Low Bradfield Southern Loop RFM Blue Line Walking with Peter.

 Low Bradfield Southern Loop 

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with Peter.

26/03/25

A walk on a Wednesday because Peter, Christine and kids, grandkids and all are going to Scarborough on Friday for a week to celebrate Christine and Peter's Golden Wedding Anniversary. A fantastic milestone and I hope there are many more.

Back to the walk we were blessed again with dry, clear, warm weather. This is the last walk based on Low Bradfield because we have run out of paths to cover. Its been fun.

The elephant in the garden was actually recognised by Peter as a part of the huge art installation in Sheffield in 2018.

Quickly leaving Low Bradfield we followed the lane up the valley with remnants of the medieval ridge and furrow in the fields to our left.

Into the woods full of the sounds of birdsong

This really is a wonderful valley with the sheep in the fields and the pretty lanes free of traffic.

Some one on the opposite hillside is building a home with aview.

Another wood to drop through towards Dale Dike Reservoir

We didn't drop right down to the reservoir side but stayed higher up. 

The last time we had been here we had to climb this rocky wet slope but this time we just walk passed it.

We found a broken wall and paused for a coffee. Peter surprised me with a birthday gift 

Very appropriate.

We followed the grassy path towards the top of the Strines Reservoir and enjoyed the views up and down the valley. The path up the hillside was covered in running water like a stream. It was wet slippy and boggy.. and very steep. Lovely.

We reached the field with the tower guraded by 4 cows.

My intrepid brother with his extra heavy pack posed in front of the Strines reservoir. We have heavy packs on these walks to make the walks easier on the Peninne Way where the distances are longer and the challenge greater.

The cows were bullocks but they were calm.

The tower was literally empty. Looks like the cows use it as a shelter.

The gang of 4 watch us as we leave them behind.

Interestingly the path goes through the grounds of Sugworth Hall from the ancient back gate to the posh front gate. They have planted rhododendrons to shield the view of the house  from the path.

As we get higher the views get longer and we see horizons where we have walked before. 

We cross the watershed into the Rivenlin Valley. The horses were curious and beautiful. We sat on a single large rock and scoffed our snacks.

The horizon to the west features the peaks of Win Hill, Lose Hill, Mam Tor and Kinder Scout.

To the east the suburbs of Sheffield are on the far horizon.

After a walk along Rod Side Road we climbed the banking, just after the house with the crenellations, back up to the watershed.

Over the top the land is wild and the path narrow. We drop down to the farm on our way to Ughill. The farms dogs were barking loudly as we approached. One was in a cage and another on a chain.

I just love this lanscape. 

A heron flew up the valley close to our route. Its like watching a pteradactyl flying. Wonderful.

Outside a farm there was a magpie in a cage. We pondered why and came to the conclusion it must have been injured and was being rehabilitated.

The stream was coloured red and there was very little sign of aquatic life. In our youth this would be caused by the pumping out of mines. This was a bit of a mystery.

The view at Ughill where we sat on a bankside and had a coffee.

Over another watershed and back to Low Bradfield in the valley bottom.

The church and village of Bradfield from the hillside opposite.

This was a good walk not the best not the worst but really good. It was 8 miles long and a thousand foot of ascent. The step count was 21,000. The weather was brilliant and our hats coats and even jumpers ended up in the rucksacks. I wish I had had my shorts on and its only March.