OUT AND ABOUT
Sprotbrough Locks, Bridges and Viaducts:
with Tony Swaby of Dearne Valley Ramblers
A leisurely 5mile circular route around Sprotbrough’s peaceful waterways, perfect for a summer evening with views panoramic views of the Don Gorge.
Grade: Easy with a gradual incline leading to the top of the viaduct (approx 2hrs).
Start: Nursery Lane area, Sprotbrough DN5 7NB, limited free parking adjacent to canal basin. Parking also available nearby in The Boat Inn car park, with permission of staff.
Adjacent to the river basin, join the
Trans-Pennine-Trail (TPT) which passes behind the Boat Inn pub. Built c. 1652 and the former boarding point of the Copley ferryboat, Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott stayed there during his 1819 visit to Yorkshire. While researching for his famous fictional novel, Ivanhoe, Scott visited nearby Conisbrough Castle which was the inspiration behind his castle, Coningsburgh - being a scot, he considered the castle keep to be most representative of those in his native land.
The path, newly laid in tarmac, is situated on the north bank of the River Don and winds its way westwards through the lovely Don Gorge and woodland in the general direction of Conisbrough. On the right, almost immediately is an area known locally as Sprotbrough Flash, a nature reserve owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. With the Don Gorge said to have been formed during the last ice age when woolly mammoths roamed, the Flash was created in the early 1900s as a result of coal mining in the area, it is now a wonderful source of food for visiting water birds, herons, kingfishers and the occasional osprey flying in.
After a while you will reach a railway arch known as Rainbow Bridge. Passing by rare magnesium limestone workings on your right you will eventually see the majestic structure which is the Conisbrough Viaduct.
Built by the Hull & Barnsley Railway Company from 15 million locally sourced bricks, the single track line opened in 1909 and ran between Hull and Barnsley until it closed in 1966. The 21
arches tower over the River Don at 116 feet. Follow the rocky path
Fish Pass statue
as it bends to the right and ascends up to top of the viaduct. Near to the top the path splits; take the left turn and then immediately left and onto the parapet of the viaduct on its north western end.
Stop and marvel at the breathtaking views, with an aerial view of Sprotbrough Flash to the east and views back towards Conisbrough Castle and beyond to the west.
Dearne Valley Ramblers
came. This is an anti-clockwise walk and the river should remain on your left for the whole duration. After a while there is a path leading off to the left, and which drops down to the riverside. It is unmarked so watch for it closely. Walk along the path until you see an iron gate to your right. Pass through the gate and carry on along a much broader path, which can remain muddy throughout the year. After a while you will reach a fence, the gateway to which can be found on the left, and is similar to the heavy gate previously mentioned.
Go through that and continue along the broad pathway. When you are nearing the end of this path, you reach an area which was originally known as Levitt Hagg.
The Boat Inn
Walk along the viaduct, leaving the path at the far end and climb up another path on the right, immediately after the viaduct ends. Walk along this woodland path which eventually falls away (remain on this main path and disregard others) and then drops down to the right, meeting up with what was the original main access road for Steetley Quarry. Turn right at the bottom and walk back in the general direction of Sprotbrough, passing under the Viaduct. You are in effect walking back on the opposite side of the river from whence you
A hamlet which originates from 1750, some 100 residents lived there by 1875, many employed in the various industries of quarrying, lime kilns and boat building. Up until the turn of the 20th century, Humber Keeled barges, weighing 100 tons, were being constructed here. However, owing to flooding, the village was declared unfit for human habitation and was abandoned in 1957. Further along you will come to a path to your left marked ‘Fish Pass’ –well worth a visit to see the recent Canal and River Trust construction, formed in order to address the problem of the nearby weir. The River Don is now at its cleanest for many years, and the new pass enables fish species, including Salmon and Eels to travel upriver to their spawning grounds. There is also canoe access.
If not, you can carry on along the path which brings you out onto the main road (switch-back), leading from Warmsworth to Sprotbrough, at which time you turn left and walk down towards the iron bridge which spans the river. Cross the bridge, where you will then see another bridge constructed of stone, with what was a former toll-house on the left at the other side of the road. Nursery Lane appears on the left.
Viaduct Weir
Views back towards Sprotbrough Flash
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