Waleswood RFM Blue Line

 






On a dull February day I'm on my own again as Peter is still rehabilitating his thigh. So I head to the area of Rotherham close to the M1 where I have been concentrating my walks lately. The forecast is for rain so I am prepared for but hoping to miss the downpours.



Starting at the top of Swallownest I head down towards Orgreave.



This is essentially an urban walk so there are loads of infrastructure to cross, see and sometimes admire.
Not the nicest section of the Trans Pennine Trail but it does connect to the Rother Valley and a wetlands nature reserve.





I really enjoyed this wet walk along the valley bottom close to the Rother. There were lots of birds. I passed a couple of friendly dog walkers stopping to pass the time of day. 





There was plenty to see bridges and info statues and in the distance the ever present houses and industry. Not wild but good.







Lots of infrastructure.



Leaving the nature reserve I headed over the railway bridge towards Rother Valley Country Park. At this point I met a pair of chatty ladies with a perky little dog called Lady in a yellow coat. Apparently Lady was upset that she had to wear the coat. She was quiet friendly and very pretty.



On the left is a photo of the milky sun giving the landscape a soft winter light rather than the bright variety I prefer.The little lakes, meadows and scrubland reminded me of Lapland except these are post industrial remnants not natural occuring features.


Gulliver's Valley theme park sounded busy as I could hear the delighted noises of numerous children.



Heading across Wales Common through some rough scrubland and over some open fields and rough land the mud was epic.

The A618 was busy and another barrier to cross.




I crossed many fields towards the Motorway including one site burning tyres. Not cool.



I headed up the slippy field towards Wales Bar and over the M1.





Wales did have some old buildings. I liked the Old Granary with its time worn stone steps. The methodist chapel looked stark and unwelcoming.




The house looked like a gatehouse but I am not sure of its origin.



Over the raiway and then back towards the motorway past a field of unpicked sunflowers...duh.

This time I re-crossed the motorway using a cattle bridge.


The field towards the marvellous farm building of Nickerwood farm was muddy, no I mean really muddy. It was hard to stand up never mind walk.


I crossed less muddy open fields and then down the steep very muddy path to Hepworth Pond.






I enjoyed the footbridge over the A57.



It was good to see the snowdrops as I went along the straigh lane to Aston.





I really enjoyed Aston Church and the area nearby. It was old characterful and looked a nice place to live.




It was a long wet walk along the road back to my car at Swallownest. The rains had held off but for the last ten minutes I had continually rain. Oh well it could have been worse, it could have been the first 10 minutes of the walk.


A long walk but fast as there was a fair amount of roadside footpaths. I enjoyed the walk in parts but to be honest it was a little too urban to be a favourite.

OS Map
https://explore.osmaps.com/route/30714480/waleswood-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.35615&lon=-1.33657&zoom=12.6712&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=Leisure&type=2d





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