Wath Wood and Roman Ridge

This is a walk from my book Walking South Yorkshire (pages 73-76). The distance is five miles, but I added a couple by walking to Rawmarsh and back from my house. This took about an hour either way, but being Sunday the buses weren't too reliable and probably wouldn't have let us on on the way back, as we were covered in mud!

We arrived at Victoria Park at 11am for Sybil to have her first taste of freedom, after being on the lead for an hour. We then left the park at the top and crossed the main road to head down into Warren Vale Nature Reserve. This is a mainly wooded site with an area of grassland adjoining Birch Wood, where there was an interesting-looking bridge to cross.

Viking Longboat Bridge

Walking through a couple of fields, we reached Blackamoor Road where Sybil was getting over-excited due to a German Shepherd in front of us and a Golden Retriever behind. Thankfully the owners of the (very well-trained) German Shepherd decided not to head across the stile we were aiming for and carried on. I soon saw why as the ground behind the stile had disappeared under a small lake of water. I negotiated my way around (and through) this while Sybil decided to nip over a stone wall separating the footpath from a garden. After a telling-off we headed up Abdy Lane and into Wath Wood where we were informed by my book we were walking along the Roman Ridge.

The Roman Ridge

Temporarily reaching the road, we left it again to visit the Pottery Ponds, where a couple of men were feeding the ducks and lone goose some bread. We visited Waterloo Pottery Kiln but couldn't get a good picture as the sun was right behind it. I'm not into history too much but still found the information panels interesting.

Eventually managing to cross the busy A633, I promptly proceeded to get us both lost in Creighton Woods Nature Reserve. I soon managed to put us right however, luckily noticing the concrete bollards of the former car park. The next bit of the walk was very pleasant, heading down and then back up fields with some great views all around us.

Ambling along

The walk then ends up back at Victoria Park, but instead I headed down through Rawmarsh to walk us back home the way we had come.

Shirtcliffe Wood from Flockton Park

A walk of 4 miles from my book Walking South Yorkshire (pages 21-24).

This was the walk that very nearly didn't happen. First of all our walk into town along the canal took longer than I expected, but with a bit of jogging we made it in time for the train which just happened to be delayed anyway. Then just as the train was due, an announcement came over the system that the train would no longer be calling at the stop I wanted and would be terminating at Sheffield. Great, a whole hour to wait in temperatures of -6 degrees. I was in two minds whether to do the walk or not by this point, but I figured we could easily be back before it got dark.

When we finally arrived at Woodhouse station, we headed down to Flockton Park where Sybil had a much-needed run off-lead. We crossed Beaver Hill Road and strolled past the trees towards the field that led to Shirtcliffe Wood. The morning was deliciously frosty and the ground crunchy underfoot. Winter is my least favourite season but on mornings like this I have to wonder why.

Frosted leaf

We had the wood to ourselves for awhile as we followed the brook through the trees and out into the open, only to leave it to head uphill for some fantastic views over the valley. I noticed a treecreeper at the base of a tree, but it quickly disappeared before I could take a photo.

Heading uphill

Finally reaching the summit we headed along a path bordered on each side by a hedgerow. We then followed a path at the edge of a field until walking back down towards the woods. Walking along the top of the hill was by far my favourite part of this walk, and I can only imagine it is even better in spring when the countryside is coming back to life.

Shirtcliffe Wood

I got a bit confused at this point as to which path I should be on; nevertheless the wood wasn't huge and we were soon back on the right track. We crossed the stream to enjoy the other side of the wood as the path wound through the trees. I noticed two jays hopping about at the top of one of the trees, but they stayed too well-hidden to attempt a photograph. We were soon back crossing over Beaver Hill Road and into Flockton Park, where Sybil had a quick play with a Jack Russell Terrier before we arrived back at the train station with only ten minutes to wait for the train. Luckily, the travel went smoothly on the way back.

Following the Tracks

I wanted to do a decent local walk, so I decided to take Sybil up to Silverwood but also to extend the walk by following the old railway tracks that run from Ravenfield past Thrybergh. I have followed them to Ravenfield before when I visited Ravenfield Park, but this time I was heading in the opposite direction to the end of the tracks.

We got to Silverwood quite quickly, as it is a route we have travelled many times before. Dalton Brook was swollen with water, as it has been on our last two visits. In fact the brook has burst its banks, so to speak, and now runs over the path which is handy to wash your boots in, as the path to Silverwood is very muddy!

Chilling at Silverwood

We joined the tracks after crossing Holling's Lane and were soon passing Thrybergh. Steep banks to either side led up to houses, whose occupants (or other locals!) had unfortunately used the old tracks as a dumping ground for their rubbish. Our way was littered with settees, mattresses and other household debris. The tracks tunnelled under a couple of roads before running alongside the steelworks, where our rambling was accompanied by the sounds of clanging and banging from the huge buildings.

The tracks

The trail suddenly widened, with a view of fields to our right. Eventually passing the steelworks, we emerged onto a grassy tree-lined path with a delightful wetland area full of birds down a small slope. The huge lake was patrolled by a pair of swans with small flocks of waders dancing in the air every now and then. This urban oasis was totally unexpected and I simply stood and watched the birds for a huge amount of time.

Urban oasis

Before reaching the lake I had told myself that I wouldn't be repeating this route, and I very nearly turned back. The covering of ice over nearly half the lake added to its beauty. Electricity pylons were visible in the distance and there was the sound of trains where the old tracks joined onto the main ones, just over the steel bridge next to the lake. These things made the lake seem even more special, somehow.

Heading back via the way we had come, just before reaching Holling's Lane we had a close encounter with a kestrel. I noticed it hovering nearby before it dropped to the ground. Its dinner had obviously gotten away as it soon perched in a tree. It continued to hover but by this time Sybil was growing restless stood about so she ran back the way we had come. Another beautiful moment then happened as the kestrel dropped to her height and flew alongside her, within a foot of her. We then left the kestrel in peace and headed back home, after doing over nine miles on this glorious clear day.