Todwick RFM Blue Line

 


Todwick 
RFM Blue Line
23/02/26


To be fair not a bad morning no rain, not cold and little wind, if a little dull. The walk was a mixture of tarmac and fields or should I say areas of mud. A relatively easy walk with some interesting sights.


Heading out of Todwick along Goose Carr Lane (what a great name, no idea what it means) I passed a few walkers and dog walkers. 


The pigs in muck I think are Gloucester Old Spot. They looked very happy just like pigs.....in ...These roads have long straights and really good paving, makes a change.

I wasn't sure why the sign had Todwick on it as Todwick was behind me. 
In the distance on my left I could see parts of Sheffield and the Pennines beyond. 
Reaching the busy A57 I knew the traffic would be heavy but the crossing was an unexpected safety bonus


Just before the motorway junction I turned right up Hardwick Lane the M1 being just 1 field away on my left. It was noisy, very noisy. You would need triple glazing to live here.



The snow drops definitely brightened up this lane but the traffic noise was overpowering. After Hardwick Lane Farm the route slowly moved away fromn the M1 and the noise subsided.

These 2 horses watched me as I passed them.


Hardwick Hall Farm was very grand and the old walls suggested this had been a country estate. I loved the trees next to the lane stark and strong.



I think the fishing pond was probably part of the hall's gardens at some time. This gate intrigued me with the incorporation of an iron spoked wheel. Is it a design feature or a way of using up an old wheel?


Past the hall the wooded path soon gave way to wet open fields.


The fields were full of horses but I have noticed that if you totally ignore them and quietly walk through their fields they generally ignore you in return. The large one with the oversized coat did take an interest but did not get too close, phew.


After crossing Long Road, a wide dead straight green lane stretched out in front of me. I watched an eagle work its way along the tree tops scaring the local birds. Today was a day for Skylarks as I hard many and watched quite a few. The mud in the sheep field was epic. My boots were covered up to the ankle. 



To get to the old railway at Laughton Common I had to brave a couple of roads with no pavements. It always appalls me how much rubbish is jettisoned  my motorists, what is the matter with people, why do they not take it home or put it in a bin. The cars respected me quite well so I felt relatively safe.




I had to overshoot the old railway and back track down a snicket onto the rail bed path. Old Mineral Line Trail. Makes a change from the Trans Pennine Trail.


I loved the bridge I had just crossed, what an unusual profile. The views from the trail were pleasant as it was an embankment all along its length keeping it above the very wet fields. I passed so many people here mostly dog walkers. I thought there must have been a coach trip there were so many.

The trail finally passed an industrial estate and I decided to stay with it rather than follow my planned route through the estate.


Todwick Road leading to the roundabout on the still busy A57 was itself very busy but luckily had a good pavement.




I crossed the A57 at the roundabout and headed up the hill towards the moat at Todwick. This isn't a lake just a flooded field.



North and Soth Anston and the Industrial estate at Dinnington dominated the horizon.

I took my time following the path away from Todwick and then back towards it. It was actual a dry path so I was happy to linger.
The island beyond the overgrown moat was a poor return for my expectation of the word moat on the map. I was expecting a ruined castle. Actually there was a manor house here but it was demolished in 1947.... vandals.
I left my route to enter the grounds of the church of St Peter and St Paul so I could get a good photo. I thought where is the roof but after googling it I find that it does have one. Must be invisible.
Back to the start near the Village Hall at Todwick.

Another long walk for winter but bear in mind I would normally be climbing the peaks in Fuerterventura at this time of year so a bit of distance is a good thing. A very fast walk reflects the amount of tarmac I was lucky to encounter. I enjoyed this walk though there was nothing spectacular in it. Sometimes just exploring the ordinary is good enough.

OS map
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/30752136/todwick-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.35827&lon=-1.26819&zoom=13.5652&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=Leisure&type=2d





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