Ardsley, Worsbrough, Birdwell, Tankersley, Harley, Wentworth, and Greasbrough

Another journey on the bus to Ardsley to start a walk, beginning by walking across the fields to the TransPennine Trail. There would have been some decent views to look at but it was very foggy and didn't clear up until I reached Worsbrough. One thing I was able to notice though was that in one of the fields that the path crossed four different crops had been sowed, all jumbled up together.

After reaching the trail I continued for about a quarter of a mile and then took another old abandoned railway line, actually another branch of the Transpennine Trail. About a mile beyond the railway viaduct I took a path which leads through pleasant countryside to the road, which I followed for a few minutes until I arrived at the old part of the village of Worsbrough, the area where the church is.

I didn't want to go to Birdwell but the path that I wanted wasn't there, there were some new houses being built where it should have been...so I had to walk through this rather unattractive village.

The church at Tankersley is situated about half a mile from the main part of the village in a lovely secluded spot...it's a nice church as well. Unfortunately, as was the case with Worsbrough church, the door was locked.

There are two churches at Wentworth, an old one and a new one, and I was able to go inside both of them. There are also plenty of other beautiful buildings in the village to take pictures of...two of my favourites had scaffolding put up though, and there were roadworks on the High Street ruining several good views.

[The inscription on the gravestone reads 'For goodnes sake fix this Stone up agane.']

I left Wentworth by walking through the gun park, passing both the large ornate stables block and the main hall, the largest private residence in the country. Both buildings were also covered in scaffolding and hoardings. It was a steady downhill stroll to Greasbrough, also passing next to one of the angling lakes.

I caught one of he frequent buses into Rotherham; the journey took much longer than scheduled though because of an accident near to the town centre.


Today's route:

From Fairholmes to Castleton

The automatic doors at Doncaster Railway Station weren't opening properly this morning and I slammed my shoulder hard into one of them; I wasn't looking ahead of me but rather concentrating on a group of drug addicts loitering near the entrance.

I travelled all the way up the Derwent Valley on the bus to Fairholmes and climbed up through the woods to the Lockerbrook area, enjoying a chat with a fellow walker from Leicestershire as we continued to where our paths diverged just before Hagg Farm...he was visiting Alport Castles. 

I then continued alone down to the Snake Pass road and then climbed up the other side of the valley to Hope Cross.

I didn't go all the way to Hope village, I turned right and went uphill just before reaching Townend Bridge, and then made my way to Castleton via Losehill Farm, a route I've not used before.

A shorter walk than I would have liked today, but I needed to be back home for 4:30. A lovely warm sunny day though, but no so good for taking photos because of the haze.


Today's route:

Hatfield, Stainforth, Kirk Sandall, and Long Sandall

I wanted to stay well away from Sheffield today because of a major commemorative event being held in the Endcliffe Park area and so I went on another local walk, starting at Hatfield and making my way over to the canal at Stainforth and then walking along the towpath, going as close to Doncaster town centre as I could reach.

My route out of Hatfield took me close to Hatfield Waterpark and Doncaster North Services on the motorway. The route of the path wasn't clear at all in the area of the old colliery spoilheap - but I did enjoy climbing to the top to be able to see where I would be going next.

I made a short detour to walk over the Don Aqueduct and my timing was perfect to actually catch a barge using it.

The aqueduct takes the New Junction Canal over the River Don, and here also is where the Stainforth and Keadby Canal ends - I would now be walking along the towpath of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation...or the River Don Navigation if you prefer.

Another short detour to photograph Kirk Sandall church; a pretty church unfortunately surrounded by a large building site at the moment.

As I approached the railway bridge south of Kirk Sandall I witnessed something new - a family group fishing in the canal with magnets, all of them wearing only white clothing.

I got as far as Long Sandall Lock using the towpath; I cut through the industrial estate and walked down the road to Thorne Road, from where there are plenty of buses back to town.




Today's route - I've finally fathomed out how to use the mapping tool in Windows 10, but I'm still needing to use the old 'snipping tool' to save my images though: