Doncaster, Newton, Sprotbrough, and Cusworth Hall

Public transport finishes early today and so I just went on a local walk along the river to Sprotbrough, returning back to the town centre via Cusworth Hall. After a few minutes walking along the river a couple of rowing boats sped by; the boat with only one person sitting in it was just as fast as the larger boat with two people rowing - I wonder what the optimum number of rowers is so as to maximise the speed of the boat?

Newton is less than two miles from the town centre.

Just beyond Newton I took the path that goes to the disused railway embankment, now a stretch of the TransPennine Trail long distance cycle route - I can't remember ever having gone this way before. I re-joined my regular route just before the motorway bridge that crosses over the Don Gorge.

It was only about another half a mile until I reached Sprotbrough.

I then walked across the fields to Cusworth Hall and returned to the town centre using the bridleway, and then Sprotbrough Road.

Stoney Middleton, Eyam, Highcliffe, Abney, and Brough

I travelled to Stoney Middleton today and started the walk by taking a few photographs of the rather unusual church there; it's the first time I've been inside. 

I then took the footpath up the grassy hill to Eyam; there are always plenty of opportunities to take photos there.

The church at Eyam is always open, there's a small museum inside.

I climbed up through the woods to Highcliffe, then turned left and walked along the road for half a mile until I reached a bridleway heading towards Bretton Clough. I went down into the clough and then climbed up the other side to Abney.

I stopped and let a large group of women and girls on horseback pass me at Abney; they looked like the same people who I encountered a couple of weeks ago at Shatton. Today though, both horses and  riders were all trimmed up for Christmas, decorated with tinsel, ribbon, and flashing fairy lights...and wearing garish seasonal jumpers and Santa hats.

Finally I walked across the moors and then joined Brough Lane, a wide track which took me all the way down to the road. I caught the bus outside The Traveller's Rest pub. 

I was a bit disappointed with the weather today - it drizzled most of the time and the forecast sunny intervals were very brief.

Woodlands, Pickburn, Hooton Pagnell, Stotfold, Phoenix Park, Goldthorpe, Barnburgh, and Conisbrough

It was just a short ride on the bus today to Woodlands. I got something to eat later from one of the shops and then walked up through the housing estate to the entrance to Brodsworth Community Woodland. It was still dark when I got off the bus, but dawn was breaking just about now.

I only spent a few minutes in the country park, heading out towards Pickburn as fast as I could; I nearly slipped on some black ice as I was walking down the road approaching the village. I was glad to get on the footpath and continue heading westwards across the fields to Hooton Pagnell.

Although it was sunny, most of the village was in the shade and so I didn't take that many photographs of this beautiful photogenic hilltop village...although I was happy with most of them and so have included them.

I sat in the churchyard to eat my sandwiches - the ringing of the chimes here is quicker than anywhere else I know.

I left Hooton Pagnell walking to the south and passed through Watchley Crags until I reached Stotfold; just a farm complex really, and then climbed up the fairly steep hill to the top of Phoenix Park.

The parish church at Goldthorpe has an unusual Italianate design.

I got down onto the old railway cutting that goes to Barnburgh and got there a few minutes later. Barnburgh Church is associated with the Cat and Man Legend.

I walked down the hill to the Crown Inn, turned right and then took a footpath leading to the road which goes further down the hill to Denaby Ings. I didn't enter the nature reserve but continued over the bridge and along the bank of the River Dearne and then the course of the old railway line to Conisbrough.

The current Doncaster to Sheffield line still serves Conisbrough: there are no photographs of the church or castle at Conisbrough because as I passed by the station a train was due and so I caught it...and so didn't climb up the hill to the town centre.