Monday, April 26, 2010
Not The Valley & Views!
Well I didn't do the Valley and Views... I hadn't been feeling too great Saturday and still didn't feel too good on Sunday. Then when I woke to the sound of pouring rain, that kind of sealed the deal- so I stayed in bed...
Of course, it brightened up later so I am kind of kicking myself now!! Oh well...
Of course, it brightened up later so I am kind of kicking myself now!! Oh well...
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Lovely Weekend!
It's gorgeous today- hopefully Spring has well and truly sprung. I walked along the canal to Morrisons earlier and saw some tiny, fluffy baby coots.
I haven't been all that active I have to admit, although I have been for some shortish runs. I went for a walk last Saturday- about 10 miles round Bassingfield, Holme Pierrepont and the Trent.
Bassingfield is a small hamlet nearby, set into the green belt. Unfortunately there are plans to build a massive football stadium and hotel, park and ride, plus a development of over 4,000 new houses on the green belt! Apparently the government are leaning on the council to authorise so many new housing developments on rural land... this will be an absolute nightmare, and such a shame. We are losing too much of our countryside- I am not disputing that more housing is needed but surely there are lots of brownfield sites which could be developed instead??
I took some photos of the area which could soon be buried under the proposed development;
Bassingfield
There is a footpath from Bassingfield to the A52...
The A52 is a busy nightmare of a dual carriageway but at least there are traffic lights and crossing places where the footpath brings you out. Straight opposite a byway passes the fishing lakes and leads to Holme Pierrepont.
It looked lovely with the spring blossom out. I ambled along the road a bit and then took a walk up to the drive to see Holme Pierrepont Hall;
Holme Pierrepont Hall
Unfortunately the grounds are private- I was leaning over a locked gate to take the photo!
I followed a road round the top of the boating lake, which became a track and eventually led past some smaller lakes before reaching the River Trent;
The path followed the River Trent all the way back to Trent Locks and the Watersports Centre. I could look over to the other side and see the paths I used to take when I lived in Netherfield... it's a shame that there isn't a crossing point over the Trent for pedestrians here as it would be great to be able to wander over to Colwick Park.
Trent Locks
I walked back along the White Water rapids- these look terrific fun!
I have decided to do the 10th 'Valley and Views' tomorrow from Wilbarston near Market Harborough. Time I got my lardy arse moving again!! It is going to be a lovely day again tomorrow and I know I will regret it if I don't do it. Luckily you can just turn up any time between 7:30 and 9:00am, pay and collect a route description. It's only £3.50 so good value- should be a good day!
I haven't been all that active I have to admit, although I have been for some shortish runs. I went for a walk last Saturday- about 10 miles round Bassingfield, Holme Pierrepont and the Trent.
Bassingfield is a small hamlet nearby, set into the green belt. Unfortunately there are plans to build a massive football stadium and hotel, park and ride, plus a development of over 4,000 new houses on the green belt! Apparently the government are leaning on the council to authorise so many new housing developments on rural land... this will be an absolute nightmare, and such a shame. We are losing too much of our countryside- I am not disputing that more housing is needed but surely there are lots of brownfield sites which could be developed instead??
I took some photos of the area which could soon be buried under the proposed development;
There is a footpath from Bassingfield to the A52...
The A52 is a busy nightmare of a dual carriageway but at least there are traffic lights and crossing places where the footpath brings you out. Straight opposite a byway passes the fishing lakes and leads to Holme Pierrepont.
Unfortunately the grounds are private- I was leaning over a locked gate to take the photo!
I followed a road round the top of the boating lake, which became a track and eventually led past some smaller lakes before reaching the River Trent;
I walked back along the White Water rapids- these look terrific fun!
I have decided to do the 10th 'Valley and Views' tomorrow from Wilbarston near Market Harborough. Time I got my lardy arse moving again!! It is going to be a lovely day again tomorrow and I know I will regret it if I don't do it. Luckily you can just turn up any time between 7:30 and 9:00am, pay and collect a route description. It's only £3.50 so good value- should be a good day!
Labels: Holme Pierrepont, Valleys and Views
Monday, April 12, 2010
About Time I Updated!!
