Todwick Ramblers Club Walks: 2024
4th November 2024
On a dry but typical misty autumn’s morning, 11 members plus two dogs met at Duncan Wood lodge car park on the Robin Hood Trail. This always quite area of mixed woodland is ideal for autumn and winter walks due to the network of good paths.
Crossing the road we walked along the Robin Hood way through mixed woodland to reach Hazel gap. We then left the Robin hood way to walk through sweet chestnut trees on the edge of Gleadthorpe Breck Wood to reach Neatherthorpe Lane.
Once over the lane we crossed the River Meden by an old stone bridge to proceed through further woodland on good paths to reach Budby pumping station and our coffee stop overlooking Budby Carr ponds.
Again crossing Neatherthorpe Lane we rejoined the Robin Hood way to return to our starting point.
A short walk of 4.75 miles all on good paths through woodland resplendent in autumns colours.
Terry
Walk Leader
19th October 2024
24 members plus 4 dogs gathered at Thrybergh Country Park for a walk of around 5 miles. Setting off in light rain, the route initially followed the eastern side of the reservoir. Built in the late nineteenth century to provide water for Doncaster, it is now an attractive nature reserve owned by Rotherham Council. Over 155 species of bird have been recorded as well 20 mammals and 170 species of plant.
We then climbed Thrybergh Lane into the small and pretty settlement of Old Ravenfield. Saving for a future walk the opportunity to walk onto to Ravenfield Park, we turned south onto a hedged path which soon entered Gulling Wood.
Taking advantage of some fallen tree trunks for sitting, we took our coffee and snack break there. Gulling Wood and Silverwood is ancient woodland with a wide variety of deciduous trees. It is attractive and popular with the local community and is criss-crossed with paths, some of which are indistinct.
Leaving the woods behind, we crossed the road into the open ground of the former Silverwood colliery site, marked by a pit-head wheel. This former industrial site has now been completely regained by nature with trees and grassland. There are many undefined trails here, but the group stayed on a main track. This soon met a short, steep and deeply-rutted path that led to a public footpath through trees that emerged opposite a road junction leading into the housing at Thrybergh Village.
Thrybergh was named in the Domesday Book and its original name meant “three hills”. This area was owned for almost four centuries by the Reresby family and our route passed “The Lord Reresby” pub. Soon leaving the housing, we joined a field path to find Thrybergh Lane and the reservoir again. Then, we completed the walk by following the trail around the western side of the reservoir back to our cars. By this time, it was sunny and warm and some of the party paid a visit to the Country Park’s cafe.
3rd September 2024
A dull, but dry, Tuesday morning greeted six ramblers and Oscar as we met up in the car park of the Bean Scene carpark on the edge of Everton village.
Leaving the car park we headed away from the A631 up Pusto Hill Lane towards its intersection with Mill Lane. Taking the right turn at this crossroads we headed towards Mattersey Road which we crossed to pick up Broomhill Lane.
At this point we were contacted by our seventh rambler for today’s walk who had suffered a sat nav malfunction and arrived at the start point about 10/15 minutes late. Conveniently we were able to arrange a rendezvous point that would enable the full group to share the bulk of the day’s walk.
After approximately half a mile on Broomhill Lane the original six ramblers (& Oscar) turned right to head back towards the A631.
Crossing the A631 we met up with rambler seven and walked through Harwell village. Following Harwell Sluice Lane to its intersection with Everton Sluice Lane we then took a left turn onto Toft Hill Lane where, just shy of the three mile mark and before a copse on our right, we stopped for a short break.
Resuming our walk we walked along the bank until the edge of the copse and then turned right to walk along the copse’s outer edge on Green Lane. Emerging at a choice of paths we took the first one, at ninety degrees to Green Lane, and proceeded along the full length of Clay Bank Lane until it merged into Everton Sluice Lane.
As we entered Everton village the lane became High Street which we followed until its intersection with the A631 turning left we walked a short distance to the outskirts of the village and our cars.
11th July 2024
On a July day, thirteen ramblers and one dog set off in the fine rain to enjoy the above circular walk.
We walked through the lovely village of Misterton, towards open fields and over the railway line to the Pump House. The Pump House was previously used to drain excess water into the River Idle. It is now a restored Grade 2 listed building and is available as a holiday rental.
