Malin Bridge, Storrs, Hill Top, and Lodge Moor

I caught the train and then the tram to Malin Bridge, just to the west of the shops at Hillsborough. I took a series of footpaths heading out to the west going towards the Peak District, staying north of the River Loxley for the most part.

When I reached Storrs Lane I climbed up through Beacon Wood to the hamlet of Storrs. I'm assuming that the wording in the first photograph refers to the Great Sheffield Flood.

I walked across the fields to the larger hamlet of Hill Top; the ice cream parlour didn't open until eleven o'clock...there's a vending machine, but I didn't indulge myself. 

I headed southwest to the A57 trunk road and the path that goes through Wyming Brook Nature Reserve.

I finished the walk by climbing up to the bus terminus at Lodge Moor.

It's been quite a nice walk today, covering some new footpaths; it wasn't my first choice though because the Castleton bus didn't turn up.

Lodge Moor, Hollow Meadows, Dungworth, Malin Bridge, and Hillsborough.

I got off to an early start this morning; I arrived at Lodge Moor at 8:40. The number 51 is a frequent service, every ten minutes I think; so there's no hanging around at the bus station...it actually departs from Arundel Gate though. Just over an hour from Doncaster Railway Station to the edge of the Peak District on public transport is very good; although I did have to stand for most of the way.

I walked along the road for a few yards, stepping on an old Sheffield Corporation manhole cover.

I soon crossed over the road and took a path at the side of a pub which loops to the south and eventually returns back to the road about half a mile further on. Part of the path crosses some playing fields; this location is very exposed, but since it was a clear day I could see all the way to the northern horizon , where I could identify two of the three Aire Valley power stations.

At the end of the playing fields I spotted the first grammatical error of the day, but no model aircraft though; there were only early morning joggers about at this time.

I walked along the road to the car parking area and took the path which goes along the edge of the woodland and then walked across the open moorland, heading directly for the Head Stone as soon as I could see it.

From certain angles I think that the Head Stone looks like one of the Moai on Easter Island...or maybe Homer Simpson.

I then descended to the A57 Road at Hollow Meadows and climbed up the other side of the valley to reach Rod Moor, before passing a couple of farms on my way to the road which eventually goes to Lower Bradfield, I think.

I then took a fairly steep path down steps to Ughill Wood, then found myself climbing out of this valley to reach the Dungworth road. Today's walk was quite undulating: I lost count of the number of valleys I climbed in and out of.

I noticed a house with a very unusual roof as I was leaving Dungworth. I'm assuming the tyres were used to stop the slates or tiles from blowing off.

The footpath I needed is at the back of this house; it goes across heathland and through some wooded areas before reaching the River Loxley at Rowel Bridge.

The last couple of miles to Malin Bridge, and then Hillsborough, were along the bottom of the valley. Not too far from the shops at Malin Bridge I was annoyed by the sight of the second grammatical error of the day. I wonder what the legal consequences concerning compensation would have been if I was run over whilst taking this photograph?

Cutthroat Bridge, Low Bradfield, Loxley, Malin Bridge, Hillsborough...and Three Reservoirs.

Today's day out walking involved something a bit different; travelling on the tram from Hillsborough to Meadowhall Interchange - a place that probably doesn't get many mentions on Peak District hiking blogs.

I got off to a bad start with the bus being half an hour late to take me to the beginning of the walk at Cutthroat Bridge; a location which got its gruesome name due to a murder four hundred years ago. More recently a body with its throat cut was dumped in the lay-by there about fifteen years ago.

I took the path which goes to the east across open moorland, running parallel with the road I'd just travelled along in the bus. After a few hundred yards the road dips out of sight and it was a lot quieter.

After having a few problems following the route of the footpath through the farmyard at Moscar House I soon reached the road which marked the county boundary - even though there was no sign there. I continued along this road and when I reached the crest of a hill caught my first view of Boot's Tower and Strines Reservoir.

The tower is a folly built by the local landowner in 1927 to provide employment for the estate's stonemasons; I think it actually adds something to the landscape.

I soon left the road, turning left along the route of the Sheffield Country Walk, dropping down into the grounds of Sugworth Hall. The footpath here is quite interesting as it passes through a tunnel which has been hacked through a large, dense thicket of rhododendron bushes; it is very dark in here, but quite magical though...I almost expected to see a fairy sitting on a branch.

It was quite a few minutes until I saw the sunshine again; by now I was in the open field where Booth's Tower is situated, so I walked up to it to have a close-up look.

The next section of the path was through mixed terrain, looking down at first on Strines reservoir and then Dale Dyke Reservoir. Dale Dyke has a tragic history: the current reservoir isn't the original one, an earlier one was constructed, but even before completion it burst its banks, causing the Great Sheffield Flood of 1864 which killed 245 people.

The route down to Low Bradfield, where I stopped for refreshments, was along a country lane. After passing through the village I then walked along the northern shore of Damflask Reservoir; my third reservoir of the day.

Sheffield Sailing Club is based here.

Only a few yards after passing the dam wall I had left the Peak District; I was walking along a minor road at this point and there was no boundary marker.

I turned off the road at the hamlet of Stacey Bank, walking down a steep track towards the River Loxley. The rest of the route of the walk was along the banks of the Loxley, first passing a location called Storrs Bridge, which seemed to consist entirely of derelict factory buildings. Once beyond this point though, the landscape is pleasantly rural all the way to Malin Bridge.

Technically I think I passed through the Parish of Loxley, even though the village is at the top of the hill. Of course, Loxley is famous as supposedly being the birthplace of Robin Hood, known as 'The Earl of Locksley' in the stories.

Another mile or so I was at Malin Bridge and walking through the streets to catch the Meadowhall tram at Hillsborough Interchange. There are plenty of trains going from Meadowhall to Doncaster, and I didn't have to wait long for one.

Wildlife I saw today, without even trying - a rabbit and a grey squirrel.