| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Convenor: |
David Johnson
Tel: 07549 132 066
|
| Convenor: |
Sue Fairweather
Tel: 07780 449 894
|
| When: | Monthly on Tuesdays 9:30 am 2nd Tuesday of the month |
We do a ramble of about 5 miles, ending at a pub or tearoom, on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
For an overview of future walks tap the Calendar button and select Five Miles and a cup of tea from the Group drop-down list - or refer to the Next Walks section below.
Tap to open the 5 Miles Group photo gallery, then swipe left or right
Next Walks
Recent Walks
April 2026: GEDLING COUNTRY PARK
We had 8 enthusiastic walkers in Gedling Country Park, starting from the car park on Lambley Lane (which was free!). It was a pleasant morning for a walk on good paths with very little mud.
Although many of us have already been to the Park, it is amazing how the views differ with the seasons. This month, we had the Spring Blossoms and it’s helpful that the names of trees are provided, so that we could match the tree with blossom. As usual, the vantage areas where it is claimed that you could see Belvoir Castle and Green’s Windmill proved a challenge for some of us!
Lunch afterwards was at the Gedling Inn, where we were just in time for the small and large breakfasts.
A big thank you to Diane for leading the walk.
March 2026: BRAMCOTE HILLS
As the fields were still wet and muddy after the very wet start to the year, this month’s walk was a 5-mile circular over Bramcote Hills, with lovely views including the site of the old Bramcote Hall, Beeston Fields Drive and Sandy Lane Nature Reserve. 14 of us walked up and down dale in (some) sunshine. There were the ‘usual’ slopes and it was a little muddy in places, but mostly we were on clear tracks and paved surfaces.
We spent some time in the grounds of the demolished Bramcote Hall; there was only a little stonework remaining, including the staircase approach to the front door. Bramcote Hall was built in the 1860s in a park on the crest of the hill behind the original church.
It became the home of Frederic Chatfield Smith who altered and enlarged it until it became a mansion with 21 bedrooms that could comfortably accommodate his 11 surviving children together with the staff he retained. When he died in 1905, the building was left to his widow for her life time but following her death in 1914, the family decided to sell the Hall in 1920. From 1921 it became a prep school but in 1965 the Hall was sold to Nottingham University. The University’s plans for the Hall, however, did not come to realisation and sadly the building was eventually demolished.
Lunch was served at the Nurseryman on the Derby Road and we all enjoyed reasonably priced delicious food.
A big thank you to Chris and Diane for leading the walk.
February 2026: COLWICK COUNTRY PARK
Due to the rain that had fallen during most of January and part of February, this month’s walk was specially chosen to be on tarmac or gravel paths around the lakes at Colwick Country Park. Fortunately, the rain held off during the morning and all 15 of us reached our destination -Tina’s Café – without anyone getting soaked!
However, flooding was very evident in a marooned foot bridge by the Trent. We met some interesting characters along the way, including David the bird feeder, on his bike, and spent some time in the tranquil cemetery by the ruins of St John’s chapel next to Colwick Hall.
Tina’s Café was a real ‘find’, with hand sized bacon / sausage cobs, huge bowls of soup and ‘proper’ size baked potatoes!
A big thank you to Jane and Janice for leading the walk, and making sure that no one got left behind.
January 2026: NETHERFIELD LAGOONS
It was soggy start to 2026, with a local 5 mile walk from Ranmoor Road car park through Gedling Village to Jubilee Park, then down to the very quiet Netherfield Lagoons before returning through the new Rivendell development.
Seven brave (or foolish!!) members of the group braved the rain and some mud, mainly on the flat, without any falls. At the end of the walk, the rain was by now of biblical proportions, leaving just me to sample the delights of the Willowbrook on a Tuesday afternoon (coffee and ham roll, but alas, no cake).
A big thank you to Brian and Diane for leading the walk.
December 2025: CHRISTMAS LUNCH
The plan was to have a short 2 hour walk around Gedling Country Park before the Christmas Dinner at the Gedling Inn. However, wet blustery conditions were forecast for the morning and the walk was cancelled so that we could all dine in comfort.