Leaving the Pump House, with the weather improving, we joined the River Idle and walked towards West Stockwith and the Basin where the Idle and Trent Rivers meet with the Chesterfield Canal. Here we enjoyed our coffee/lunch break. We then continued along the towpath, stopping briefly to admire seven very cute baby swans enjoying time with their parents.
We took the towpath a little further and then left the canal to take the path back through Misterton to the car park where we began our walk.
Everyone said they enjoyed the walk and it was approximately 5 miles.
20th June 2024
A large group of walkers met in the car park of Wentworth Garden Centre, on a dry day which became progressively warm. For the first time we were offering a choice of walks from the same starting place, one of about 6 miles and a shorter one of about 3.5 miles.
a) The longer walk
We all set off together but divided at the entrance to Wentworth Woodhouse, the 12 people who had opted to tackle the longer walk continuing down the drive, enjoying the parkland and marvelling at the imposing frontage of the house, the longest in the country. We left the estate road at a footpath, crossed a field and stream, then uphill towards the mausoleum, built in memory of the second Marquis of Rockingham. A footpath alongside the woods took us to Nether Haugh, at a road junction there was a convenient bench and low wall, so we stopped for a refreshment break, glad of the opportunity to sit down and rest.
After this break we continued up the road and along paths towards Hoober and Hoober Stand, another of the Wentworth Follies, some of the more energetic of the group went up to the folly, others rested in the shade. Then along Street Lane, enjoying the expansive views across the surrounding countryside. We crossed the road and visited The Needle’s Eye, legend has it that this was originally erected so the First Marquis could win a bet. After looking at the folly it was downhill all the way back to our cars and the Garden centre café.
b) The shorter walk
7 members set off with the main group then diverged to the Needles Eye and a short break. The path continued along a ridge with distant views all round and into King’s Wood. A confusion of paths here increased the 3.5 miles to 4. However we got back on track to Wentworth Village, the Church and a beautiful tree-lined path back to the car park. The garden Centre café was most welcome.
9th May 2024
17 Todwick Ramblers Club members set off on a 5 mile walk, on what was to become the hottest day of the year so far. At last we could feel the warmth, and with the sun above our heads the walking group was in high spirits.
From Anston Parish Hall car park the route took us through the top side of Anston Stones Wood to Rackford Road and on to Dewidales Wood. Here we had very good views over the landscape and a good place for a coffee stop.
All refreshed we followed the paths down to Woodsetts village, and fortunately, and thankfully the track across a large, on what could have been a very muddy field was quite dry. After a short road section we found our way to Lindrick golf course, where the route turned right to bring us back into Anston Wood, to take the lower paths back to the car park.
The scenery through the Wood was quite stunning, with a carpet of highly perfumed wild garlic, giving the appearance of a light dusting of snow, and a few remaining bluebells. The trees filling their branches with leaves looking so fresh and clean, and with the sun shining through made the whole scene absolutely beautiful.
3rd April 2024
Ten walkers and one dog set off from Wales Square on a dull, drizzly Wednesday morning.
Walking over the M1 down to Wales Bar across the junction and entering Rother Valley Country Park by the caravan site. In bright sunshine we proceeded downhill to the main facilities and along the side of the lake. A brief refreshment stop was taken in the pouring rain adjacent to the railway line.
Our route then took us north and East and onto a permissive path going through the grounds of Gulliver’s Kingdom. Exiting the Kingdom, we crossed over Mansfield Road into the field behind the Industrial Park. The field path took us back to the motorway bridge and hence back to Wales Square.
The walk was completed in almost perfect walking conditions.
Thank you to all who attended.
Anne Hawksworth
20th March 2024
The walk leader, Ken, was surprised and slightly concerned to see 40 plus walkers at the start of the walk on 20 March from Poolsbrook Country Park visitor centre. Through sheer coincidence, the Rotherham Metro Ramblers group was also walking from there on their 10.5 mile walk. So, after confirming that our routes were different, the 14 Todwick Ramblers set off on their walk, thankful that the light rain had stopped.
Our route followed a broad track around the eastern side of the lake before entering attractive young woodland, an area reclaimed from former coal mining. After gently climbing on paths through reeds and small wildlife ponds, we stopped for coffee on the outskirts of Woodthorpe, a quiet village between Staveley and Barlborough.
The next stage of the walk was along Norbriggs Cutting, built around 1800 as a branch of the Chesterfield Canal. There is little more than a large ditch there now although it looked as if some clearance work had started, perhaps as part of the long-term canal restoration project by the Chesterfield Canal Trust. The path along the Cutting is tree-lined and firm and passes a small nature reserve before reaching the junction with the Cuckoo Way, or where the Chesterfield Canal would have been before it was lost to nature.
