Cold Hiendley RFM Blue Line Walking with Peter

 Cold Hiendley

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with Peter

20/12/24

We started out from the excellent free car park at Rabbit Ings Country Park on a cool December day with a wintery sky covered in huge expanses of grey stratus clouds. 

The route took us under the railway and past the club through the not very pretty, but very typical, old mining village of Royston.

On to the Trans-Penine Trail alongside the dis-used Barnsley Canal. This is a branch of the Trans-Pennine Trail which has more branches than Boots.

The canal was more like a long thin lake with just a lonesome Swan and a couple of Shelducks.

The remains of this viaduct perhaps some day will be pondered over by future archaeologists.

We climbed up to a ridge which looked like the bed of an old railway and could see the canal in the bottom become more and more discoloured. At Notton Bridge we crossed the active  railway and descended again to the canal side. 

 The canal was not very pleasant here, being heavily discoloured and containing full rubbish bags. The route was still busy and we were passed by a couple cycling who not only rang their bells to warn us of their approach but also exchanged pleasantries. They are in the distance on the photo on the right. Well done you.

We followed the road for a short distance before turning up this grassy lane at Cold Hiendley.

We crossed a couple of fields where the path had been obliterated by the farmers crops. Luckily it was not too muddy but the path was really hard to pick out. We always feel guilty just walking over crops. It would be better if the farmer put some poles in after planting so we could keep to the correct path.

The road to Felkirk was a bit busier than expected but the drivers gave us enough room so it wasn't too bad. We could see Royston with its concrete hopper and Barnsley in the distance. The church at Felkirk looked fine.

We found a seat against the wall of the church. The view from the bench towards the south is a good depiction of the light quality and the wintery sky.

Lena the spaniel did'nt like Peter's sandwich but she loved his ginger man. Its always good to find a friend on these walks. 

The lady looking after the church, who owned the dog, showed us the inside of this beautiful C12th Church. As Peter said it looked a bit like a Xmas tree competition as there were loads of them.

We had a chat and then said our goodbyes and Merry Xmasses and headed on towards Royston.

Rabbit Ings probably has better views in bright weather but you can see Barnsley Tarn Hall and the Big Red on the bottom photo. 

Luckily at the top of the hill the was a compass with directions etc. We needed it to see what was where.  

This was the site of Royston Drift Mine but honestly it was impossible to see any sign of the industrial site but I am sure it is in the landscape if you know what you are looking at.

Just a hill full of zigzags and then we would be back at the car park.

This 6 mile winter walk was good underfoot and with around 400 foot of climb not too difficult. The height actually gave us some high level views over this part of Yorkshire. The weather was great. Again all the people on this walk were friendly and responded to greetings. All's well.