November 2025: THIEVES WOOD
21 of us set off from Thieves Wood Car Park for a circular walk through pleasant woodland with good tracks and paths, although a tad muddy and wet. Fortunately, no one got lost or slipped in the mud, so I’ll take this as a win!
As the name implies, Thieves Wood was a haunt for outlaws through the years. The King's highway ran through the wood and it was here that many a traveller met with an unfortunate fate. A short distance away is Fountain Dale, the legendary place where Robin Hood first met Friar Tuck.
Lunch was at The Larch Farm pub, where some of us were happy with coffee, while others were more adventurous with huge fish dishes!
A big Thank You to Diane, who made sure we didn’t get lost.
October 2025: HOLME PIERREPONT
It was a rather dull autumnal October walk along the River Trent towards the slalom and rowing courses at Holme Pierrepont. Initially, there were 17 of us and then we got a call to say that we had forgotten someone! We eventually picked up the latecomer with the help of our mobile phones.
We walked from the Lady Bay Pub to The Hook Nature Reserve then along the River Trent to the Holme Pierrepont water sports courses returning via the local orchard to the Pub for lunch.
We encountered some interesting people along the way, including a father looking at his daughter who was battling with the very cold water in the slalom course. He wasn’t too worried though, he said that it was just like being caught in a heavy shower without an umbrella!
A big thank you to Jane and Janice, who made sure we didn’t get lost.
September 2025: ATTENBOROUGH
It was a lovely day in September for a walk over Chilwell golf course, then into Attenborough gravels. It was a little disconcerting crossing the fairway but it is a designated path! No one was hit by a golf ball so that was a plus.
We managed to resist coffee and cake at Attenborough Church, but enjoyed refreshments at The Beekeeper Pub instead.
August 2025: LAMBLEY
August’s walk was around Lambley on the hottest day of the year. Luckily it remained cloudy for the morning, so that made the 11 walkers quite happy. The walk finished at the Dumbles with the wild flower meadows.
July 2025: FARNSFIELD
On a glorious summer’s day 17 of us set off from Farnsfield through Hexgreave Park. There, we saw loads of deer and three very sociable horses that wanted to join us over the stile. Later, over lunch, we were well entertained by the landlord who provided ‘soup in a basket’ to take home.
June 2025: HOVERINGHAM
This month’s walk was along the River Trent from Hoveringham to Hazelford in beautiful sunshine. Blossom filled bushes along the way promise a bumper crop of blackberries in the autumn!
Once again, no muddy puddles to be seen and even the cows stayed away. Hoveringham was well known nationally in the 1970s for its quarried gravels and sands and in 1982 was bought by Tarmac.
The tiny hamlet of Hazelford Ferry is now largely dominated by riverside lodges, but many years ago was a strategic crossing point for the river and is believed to date back to Roman times.
May 2025: TEVERSAL TRAIL
Eleven of us were led ably by Diane on the Teversal Trail near Sutton in Ashfield. The weather was fine again in May with blossom on the trees along the route. And, as in April, not a muddy puddle in sight!
The trails follow the track beds of the former colliery railways which, together with the local footpaths, provide a network of varied and enchanting walks through countryside that is abundant with wildlife.
Much of the network has now been designated a Local Nature Reserve due to its valuable and fascinating flora, fauna and geology. We arrived at the Visitors Centre café in time for bacon and sausage cobs.
April 2025: EPPERSTONE
What a lovely bright day we had in Epperstone, walking along the fields in glorious sunshine followed by delicious scones (both cheese and fruit) at the garden centre.
Not a muddy puddle in sight!
March 2025: GOTHAM
March’s walk was led by Barbara up and down dale around Gotham with great views of the Trent Valley. The walk started with the Gotham Heritage Trail, then Leake New Woods and Soldiers Lane up to Gotham Hill Woods.
Lunch was a problem in Gotham as the two nearby pubs were not available for food. Instead, we drove to East Leake, where we had a lovely lunch at Bryers Bar and Kitchen.
February 2025: Erewash Canal
Nine of us chose to ignore the day’s weather forecast, which was cold drizzle, and enjoyed a pleasant morning wandering through the nature trail along the Erewash Canal, as well as the paths, bridleways and roads in the area.
Many thanks to Geoff for leading this walk, highlights included Waterloo Lane, which was built to serve Trowell Service Station. The station’s claim to fame is that it once featured in an episode of Auf Wiedersehen Pet!
