Barnsley Main RFM Blue Line with the kids

 



Barnsley Main
RFM Blue Line 
with the kids

04/05/25

A cloudy but not cold May day covering an area of Barnsley you wouldn't normally call a nature trail but I was pleasantly surprised.

We parked on the industrial estate on Oaks Lane and very quickly joined the TPT heading towards Barnsley town centre
The remnants of Barnsley Main muck stack on our right was a mere shadow of the mucky, grey, foul smelling volcano I remember as a youth back in the 1960's. No pools of dark water, no massive earth moving machines, no vents of acrid smoke no NCB staff chasing you off. I prefer the present to the past no rose tinted glasses here.
A view over towards Ardsley.
The football ground from the old muckstack.
Looking up the wonderfully green Dearne Valley. Can this really be Barnsley?
Near to the old winding gear the tracks for the coal tubs are still there.
My grandkids do not really understand what this industrial relic really means. I find myself torn between explaining the grim reality of mining and being thankful they cannot really imagine it. To them its just history, thank god.







We crossed the very busy Grange Lane by a driver in both directions stopping and letting us cross. Even Barnsley drivers are friendly, why would you live anywhere else.

As we approached a bridge under the TPT we surprised a Tawny Owl who flew past us into the woods. Lola was ecstatic as was I. Max and Lacey were also lucky enough to see the owl. What an unexpected treat.
Onwards through the bluebell woods the trail meandered.
Unfathomable industrial architectural remnants littered the trail.

We climbed quite an incline on the TPT, I bet the trains struggled with this slope in times gone by.
Then off the trial up Mucky Lane to Ardsley. Not sure if mucky refers to the mining legacy or predates mining. It would be interesting to know.
The views from the top of Ardsley hill were interesting and again very green. Looking towards Monk Bretton and Carlton.
Looking towards Monk Bretton church with Lundwood below it.
Looking towards Emley Moor up the Dearne Valley.
We had a birds eye view of Monk Bretton Priory. At this point a lady with a lovely little pup called Jessie stopped for a chat and we all fussed the over friendly young dog. 
Barnsley in the distance.
Looking towards Stairfoot and Measbrough Dyke.
From this distance the football club and the bulk of Barnsley town centre looked closer together than they are.


When we approached Stairfoot there were 2 Air Ambulances which we had seen circling earlier. Apparently there was a serious road accident near Aldi at Stairfoot. Luckily we didn't see anything and we can only hope that there is a happy ending to this story.
On over the bridge at Stairfoot and back along the TPT to the car.
Not a bad Sunday morning walk. 41/2 mile and about a 350 foot total ascent. I was carrying 10 kilo in my big rucksack as preparation for our Pennine Way walk and after the Longstone hike it felt really easy.
The kids are always a pleasure to walk with as they appreciate the sense of adventure these walks always produce. The Tawny Owl was the star. The greenery was overwhelming, who would have thought dirty old Barnsley is now so verdant.



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