Sunday 6th February 2022 – Rufford – Nottinghamshire
The coach arrived at Rufford Country Park and Abbey just before the gates opened at 9am. A group of Twitchers were already scanning the treetops for a sighting of six Hawfinches but we just missed them. The walk progressed in part of Sherwood Forest Country Park and National Nature Reserve. We had a short coffee stop, and later, a lunch break at the forest visitor centre. A pub stop was made at The Dukeries Lodge, Edwinstowe, where we had a room to ourselves during the 45 minute stay.
Other features of interest today included the c.1000 year-old veteran Major Oak tree, Robin Hood’s village of Edwinstowe, the now disused Thoresby Colliery railway signal box and, Rufford Mill with its nearby road ford water splash. Wildlife of interest included a singing Marsh tit in the forest, Skylark singing over the arable farmland and various waterbirds at Rufford Lake. Snowdrops were coming into flower. After returning to the coach it only took 30 minutes to get back into Doncaster by 4pm.
- Start and finish point – SK642 647. A circular walk.
- Walk leader – Dave Tyson.
- Number of walkers – 34 (and no non-walkers).
- Distance – 9 miles / 14.5 kilometres.
- Terrain – Mostly flat with gentle rolling countryside across open fields and mixed woodland paths. Some puddles, but there was very little mud on our boots.
- Highest point – Under 300 feet / 90m.
- Weather – 7 degrees C, with a few light showers, sunny intervals and occasional gust of wind.
Club news – Christine was welcomed on her first outing with Weekend Wanderers. Jean Torrington provided face masks and boot covers for those who requested them today.
Credits – Dave Tyson was thanked for today’s pleasant walk in north Nottinghamshire, a county not often visited by this Club. Dave Wildsmith and Dave Tyson kindly submitted this month’s selected photos, and I, Dave Carroll, added a couple more.
Author’s memo – In the pub, our table toasted the Platinum Anniversary of HRH Queen Elizabeth II on becoming Sovereign exactly 70 years ago on this day. I should have stood further back while watching cars speed through the water splash at Rufford Mill.
