Darfield Billingley RFM Blue Line Walking with my brother

 Darfield Billingley 

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with my brother

06/12/24

As Peter had been unavailable for a few weeks due to a bad knee it was great to get him back for a walk. Walking on your own is great but its better with your brother.

We met at the church in Darfield where parking was easy and plentiful. This church would be the centre of this walk and visible at various times around it.



We walked down the road towards Wombwell Ings a wonderful area of wetlands wick with bird life.
I love the picture with Darfield on the hill behind the Ings. We did pass quite a few friendly dog walkers.






A young cormorant on his rock.









Darfield church from the Ings









We headed north up Broomhill Lane back towards Darfield with another view of the church over the fields.















At the top of the lane we followed New Lane over the A6195 towards Pasture Lane and ultimately Billingley.



Around here we scared up a heron and enjoyed watching it float off over the huge grain fields towards a few trees in a stream's valley in the distance.
This is a supposed to be the industrial heartland of South Yorkshire, things have changed.
We crossed the A635 and headed up Flat Lane which was actually a hill. Half way up we found a bench and had a quick coffee.


The centre of Billingley could only be described as charming, loved the nativity.





The route out of Billingley was interesting.


















We passed the Xmas tree farm which Peter uses every year to buy the Drop-in's tree. We discussed our own trees and I was pleased to hear Peter still has the disney shades from the Mulrooney tree.







I followed Peter through the mud and we had to jump over a fast running overflowing stream to get to the huge field next to Thurnscoe. An old fellow with a whippet was telling us the stream being so full was down to the farmer. We were a little sceptical as why would he and when we later saw how full the Dearne was I think we were right, it was just the weather.



At Thurnscoe we followed the route of  an old railway towards Great Houghton on a purpose built trail. Easy walking. We passed a few dog walkers.








We crossed Rotherham Road at Great Houghton and headed past the golf course towards Little Houghton. 


We did pass a couple bird watching and chatted for 5 minutes discussing the birds we had seen.


We found a bench next to a bus stop opposite Dearne Valley Colliery and near the butter cross. Both now ancient monuments. After coffee and a bun we set off on the last leg to Darfield via the Dearne Valley.
This was the worse mud of the route and we spent a long time picking a route past huge deep puddles and muddy sloping sides. It was tough going.




Finally arriving back at Darfield and the church from yet another angle.

This hall on the hill is known as Middlewood Hall. I have passed it on the road a million times but this is the first time I have seen it.



A short walk alongside the main road over the bridge across the swollen River Dearne and then alongside the Dearne over a playing field and up a short hill to the church.
The final view of the Church from the back door.
What a lovely walk. We were lucky with the weather as a storm is due to hit anytime soon. It was a little farther than expected as we diverted a couple of times to avoid mud baths but was still relatively easy walking. The real eye-opener for me is that this walk connects so much of the industrial past of Barnsley but its all gone or is well hidden. Its more like a rural walk. Brilliant.


There were a few hills but nothing strenuous.




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