Visiting Carr Lodge Local Nature Reserve

After briefly visiting Carr Lodge Local Nature Reserve last week I thought I'd spend a bit longer exploring it today. I walked along the old railway to get there, then continued to the iPort Lakes and finally returned home by looping back around Doncaster Lakeside.

Attempting To Reach The Caves In The Don Gorge

I took my usual route out to Hexthorpe Flatts park this morning and then continued along the riverside path and across to Warmsworth and the cycleway which goes over Conisbrough Viaduct. 

I ate my sandwiches in Warmsworth Park.

For quite a bit of the way where I'd normally be walking along the old railway line I took a path that went across the fields instead. It was much more pleasant than walking on the tarmac; the path isn't an official right of way though, but is well used.

I didn't cross over the viaduct; I took a short cut that leads onto the road and then walked a few hundred yards in the direction of town and cut down to the Don Gorge by the ruined farm buildings at Butterbusk.

There are a lot of old abandoned and overgrown quarries down in the gorge, with steep climbs, sheer cliffs and some caves of course. There are still a couple of quite large active quarries and Steetley Quarry which was only recently abandoned.

I couldn't make it up to the largest of the caves, or any of the caves in fact. It's a steep climb and it was quite muddy and slippery and the fallen leaves were making it even more difficult to keep grip, especially as I couldn't see where I was putting my feet. I managed to get about half way up - I cautiously slid back down on my backside.

I continued along the riverside path until I reached Sprotbrough. I didn't stay long, the mobile refreshments kiosk doesn't visit there on Tuesdays. 

To finish, I then took my usual route back to the town centre.

Brodsworth Community Woodland, Doncaster Minster, And The Canal Basin

Another walk out to Brodsworth Community Woodland, taking my regular route along Doncaster Greenway and returning along the Roman Ridge.

This footbridge over the dual carriageway is before the start of the Greenway, an abandoned railway line that's been re-purposed as a cycleway and footpath.

I sat and ate my sandwiches enjoying this view at Highfields Country Park before continuing on to Brodsworth Community Woodland.

It was busy at the community woodlands, I noticed that the car park was almost full.

It was still sunny when I got back to the town centre and so I walked down to the minster and the nearby canal basin to take some pictures.

iPort Lakes, Wadworth, and Loversall

 A local walk today to a small nature reserve that I remembered walking past in the summer and wanted to visit some time later. It's called Carr Lodge Local Nature Reserve,  although I didn't know that until I actually got there.

I went my normal route to the iPort Lakes and then took the path that leads over to Daw Lane which loops round to the bridge over the motorway near to Wadworth. 

I took a lot of photographs of wildflowers today, most of them were out of focus though because the plants were moving about in the wind. I suppose it wasn't the best day to decide to do this...anyhow this one turned out alright though.

It was only a short walk into Wadworth; I sat on the first seat that I reached and ate my sandwiches and then briefly visited the churchyard.

I crossed the road to take this.

I walked up the road to Loversall, again only briefly visiting the church...I didn't even go into the churchyard this time.

My return to the iPort Lakes was by the footpath that goes across the fields. I then briefly re-traced my steps until I reached Carr Lodge Nature Reserve. I took the path that stays to the edge of the reserve, not exploring any further today. The path continued through some woods and finished with some steps climbing up onto the old railway line which is now a tarmacked cycle route and footpath.

I made my way home by the quickest route, stopping only the once to take this final photograph.

Hexthorpe, Warmsworth, Balby, Sprotbrough, and Newton

Today's walk took me to Warmsworth and then right to the southern tip of Balby, returning home via Edlington, Sprotbrough,  and Newton. I walked to Hexthorpe and then along the riverside footpath and the short path across the fields to Warmsworth cemetery, and then the old part of the village beyond.

I continued down a track to the road that enters the south of Balby, turned right and after only a few yards turned right again along the course of a disused railway line which took me to Lord's Head Lane and the approach to Edlington. I continued heading north until I arrived at the traffic lights, crossed the busy trunk road and went along Mill Lane to Sprotbrough. I spent a few minutes in Warmsworth Park, which is located inside an old quarry.

This is the 'Ripon' which I'd photographed earlier as it was travelling along the river back to Sprotbrough.

The refreshments van isn't down by the river on a Monday and so I had to settle for a sit down and a few sips of my orange squash. I set off on my journey home, walking along the TransPennine Trail until I climbed up the steps onto the cycleway that uses the old railway line and stuck with this for a few minutes until I reached the path that goes over to Newton. From there I just took the shortest, and quickest, route back to the town centre.

I don't know why this footbridge over the railway has to be so high.

I usually take photographs at Newton.

To finish off with I've included another image of the large mural that's been painted on the bridge on the approach to the town centre.