Fulwood Head RFM Blue Line

October 14, 2025

Fulwood Head

RFM Blue Line

14/10/25

Another misty October day for a walk, not cold, not windy. I parked in the layby opposite the Norfolk Arms at Ringinglow.

An unusual walk for me as this one starts with a downhill section, I normally like to start with the uphill first to get it out of the way. Heading down past the Alpacas the path is fenced off and well worn. I seem to see a lot of South American lamoids whilst covering the rural areas of South Yorkshire. At one time you hardly ever saw any.

The lonely horse was too busy grazing to worry about me.

The views down the hill with Fulwood and Lodge Moor hidden in the mists was wonderfully autumnal. The trees are not quite in full autumn colours yet but the hints are there.

This area of woodland down to Forge Dam is prime dog walking country and there were plenty of examples around. I enjoyed the little water fall and saying hello to all the labradors and various other breeds but predomninantly labradors.

I went around Forge Dam and saw this interesting fungi.

The outside tables at the cafe was full of mainly older people having tea and cakes, why not. There were a surprisingly large number which I was not expecting. Perhaps the cakes are really good.

Leaving the lake was a rarely walked, very dark set of wooden steps, up to the road. It was dark and eerie, I loved it.

From this point on this walk would be tarmac only. Most of it was along lanes so not much traffic. The rural feel of the area was a little off as most of the dwellings were expensive houses not farms.

For all this is an obviously wealthy suburb it still looked and felt pretty rural.

The tiny village of Mayfield and its remarkably large school building was all well off residential now, not a school child or farm labourer in sight.

I think this horse was sleeping as it totally ignored me. The bull in the field was happily chilling but it didn't matter as I was still on the lane.

The farm on Brownhills Lane still a working entity but it looked like a few of the labourers cottages had been sold off.

The wall opposite the start of Brownhills Lane was a superb dry stone wall perfectly built, looked a treat.

From Brownhills Lane I could see the tower of the old Lodge Moor Hospital now the whole site is an up-market housing development, times change.

A wonderfully pleasant area well worth walking through. There were very few cars but quite a few cyclists.

Through the mists the bulk of Lodge Moor calmly sits in the landscape.

Lots of cows up here beyond the suburbs. I was thinking the grass looked really good for mid October.

I didn't know what the lumps and bumps were on the rough ground opposite Knoll Top Farm but the OS map indicates a quarry so I guess thats what it is but I don't think it looked like a quarry. This chap stared at me as they often do.