A Walk in the Snow

I don't generally like snow. It's cold and wet, it disrupts transport and people's plans, and its dangerous to walk on when it freezes. Nonetheless, Sybil seems to love playing in it so we took a stroll through the woods and park today.

Entrance to the woods

Listerdale Woods used to be a private woodland, as you can see by the sign. There are still the remains of a building not too far down the track, possibly the remains of someones house. A footpath now runs through it and it is the regular haunt of many dog walkers and others who enjoy the woods.

Winter scene

A couple of days ago we walked through here, and the snow had barely infiltrated the woodland. Now the paths and trees were covered and the whole area looked completely different. Sybil was running around excitedly as snow dripped from the branches above, chasing imaginary snow squirrels. After convincing her that all the squirrels were tucked up somewhere warm she was running back and forth, shoving her nose down in the snow as she ran like a little snowplough. I wonder what is it about dogs that they feel they have to eat snow?

Interesting fungi

Last time I walked through here I spotted a large mushroom (toadstool?) growing on a tree just off the path. Today I had my camera so I wonder if anyone knows what it is? After passing this tree, we entered the ornamental part of the wood, which is more open and seems to be both mine and Sybil's favourite part of the wood. I saw quite a few tracks in the snow, mostly dog, human and rabbit. We then walked down through the housing estate to the park, where Sybil had a good play with several dogs.

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.

Woolley Wood and Concord Park

A small walk of 3.5 miles from my book Walking South Yorkshire (pages 13-16).

This was an ideal easy walk for me and Sybil as it began in Meadowhall Park and Ride car park. There was a quick five minute train journey from Rotherham and we then joined the Trans Pennine Trail towards Chapeltown. We left the TPT at Fife Street and jogged across the road at the traffic lights. Turning right we joined Ecclesfield Road and headed up towards the woods on the left.

Looking for squirrels in Woolley Wood

We climbed up through the woods for twenty minutes or so, accompanied only by squirrels which delighted Sybil. Eventually we emerged onto a golf course which was quite busy with golfers and their expensive golf sets. Not wanting to be chased by an angry golfer in pursuit of their golf ball, I put Sybil back on the lead until we reached Concord Park.

Resting in Concord Park

Sybil enjoyed a huge runaround here. After playing with her for a while, we both had a drink and a quick sit down to admire the views over towards Grange Park and Keppel's Column. We then followed the edge of the park round until we got to an A-frame which lead back into Woolley Wood. Apparently the name of these woods means "woodland clearing frequented by wolves". Well, the only "wolf" in these woods today was Sybil, barking up trees as squirrels continued to evade her.

Jelly Ear Fungus

Heading down into the woods and along the main path, I spotted several different types of fungi. One of them I have seen before at Potteric Carr; I was told it is called Jelly Ear Fungus. There was a longer walk through woodland this time before we arrived back at the entrance on Ecclesfield Road. Another saunter along the TPT back to Meadowhall just in time for the train and the walk was over. Sybil was being so well-behaved today that I decided to walk her along the canal towards home. There were a fair number of swans on the water but luckily she wasn't interested in chasing any of them.

Contemplating life by the canal

Chinley Head

Today's walk took myself and Sybil to Chinley to follow a walk detailed in my More Peak District Walks book (pages 28 to 30). This one was five and a half miles long with 1,250 feet of ascent.

We set off from a very sunny Rotherham with blue skies and little in the way of clouds. Leaving the train at Chinley station we looked up to see low cloud rolling in off the edge of the moorland. Hmm, being a bit of a fair weather walker this unnerved me a little. Ah well I had step-by-step directions so I couldn't possibly get lost. Right?

Heading up towards Cracken Edge, we got lucky in that either sheep don't roam round here or they had all been moved down towards greener pastures. Either way Sybil really appreciated the off-lead time and certainly made the most of it, running a little too close to the cliff edge at times for my liking, but never mind. The views across the Chinley valley were fantastic, and I'm sure some photos would have been fantastic too if not for two things: One - my general lack of ability to capture landscape with low cloud partly obscuring the view, and Two - the fact that some numbskull had forgotten to check how much battery life was left. Never mind, here's one I managed to get of Sybil near the start:

Sitting above Chinley

Walking on past Chinley Churn I promptly became confused as my book instructed me to 'zigzag down beyond the corner of the wall', as I zigzagged down to find a sheer drop in front of me with the path 10 feet or so below. Sliding down to meet it we turned the corner to find my worst fear: a herd of cows. With Sybil on the lead we tiptoed past the hugely uninterested beasts and descended past a couple of farms, one of them named Peep-O-Day Farm.

Lone sheep

Crossing the road, we skirted round Mount Famine and headed down through the fields where we encountered a dead sheep; nothing left but fleece and bones, which had been picked clean. We then walked down a track where Sybil enjoyed some more freedom, under the railway and down into the village.

Padley Gorge and Longshaw Estate

Sybil and I haven't been out walking for a while, as two weeks ago she cut her leg open in the woods near my house. She had to have five staples in her leg and as I didn't want to go walking without my little buddy I stayed in to take care of her.

Today though we got the train to Grindleford and walked up to Padley Gorge. Not wanting to overdo things on account of Sybil's leg my plan was to head up to Longshaw Lodge and back. Padley Gorge is one of my favourite places in the Peak District. It also offered a chance for a run for Sybil as sheep are quite scarce in these woods.

We headed along the path with the sound of the brook rushing by below and to our right. The leaves were just starting to change colour. The canopy was still mostly green but with the occasional gold or orange coloured tree amongst it.

Autumn colours

On reaching the gate Sybil was put back on her lead and we crossed the road and headed up towards Longshaw Lodge. Passing the pond a group of ducks about ten strong headed over to us, no doubt to see if we had any food. The tea rooms were open but we gave them a miss, heading instead back the way we had come after checking Sybil's leg was fine. Another chance for a run on the way back made for a very happy and sleepy dog on the way home.