OUT & ABOUT
Rotherham Ring Route
Hooton Roberts to Wath upon Dearne
With Rotherham Metro Ramblers
This section of the Rotherham Ring Route takes in the town’s northern boundary, passing through rural Hooton Roberts and Old Denaby before following the canal towards the Dearne Valley.
Distance: 5.6 miles/ 9km Start: St John’s Church, Hooton Roberts on A630. (S65 4PF) Finish: Cross Keys pub at Wath (S63 7DN)
From Hooton Roberts church, walk down Holmes Lane and turn right at the T junction. The metalled lane soon becomes a farm track. Continue along this track to its junction with a private farm road.
Continue downhill through a bridle gate to Denaby Lane. Turn right into Old Denaby. Turn left into Ferry Boat Lane. Cross the railway and River Don bridges. At the canal, turn left and walk the towpath for 800m. At the first bridge climb steps to access Station Rd. Turn left for Mexborough Railway Station then left into car park. Go under the railway, via a subway, and follow the bank of the River Don to join a road adjacent to the water treatment plant. Follow the service road to the junction with Meadow Way. Cross over and continue ahead to cross the railway and canal by the Talbot Rd Bridge. Once over the canal descend off of the bridge using a flight of steps on the left to enter Coronation Rd. At its junction with Dun St turn right.
The route now follows the line of the old Dove and Dearne Canal all the way to Wath upon Dearne. Join the canal towpath. Go under a
road bridge and follow the line of the canal. Pass under a railway bridge, turn right and go right and under a concrete road bridge spanning the railway.
In 350m the path turns left away from the railway to climb a flight of steps. Follow a metal security fence on your right to enter and cross the edge of the CP for Dearne Valley College. Circuit the college area to roundabout and go left on Golden Smithies Lane. Cross and go right on the path below Humphrey Davy House to join Old Doncaster Lane.
Cross the road opposite the Staithes Inn. Go left and continue on the industrial access road. After crossing Common Lane re-join the redundant canal towpath as it continues behind buildings as far as Station Rd to emerge behind the Cross Keys public house.
RETURN ROUTE Approx 5.5 miles / 9 km
The return route can be split into two, making a figure of eight for the whole walk. It could be split at Swinton Bridge, where the boatyard is situated, giving two circular walks of approx 6 miles/9.6 kms each.
The route from Swinton back to Hooton Roberts would be via the riverbank, Kilnhurst Ings, and then a walk on the pavement on Kilnhurst Rd.
The route back from Wath to Swinton Bridge would be via Avenue Rd, Racecourse and Dearne Valley College. From the Cross Keys pub, take the first exit
on the roundabout onto Doncaster Rd, take the fourth road on the right, Avenue Rd. At the end of road enter allotment gardens and go left, then right along the field edge. On the disused racecourse take the footpath left. Pass a wood to your left. Take the footpath to the left on field edge, and then right to a gate onto Golden Smithies Lane.
Cross over and go right. Take the footpath left between the houses. At St. Mary’s Crescent go left. Take the footpath to the right and enter Dearne Valley College grounds. Keep houses to your right. Keep on tarmac path, go over estate road and then left under railway bridge to canal. Follow towpath to Swinton Bridge. Waddington’s Boatyard at Swinton Bridge is a reminder that boatbuilding was an integral part of Swinton’s history as far back as 1770. The boatyards were essential for the carriage of pottery products which made Swinton an internally acclaimed centre of excellence in the early 19th century.
(Second Loop) At Swinton bridge go over the hump backed road bridge and take Broomville Rd. After the houses, take the footpath right at the side of the railway. At road go left. Here you could take the canal towpath to Kilnhurst Rd and turn L over Kilnhurst Bridge to avoid the riverside path.
Go over canal and railway bridges. As concrete road bears sharp left, go on a footpath right and almost immediately left. Follow the river bank path to Kilnhurst Bridge. Go left on the road and take the pavement back to Hooton Roberts.
An OS map of the walk is available in the Rotherham Ring Route booklet available from Rotherham Visitor Centre on High Street and Deer Park Farm Tea Rooms in Thrybergh for only £2.
Details of how to send for the booklet can be found on the website
www.ramblers.org.uk/rotherham-metro
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aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
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