Sorry for the complete lack of updates... I have been busy moving! I am now living much nearer to work, which is good as it's only 20 minutes walk away. I also have a view right over the Grantham Canal from my window!
I haven't done a lot of training apart from some jogging along the canal, but I have been following this year's MdS. Jen Salter finished 3rd female and 5th Brit, which is fantastic!! A huge congratulations to all who took part in this year's MdS! It actually managed to motivate me to do a little exploring Saturday in the form of a 10 mile walk.
I started walking to the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierrepont, home of the huge rectangular boating lake we were forced to run round at around mile 20 of the Robin Hood Marathon. I didn't run around the lake, but ran past, having a quick nose into the Skylarks Nature Reserve as I went past;
Skylarks Nature Reserve
I followed a footpath by some lakes, where I could hear woodpeckers, down to the A52 Nottingham to Grantham Road.
The next part of the walk followed a little footpath the other side of the A52, into the hamlet of Bassingfield, but don't think I'll be doing that again- far too hairy crossing an extremely busy duel carriageway and clambering over the central reservation and I don't really want to become roadkill!!
Bassingfield is a tiny place, consisting of a few houses, although sadly this may well change as there are plans to build a huge football stadium and new housing estate larger than near by Radcliffe-on-T|rent which will completely engulf the area and will be a real shame...
The next path took me out of Bassingfield and across fields to near the Shepherds Rest (which does an excellent carvery!) I followed a bridleway, which brought me to some dreary road walking along a country road- it's amazing how little respect drivers have for pedestrians. I had to jump onto the verge several times!
Eventually I had had enough and clamboured through a gate where I could see a track. It turned out to be part of the Cotgrave Country Park.
I haven't done a lot of training apart from some jogging along the canal, but I have been following this year's MdS. Jen Salter finished 3rd female and 5th Brit, which is fantastic!! A huge congratulations to all who took part in this year's MdS! It actually managed to motivate me to do a little exploring Saturday in the form of a 10 mile walk.
I started walking to the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierrepont, home of the huge rectangular boating lake we were forced to run round at around mile 20 of the Robin Hood Marathon. I didn't run around the lake, but ran past, having a quick nose into the Skylarks Nature Reserve as I went past;
I followed a footpath by some lakes, where I could hear woodpeckers, down to the A52 Nottingham to Grantham Road.
The next part of the walk followed a little footpath the other side of the A52, into the hamlet of Bassingfield, but don't think I'll be doing that again- far too hairy crossing an extremely busy duel carriageway and clambering over the central reservation and I don't really want to become roadkill!!
Bassingfield is a tiny place, consisting of a few houses, although sadly this may well change as there are plans to build a huge football stadium and new housing estate larger than near by Radcliffe-on-T|rent which will completely engulf the area and will be a real shame...
The next path took me out of Bassingfield and across fields to near the Shepherds Rest (which does an excellent carvery!) I followed a bridleway, which brought me to some dreary road walking along a country road- it's amazing how little respect drivers have for pedestrians. I had to jump onto the verge several times!
Eventually I had had enough and clamboured through a gate where I could see a track. It turned out to be part of the Cotgrave Country Park.
Track Into The Country Park
I knew this eventually led onto the canal, so walked home along the canal- although full of water (mostly) it has been abandoned, and a lot of the bridges replaced by culverts and low bridges. There is a society aiming to get it navigable again, they have already replaced or demolished some of the bridges and restored some of the locks. It runs from the River Trent in Nottingham to Grantham and is around 33 miles in length... I know as I walked the complete length as a challenge walk some years back!
I saw a heron as I was walking home;
The worst thing about walking along the canal is crossing the new Lings Bar Road (A52). Although not as hairy as the dual carriageway it still involves negotiating two halves of a very busy road and clambering over the central reservation barriers. I suppose a crossing with lights would be way too expensive but a proper crossing area would be good. I don't think the canal is going to be restored here though- I think they are planning on cutting a new course to the Trent from Bassingfield.
Having the canal so near may just motivated (or shame, due to the amount of runners going past) me to get off my butt more!
Labels: grantham canal