Lunch was at the Festival Inn, Trowell.
January 2025: SHELFORD
The January walk came mid thaw so there was plenty mud and ice underfoot.
24 of us turned up in Shelford to walk off all our festive dinners. The group had a couple of discussions on the way and thank you to David Johnson who has volunteered to take over as convenor. Hopefully members of the group will take turns to lead walks during the year.
December 2024: GEDLING COUNTRY PARK
There was a good turnout for the December walk around Gedling Country Park. Although we didn't hold a competition there were two Christmas hats that stood out from the rest.
22 of us enjoyed a festive lunch at the Gedling Inn afterwards.
November 2024: IDLE VALLEY
Thank you to Richard for leading the November walk around the Idle Valley Nature Reserve where the leaves were in their beautiful autumn colours. We enjoyed fabulous views over the lake from the Visitor Centre and had coffee and delicious scones.
September 2024: COLLINGHAM
The September walk was blustery with the odd shower but not as bad as the weather forecast. Starting from The Green in Collingham we walked along the River Trent then onto Besthorpe nature reserve. There we saw several grey herons and egrets.
Afterwards we enjoyed refreshments at Beyond Coffee in the village.
August 2024: ZOUCH
It was a lovely sunny day for our walk in August. We started off along the canal and soon came across signs saying the footpath was closed. A narrowboat owner told us all was OK so we carried on for a further couple of miles where some lovely workmen pointed out the path was closed but as we were there, they let us through, phew!!!
The return journey took us through Sutton Bonington then onto the Zouch Radial flood gate. The Soar is a major tributary of the River Trent and the gate regulates the flow of water in flood conditions. Unfortunately both bridges leading to the rest of the walk were closed so we spent time watching the swans at the top of the weir then retired for an early lunch overlooking the canal in the Rose and Crown.
July 2024: VICAR WATER
The July walk was around Vicar Water and Clipstone Forest. 11 of us braved the elements as the weather was terrible, raining virtually the whole way round.
The dog that is trying to pull me into the puddle belongs to a total stranger who was taking the photograph. We climbed to the highest point and could see the headstocks in the mist and on the way back we talked to the hand.
June 2024: DUKE'S WOOD
Many thanks to Kath for leading a lovely walk in June starting at Duke's wood. The flower Meadow was really beautiful with hundreds of spotted orchids and Hairy Yellow Rattles in between the buttercups. There are also several nodding donkeys dotted around the woods.
In 1943, 42 American experienced oilmen known as "Roughnecks; came over to England to establish the Dukes Wood oilfield.
This was to be kept absolutely secret so they frequently told inquisitive local folk that they were making a movie. By the end of the year over two million barrels of high grade oil had been pumped, thus aiding the war effort.
The rest of the walk took in Dilliner and Nut wood which proved to be somewhat muddy in places but we all made it to the end without incident.
Afterwards we enjoyed refreshments at Lime's Cafe on Old Rufford road, satisfying our curiosity having passed by several times but never called in.
May 2024: BURNTSTUMP
After a glorious week in May the weather changed to damp and humid but we still enjoyed walking through Burntstump Country Park. The Rhododendrons were beautiful and we also enjoyed watching the goslings on the pond.
We passed riders on frisky horses and we were told the horses didn't recognise us as human and were scared. We tried chatting so they could hear us but that didn't work so rather than risk being kicked, we stepped into the rough at the side of the path.
Afterwards Linda was saved from a hornet crawling on her back when we were in the pub!!! Must add horses and Hornets to the risk assessment in future !
Thank you to Lorraine for leading this walk.
March 2024: TEVERSAL
The March walk started from Teversal visitors centre and thanks to Diane's forethought in adjusting the route it wasn't even muddy.
Rain, rain and more rain had been forecast but we still managed to attract a dozen hardy walkers. Good fortune was on our side and the rain soon stopped. We walked along the disused railway to the Old Pleasley pit to see the pit winding engines. These are the only pair of such engines left. The former mine is now a museum and the spoil heaps have been turned into a nature reserve.
Refreshments were enjoyed back at the visitors centre.
Thank you Diane for leading this walk.
