Unfamiliar country for me, deep in the heart of the Broxtowe District of Nottinghamshire, in fact I nearly didn’t make it. I blame the sat nav, but of course it was me, not being able to follow, those vocal instructions coming from the dashboard. I eventually, having set off early, arrived at the surprisingly large car park of Strelley Hall. The estate probably goes back to Saxon times and evidence survives of the Hall from around the thirteenth century. It has been rebuilt and added to many times over the preceding centuries. The Strelley family history can be found inside the house, going from twelve hundreds to the present day.

After a few words from our leader, we headed off, westwards, to cross over the busy M1 motorway, on a good solid bridge. The traffic noise was not that bad and as we walked away from it, it reminded me of being near the coast, with the tide rolling in over the loose shingle base, the shingle being rolled against that which was ebbing from the previous wave. We were soon out of earshot as we made our way west of Turkey Fields Farm, on a track with well-trimmed hedges on either side, encountering a bit of mud here and there. Keeping west of Strelley Park Farm, going ahead to a junction with a minor road. Here we turned right and made our way to a junction of five paths, above Babbington House Farm, stopping at the five=ways for our morning break. By this time having achieved two point two miles, exactly half way, well done Derek, for symmetry. Twists and turns, around many paddocks, now brought us into Swingate, and join the Broxtowe Country Trail. A little detour here, to take a look at the impressive water tower(pictured), built more than seventy years ago to supply fresh water to the City of Nottingham. This imposing structure, one hundred foot tall, can, we are told, be seen as a landmark from many points along the M1. We now followed the Broxtowe Trail downhill, for the last part of our journey, once more crossing over, the even busier M1. We turned to pass by Home Farm, where we craned our necks, to spot the Lions, kept there, once intended to be an attraction for a zoo. They were spotted, faraway, sheltering in a maintained yard. Soon after this we were back at the car park, where many ventured into the old stable block, which now houses the Mulberry Café, for an end of walk cuppa. Thanks Derek, for an easy walk without too many hills, to worry about.