Dodworth Pot House

Walking with Mary and Lacey

RFM Blue Line

09/12/24

The last 2 days have been very stormy but luckily the bad weather has disappeared into the east. The ground was sodden and the wind light so we were lucky to get this walk off. Lacey and I had no idea as to route as this walk was Mary's walk so we just tagged along.

We dropped down Polly Foxes from Mary's and headed up along the lane and through Ratten Row onto Green Road. Looking over the fields towards Saville Hall farm the watery winter post stormy ethereal light created a calming atmosphere.

We followed the lane up to Champany Hill and down the other side.

The Xmas wreath at Hall Royd was a welcome sight.

The trees along this lane were well populated with scurrying squirrels and Lacey took her time to get some shots. This set of trees had 4 or 5 of the scamps playing in its branches and around their bases.

At Silkstone Common Mary's route took us under the railway via this low narrow bridge. By now we had passed a few dog walkers and ramblers and this would be a feature of this friendly walk.

We walked around Silkstone Common and recrossed the railway at the station and headed towards Knabbes Hall.

Following the Dove Valley Trail along the Trans Pennine Trail we passed the old railway tunnels in the deep cutting on our right near to Knabbes Hall which was not clearly visible through the trees. The well known Stainborough Low was easily visible in the distance. We had a laugh regarding killer hill just visible below the houses on the right of the photo. To be fair it really is a challenging hill and I managed to slip back several feet after nearly reaching the top last time I went up it.

Turning north over the bridge crossing the Penistone Line we set off towards Silkstone.

This is really beautiful countryside and relatively easy walking. There were lots of little birds flittering around, robins, wrens, blackbirds, goldfinches and goodness knows what else.
Just before we reached Blacker Dam we had a chat with an older chap clearing leaves from his gate using a hose pipe. He was explaining how he needed to take down some trees to improve his view and as the trees were ivy covered they needed removing. He would leave them on the ground to rot.

We followed the lane all the way to the very busy A628 at Silkstone.

We crossed the road at the garage past the wagon on the junction and along the remains of the historic waggonway. This was a pre-steam engine horse drawn waggonway part of the Silkstone industrial complex of the early C19th. The fact it connected to the infamous Huskar Pit where 26 children aged 7 to 17 were drowned in a mining disaster somehow makes it more important to preserve this piece of industrial heritage.

We followed the waggonway to Pot House Hamlet.

We crossed the road and climbed up through Bluebell Wood towards Fall Head with views to the north towards Cawthorne and High Hoyland.

We headed back to the A628 but this time did not cross it but instead went up Gypsy Lane next to the golf course. In the distance Stainborough Low came back into view.

Finally we passed the Fairway Hotel and followed the road over the level crossing back into Dodworth and onwards to Mary's where a welcome cake and coffee awaited.

Thanks Mary for a great walk and well done Lacey looking forward to seeing your photos.

This was quite a long walk for this time of year but the weather was perfect so the distance fitted well. I was suprised at the ascent of 717 feet but looking back there were a few hills, nothing too hard.

Lacey's photos below