Kiveton Park RFM Blue Line

Kiveton Park 

RFM Blue Line

28/04/25

This seems to be the first solo walk I have done in ages. Starting in Wales which I know seems an odd name for a place but I believe it meant 'from another place' in the olden days.

I walked through the nice tree lined streets past the soldier, every place has a war memorial. In my youth these were true places of remembrance but more and more they are becoming historical markers where people who were never there, thankfully, take the time to remember.

I climbed the hill of Church Street and everyone I passed said good morning even people on the other side of the street. The temperature was rising on this dry, sunny April day. It was more like June. John the Baptist Wales was the name of the church. I wonder if anyone has ever gone to the wrong Wales?

Guess what, opposite the church is the pub, The Duke of Leeds.

From the top of Church Street the route dropped down a steepish hill towards the tunnel under the M1. The horizon is filled with the southern suburbs of Sheffield.

The fields on the other side of the motorway are full of high quality horses. I have been here before and am certain that this is one of the best places in England to stable horses as they are so well looked after. It also means that the walker is protected from the horses which I applaud.

Passing a rusty scene from the Serengeti I walked past the stables.

The lily pad strewn duck pond had a dominant Gadwall in the centre and he/she was magnificent.

The tunnel back under the M1 was quite close as I just had to cross one field.

This area just south of Wales is the picture of rural calm and beauty despite the proximity of the motorway, Sheffield and Rotherham. How South Yorkshire has changed in my life-time.

The next section through a very pretty wood and up and over a hill with a lake on top was picturesque. I realise it was an old coal spoil heap but let me tell you, you would never know. 

Heading down the valley it felt like this could be the old route of the Chesterfield canal. In fact the trees coming up from the M1 had a deep flat cutting in them which I thought was probably the old filled in canal.

The path was very pleasant, there were lots of butterflies and wild flowers.

The bull rushes were standing to attention like soldiers on parade.

In the fields leading to the start of the canal there were obvious signs of where the canal had once run. There were also a lot of horses but they were singularly uninterested in my passage through their field. I noticed in front of the houses where the horses were munching there were the remnants of the medieval ridge and furrow. What a history is written in the landscape if you just know how to read it.

I came across an elderly couple with a couple of border collie type mongrels. One was 16 and still going the other 3 and full of beans. We discussed the Pennine Way as the chap had experience of it. I explained I had a heavy rucksack to prepare for our final stage and he said when he was a lad they had attempted it but gave up after 2 days constant rain.

I reached the start of the Chesterfield Canal alas nowadays quite a long way short of the original terminus.

At Kiveton Park Railway Station the canal flows through a deep cutting.

There were plenty of fish in the canal, Roach probably. If you look careful you can see several in this photo. I had a chat with a chap walking 2 dogs one of which ran from me in fear. Where's Lacey when you need her. He walked back to the dog, a little Schnauzer and put it on a lead. The shy dog worryingly walked past me and couldn't wait to put distance between me and it. That dog needs socialising.

This is the bridge the kids and I reached last Monday but my way this week was off the towpath and over the railway. This crossing was quite close to the bend so I was quick to cross as an intercity would have been a real hazard.

The path from the railway up the hill towards South Anston was steep and long and the air full of flying insects.

The well worn path ran into a pretty little bungalow suburb of well kept gardens. The locals many of whom were out gardening or car cleaning happily exchanged greetings.

Dopping down the hill through the estate and on to Crow Gate where the older houses were smart and big. I turned onto Axle Lane and met a chap with 2 dogs one called Jack who was blind. We had a chat as he had binoculars and a camera so I enquired if he had seen any good birds. He showed me a photo of a Whitethroat he had taken and I was really impressed. Time to get on, so I took my leave of the man, and Jack, and crossed a huge field towards Kiveton but first passing the hall which I think is called Todwick Hall.

My preferred route was not available as there were 'no right of way' signs plastered on the gate blocking the path. So I had to detour through Kiveton Park which was actually very interesting so I enjoyed the detour.

An urban wild flower meadow, don't knock it it looked great although it was just dandelions. I hope the surrounding gardeners are tolerant.

I walked through the urban area from Kiveton through Kiveton Park to Wales over the railway. This is not the smartest area but the locals were friendly enough and the sun was shining.

I only had 1 day off between the Pennine Way 33 mile trek and this walk so I was happy to finish without any issues. My pack was heavy at 7 kilos plus. The next Pennine Way trek is our last and is daunting so the harder these walks are the better that one will be. 

The walk was 8 miles and ascended 500 feet. I did about 20,000 steps.