway bridge

Walking on we had fabulous views of The Stump – no one knows why it is called that. It took some seventy years to build and at least four architects, successively, were in charge. I thought it was a truly impressive building. Nicholas Pevsner in ‘The Buildings of England’ describes it as ‘the most prodigious of English parochial steeples’.

We crossed the bridge over the river Witham to pay a visit.

First port of call was the coffee shop!

Refreshed after a sit down and coffee we took a walk around St Botolph’s church. It’s a beautiful church full of light and good vibes. The coffee shop is situated directly under the tower but if you look up you see a vaulted ceiling and cannot see to the top.

View inside The Stump.

After viewing the church we walked through the busy town back to the car. I felt it had been a rewarding and enjoyable use of a sunny morning.

Happy Walking! 😊🚶
A 5-Mile Adventure: Cropwell Bishop to Owthorpe Walk

Mar 11th, 2025

Hello and welcome back to my blog 😊.

Today I met up with Chris and we enjoyed a 5-mile circular walk from Cropwell Bishop to Owthorpe and back, crossing fields, country lanes and along the towpath of the Grantham Canal.

The morning was much colder than our recent weather, which was a shock to the system. I had got used to the brief mild spell we had been blessed with last week.

Arriving at the Cropwell Bishop Memorial Hall car park I noted that Chris had arrived early and was busy getting his boots/gaiters on. Watching Chris getting the gaiters on is usually good for a laugh as he struggles with the buckles and there is a good deal of huffing and puffing going on! 😊

Starting point

Eventually, we set off up the road and joined the towpath of the Grantham canal. This section of the canal is dry.

The dry bed of this section of the Grantham canal

The section leads to a bridge which at one time used to be a roving bridge – unfortunately it has been removed to make way for a road. To a canal enthusiast, these are interesting bridges and were designed to enable a horse to change to the towpath on the other side without having to unhitch. Clever stuff!

A roving bridge

Leaving the towpath we joined a wooded footpath running beside the road with distant views of the Cropwell Wolds. Soon we crossed a stile and passed through a farmyard leading to open fields.

Open fields and the obvious path

We passed across a ditch via the wooden planks – carefully checking that they were not rotten!

We passed some fish ponds and headed uphill across another field to St Margaret’s church.

The fish pond

St Margaret’s church, Owthorpe

In the churchyard there was a bench so we had a break here, enjoying the peace and quiet. Blossom was on the trees. Chris pointed out that the clock had an unusual wooded face. The clock was installed in 1680 and was built by Richard Roe of Epperstone.

Leaving the church we passed another fish pond. Before it burnt to the ground in a fire in the late 1820’s Owthorpe Hall was located nearby. It was the seat of the Hutchinson family. One member was Colonel John Hutchinson who was a politician and military leader (a Roundhead) – he was one of the people that signed the death warrant of King Charles 1. He also had the fishponds dug to supply fish for the Hall.

Another fish pond.

Joining a country lane we walked past a very impressive wedding venue at Oddhouse Farm that had been build in a barn.

Passing the venue we re-joined the Grantham Canal and set off along the towpath. There was some water in the canal and while Chris was looking at the canal he saw something move in the shallow water – it was a frog! As we turned to go I spotted another frog on the towpath – it was good to see the wildlife.

After a stretch along the canal we left the canal and followed a path up Blue Hill and headed towards Cropwell Bishop.

View towards Cropwell Bishop from Blue Hill

Crossing a few more fields we arrived at Cropwell Bishop. Cropwell takes its name from the Danish ‘Kroppr’ or early English ‘Crop’ for the outcrop of nearby Hoe Hill. The Bishop bit was added in the 10th century when the land was given to the Bishop of York. We passed the church of St Giles which was built in 1215.

St Giles church Cropwell Bishop

Further on we passed the creamery where the world famous Cropwell Bishop Stilton cheese is made.

The Cropwell Bishop Creamery shop

Historically, Gypsum was mined at Cropwell Bishop and made use of the canal as a means of transport. These old warehouses are still standing.

Arriving back at the car it was clear that Chris didn’t need his gaiters for this particular walk – it had been mud free!

Happy Walking 😊🚶