Hullock RFM Blue Line Walking with Lacey
Hullock
RFM Blue Line
Walking with Lacey
16/12/2025
It was raining when we set off from Barnsley in the car but by the time we got to New Mill the rain had gone and it looked like a lovely warm winters day.
The church at New Mill on the hill is dark, and gothic, black with a graveyard full of tombs and ornate gravestones and monuments. Guess what it reminded us of ........Dracula.
We climbed the road through the top end of the village then descended a snicket and crossed the A635 down into a wooded valley. Through the valley and past the farm, converted outbuildings and a stables onto the start of our first hill of the day.
These hills are steep, very steep.
This ascent was unrelenting and fierce, with great views towards Holmfirth, post industrial silver birch groves near quarries or mines and a waterfall plus a really cool tree near the top.
The Texels look agressive and tough but as we approached they just moved out of our way. Big sheep.
As we got to the top near the road the view was magnificent. It was quick but hard work to get there.
Reaching the lane at High Brow we were passed by a friendly lady runner dodging the puddles or are they ponds.
It was a fair walk around Hullock via Mount but the views were just fantastic. We both felt that the air up here was so rejuvinating it was like an elixer. As we traveresed the old quarry lane we could see the colour of the sandstone left in the quarry face. We could also see Holme Moss which reminded us of the walk around the horseshoe when we experienced some extremely unplesasant wet and windy weather on the tops.
We followed the road off Hullock Bank down to Jackson Bridge. The buildings built of the same sandstone as the quarry wall.
We have been here before and the weaver cottage windows are always a notable feature. Again we climbed the steep unforgiving road out of Jackson Bridge towards Scholes.
We followed New Mill Dyke down the valley along quite a high path bordered by moss covered walls.
There was plenty of holly with berries good to see so near to Xmas.
The slope slowly worked down the valley towards the now residential mills and we speculated as to the people in the past who had trod this same path to the same dark satanic mills.
All these former mill buildings are now residential units but this photo gives an idea of the Victorian Mill social strata. At the bottom, waterpowered, the mills. Halfway up the workers cottages in long rows. At the top the big house for the mill owner. Its almost a Bronte novel is that Shirley I see in the window of the big house?
Out of Totties towards The Grange. We passed this lovely brand new development paying homage to the architecture of the past. I strongly approve, not copying but following the weaver cottage narrow multiple windows.
Coming in to Holmfirth Town End over the aptly names Wooldale was muddy but very pleasant. Its that lovely sandstone again.
We passed the wonderfully old fashioned Fresh Fish shed part of quite a large business.
Down the hill towards Thogsbridge alongside the fast flowing stream.
We crossed the road then for about a mile we cicumnavigated the very large Thongsbridge school and reached Lydgate.
Down the hill towards Thogsbridge alongside the fast flowing stream.
The hill from Lydgate to Hill Top was another long steep drag tough after 7 miles.
Lacey was doing really well on this tough walk. I am used to it but its been a while since we covered such a route. The badger set was really good to see and it looked occupied.
Finally we reached the last hill top and the route now was a long windy path over the fields through the woods to New Mill.
Down and down the hill we tramnped until New Mill appeared through the trees and finally the church from the valley bottom. A sting in the tail was quite a steep last ascent up to the church and our car.
This was a fantastic walk, challenging in distance and ascent. It was one of those walks where there was always something of interest to see and experience. I loved it as I always do walking with any of the kids.
Finally we reached the last hill top and the route now was a long windy path over the fields through the woods to New Mill.
Down and down the hill we tramnped until New Mill appeared through the trees and finally the church from the valley bottom. A sting in the tail was quite a steep last ascent up to the church and our car.
This was a fantastic walk, challenging in distance and ascent. It was one of those walks where there was always something of interest to see and experience. I loved it as I always do walking with any of the kids.
Well done Lacey, a big tick for that one completed . I wonder what next weeks will be like?
OS Map
OS Map
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/29903527/hullock-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.57557&lon=-1.77505&zoom=12.9738&style=Leisure&type=2d
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