OUT & ABOUT
Barnburgh Ramble Discover Doncaster’s Delights
With John Watson of Dearne Valley Ramblers
An easy 8 mile circular walk around the rural, picturesque hamlets of Barnburgh, Harlington and Hickleton – the first route ever undertaken by Dearne Valley Ramblers in 1996 which was led that day by Paul Smeaton.
START: Car park next to Barnburgh Primary School, Church Lane, Barnburgh, Doncaster, DN5 7EZ
Turn left out of the car park and follow Church Lane to its junction with Doncaster Road, Harlington. Turn left again to continue along Doncaster Road, crossing the road prior to the left hand bend to head down Mill Lane on your right. At the end of Mill Lane lies the River Dearne; here, turn left and walk along the flood bank which forms part of the Trans-Pennine Trail. Follow the pleasant path with the river to your right until you reach a wooded section, the path rising steadily to meet it. This section is an old railway line, one which probably transported coals from the nearby Denaby Main and Cadeby collieries. At the end of the wooded area the path drops down and approaches Pastures Road. Go through the barrier and turn left. This is a very busy road and one should take great care in crossing to the other side. Keep walking left, passed the car park on your right, at which point you will approach Denaby
Ings Nature Reserve. On reaching a section in the road where the footpath peters out, continue with great care as the road narrows.
On reaching the junction between Cadeby village on the right and Lower Melton on the left, you will see a gap in the hedge immediately in front of you. Cross the road and go through the gap onto a straight path which passes through
‘‘look out for the curious stone carvings of faces in the cliff outcrop to your right, the origins of which are unknown’’
three fields into the village of High Melton. The path rises throughout on its approach until you encounter a stile near to a row of trees, leading to a further stile which exits onto Doncaster Road. Turn right and walk along the footpath which shortly leaves the busy road off to the right, reaching a sheltered section with trees on either side.
The path rises to a point where you encounter The Stables and High Melton College. To your left you will see Hangman Stone Lane; cross the road and walk up the lane into the small hamlet. The road bends first left and then right until reaching open fields.
Continue along the path which separates agricultural crops and opens up a splendid vista looking to the east. The path bends to the left before straightening out and the keen eye will discern the cooling towers of the three major power stations to the east, (left to right) Ferrybridge, Eggborough and Drax. The path then exits onto Hangman Stone Road. Here, cross over and walk down the road
before taking the footpath through the trees on your right, the access to which has been blocked to vehicular traffic by large boulders. As you walk along, the expanse of the picturesque Dearne Valley can clearly be seen through the trees to the left. But don’t let this distract you from looking out for the curious stone carvings of faces in the cliff outcrop to your right, the origins of which are unknown. At the finger post on your right, turn right to exit the woods. Follow the clearly defined footpath across the flat plateau top, keeping the wind turbines on your right. Keep to the track heading in a north-westerly direction until you pass the Hickleton Sports Field on your right. On reaching the road, turn left and continue on for approximately 300 metres before reaching a further finger post pointing back into the woods along Barnburgh Cliffs.
Stay on the scarp face footpath until you reach another finger post on your right; here, take the path downhill away from the woods. After climbing the stile, follow the way-marked footpath back into Barnburgh village.
Upon reaching St. Mary’s Church in Barnburgh (The Cat and Man Church), walk down Church Lane to the right hand side of the building until you come to a fork in the road. Take the left-hand fork and a few hundred yards on your left after the school you will arrive at the car park from whence you began your journey.
The Dearne Valley Ramblers will be undertaking this Barnburgh walk on Sunday 23rd September from 10am. General public are invited to join them.
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