The next section of the walk was challenging in terms of avoiding puddles and mud. The grassy path, after crossing the footbridge over the River Doe Lea, tested our footwear and balance. Luckily, this was only a short part of the route, which was otherwise well surfaced, and we soon reached our lunch break on a bridge that is now on the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT).
The last mile of walk was all along the TPT and back to the car park after passing a caravan and camping site. The light rain that had fortunately held off for all of the walk then returned, ending an enjoyable walk of just under 5.5 miles.
6th March 2024
Our walk began at the Manton Lodge entrance to Clumber Park where there is only pedestrian access.
We set out on an almost perfect day for walking, cloudy but no rain and cool but not cold. Initially we headed east along a wide forest track which gradually curved south to cross Limetree Avenue. Heading directly across the avenue before taking a right turn and heading in a westerly direction. After half a mile we cut through a field passing a large building which was originally Hardwick School but which is now boarded up.
We headed west through Hardwick Wood and hence into Hardwick village itself. Here we stopped for coffee at the end of Clumber Lake next to the National Trust mobile café. Having been suitably refreshed we took the path along the south side of Clumber Lake crossing over the bridge and so going round into the main facilities of Clumber. Here we took the opportunity for lunch before heading off again.
We followed the lakeside for a short distance before heading north through the woods and some open country to meet Limetree Avenue again. Our path then skirted round the Caravan Park before turning east and back to Manton Lodge.
In spite of the wet weather over the previous weeks we encountered little in the way of mud, all the paths being in really good condition.
12 ramblers arrived back at Manton Lodge having had a most enjoyable 7 mile walk.
1st February 2024
On the first day of February we had a return of a sunny, fairly mild and a low breeze day for our ramble.
18 members plus 3 dogs set off on a circular walk from the old Carlton Parish Church. This took us across fields to Owday Lane and after about a 100 yard road walk onto the footpath towards Gateford. We skirted the ever expanding Estate, through woodland, quite boggy and wet in parts, so needing some deft footwork. The picnic stop was here, taking advantage of a recently toppled tree trunk for seating. The recent strong winds had caused much fallen timber, definitely best to avoid woodland when conditions are such. On leaving Gateford the path turned right, skirted Owday Wood to take us back to Owday Lane.
Crossing the road a track led to Wallingwells and the nearby Hall, a Grade 2 structure on the site of an old Benedictine Monastery for Nuns, dissolved by our old friend Henry VIII.
The ramble continued to circle around Wallingwells then led to the footpath through Carlton Wood. This was another challenging walk over quite boggy terrain, by now our muddy boots were of little concern so just plough on regardless. Leaving the wood we had a comfortable stroll back to the car park.
A challenging 5 mile ramble because of the conditions but I think we were all comfortably up to the task. We were joined by some new members so I hope they all enjoyed the day.
Plenty of sun and plenty of mud and plenty of good humour, thanks to everyone who turned out.
Brian Chambers.
7th January 2024
20 walkers plus our regular dogs Poppy and Isla set off from Shireoaks Marina on a figure of 8 walk of just over 5 miles. We started doing a circumference of the hill which used to be Shireoaks Pit Top – now a mini nature reserve giving excellent views over the surrounding area. En route we passed some exercise bars giving walkers the opportunity to do a few press-ups. Surprisingly no-one took up the challenge. Apparently most had done their daily quota of press-ups before breakfast!
Then it was a short walk down to Chesterfield Canal walking eastwards, then over the canal and skirting the village of Rhodesia, before taking the lane just on the outskirts of the village up towards Manor Lodge. At the bottom of this lane we passed the abode of “John Short, General Blacksmith & Farrier” with an old rolling mill on display on his forecourt. This proved so fascinating to two of our members that we had to almost drag them away.
Manor Lodge proved also to be fascinating. A 5-storey, grade 1 listed Elizabethan country house built around 1540 and believed to have been the hunting lodge to Worksop Manor. We decided to stop here for our picnic break.
Then it was across country, gradually curling northwards to eventually get back to our start point.
With 20 walkers & 2 dogs this was an excellent turnout on quite a cold day (0 °C at first) and a lovely start to our New Year. Thanks to all our walkers for making it a very pleasurable outing.