Hunshelf RFM Blue Line

 

Hunshelf

RFM Blue Line

05/04/26


Easter Sunday cold, wet and windy, ideal for Hunshelf. I was on my own and the weather was great to pit my will against.


I started near the Chapel in Green Moor and set off down the hill towards Finkle Street. Why is it called Finkle Street Lane? The weather was behaving but I could see dark shower clouds in all directions. Quite soon the route left the road and headed towards the woods above the River Don. On the map it looked really steep.





This was a very tough path. A narrow ledge path followed by an extremely steep and slippy slope down to the river. It would have been very easy to fall so I was extremely careful. Finally the slope headed down to Trunce farm.

I have been here before and it is an area I love. The meadows with a mixture of sheep were lush and lovely. 
Pretty soon  I was heading back up the precipitous slope on another slippy, steep path. Uphill was easier than downhill. By this time at least 2 heavy showers had passed and drenched me. I was in wet weather gear so the rain literally just runs off.


Visibility reduces greatly in this sleety, snowy, hailstoney rain. The cows were wisely sheltering under the trees because this rain was cold and at times painful.



Between showers the views were pretty good and the area around Hunshelf Hall was very pleasant. This is not a Stately Home just a large farm type building.
The panoramic photo shows 2 showers active down wind of me.

I paused at the old sheep dip. Pretty soon I left Hunshelf Hall Lane and headed down towards Dean Head. So far I had seen no-one.


After Edgemount I followed the dead straight lane down towards Little Black Moor just above the Trans Pennine Trail.

I'm not sure if that is Crane Moor or Hood Green in the sun in the distance.


I headed over to Black Moor which I have visited before but a long time ago. Still its nice to meet another blue line.


Heading back up towards Pond Farm the path ran along the wall but because the sheep were using it for a shelter I tried to leave them there by walking across the middle of the field. It partially worked but some did run before me. There are a lot of lambs in this flock. The next field was empty.



I was feeling pretty good because I had avoided a few showers just look at the sharp edge of this shower across the valley. The pylons lead to Penistone.

It was ok walking in to Snowden Hill but when I got there the shower hit first with hail then snow then sleet. It was perishing but I kept going.


I crossed the watershed into the valley of the Little Don (or Porter) and could see the moors at Langsett.





In between showers I could see Stocksbridge in the valley bottom. 

My route should have gone down to the valley bottom but I could not pass as there was no stile or gate. The only potential route was past some excited horses so I decided to return back to the road. This is a good example of a risk assessment failing but I never worry about such a thing just re-route and get on with it.


The way back to Green Moor was mainly on tarmac which on this wet day was actually quite nice.


This believe it or not is a view of Dodworth muck stack and you can make out the distinctive shape of Barnsley hospital on the right of the photo. 






As I walked back to Green Moor the weather improved markedly and a few cyclists started to pass me.




Finally I was at the car and ready to set off home. As I manouvered out of my parking spot I saw the first walkers of the day. I think their timing was better than mine for a fine walk but I enjoyed the weather honestly I really did.
Not being able to complete my original route cost me some ascent but this was still 1200 feet over 71/2 miles so I have no complaints. The start was really tough too a proper challenge.

OS Map

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/31334847/hunshelf-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.52986&lon=-1.53187&zoom=12.7045&overlays=os-obstacles-layer&style=TopoAuto&type=2d



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