Charot two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Charot here.

Walked from Rotherham to Chapeltown. A good and fairly direct route.

From the Rotherham meeting point by the bus station we cross the bridge and go past the rather impressive Rotherham Central station building then follow the NCN signs along the Don and the canal, passing the New York stadium, home of Rotherham United. Beyond the railway bridge we leave the canal briefly along a wide but little used road, then rejoin the old towpath that passes through a pleasant green corridor between industrial sites. We cross to the north bank on a bridge that still has old tram tracks, and shortly afterwards leave the canal right on an unsignposted path that has a short unsurfaced section (fairly compacted so not too muddy) then crosses the railway.

There is a useful pelican crossing when we reach Meadow Bank Road, which should be used, as the pavement on the south side stops beyond the residential area and crossings further west may be hazardous. The surfaced path/cycle track alongside the main road is noisy but safe, and we leave it just before the motorway roundabout to use a parallel residential street. There is an underpass under the M1 slip road but we have to cross Meadowhall Road to reach it, and we then head right along Blackburn Road. Beyond the junction where most of the traffic turns left under the bridge, we cross by a bus stop to an entrance of the old railway cycle track.

The cycle track offers a good quick direct route through a green corridor between the railway, the motorway and various industrial sites. The section just south of the large new warehouse is not fully surfaced but is fairly well compacted. We use a bit of industrial estate pavement (follow the NCN signs) then pick up another good surfaced track at a roundabout, which leads under Cowley Lane and past more houses to a surfaced track down through Chapeltown Park (there is a choice of routes here and shortcuts are possible). Eventually we fork right to an obvious footbridge, from where the meeting point by Chapeltown station is a very short pavement walk away.

This is almost a five star route, and though noisy, the section alongside Meadow Bank Road is shorter than continuing along the canal and skirting Meadowhall would be.

This route is perhaps a bit indirect but it’s fairly flat and generally has an excellent walking surface. No cattle, houses or barriers for wheels. A few steps and a major road crossing that does need some care. No services on route unless you want a car wash.

I walked from Chapeltown and wow what a contrast to the pavement pounding entry on Stocha. Passing a small park which was Santa’s grotto in December then into a park and the only significant climb on the walk to reach the Trans Pennine Trail in woodland. The route safely crosses a main road by an under bridge to arrive at a newish industrial park. There is a choice the signed alternative has views over the site along a good surface or the main route passes through the site.

Out the other side it’s back on the old rail line route which curves gently on a good surface although between fences. It’s all very easy walking with occasional bikes but there are no services as is the case with such routes.

Approaching Meadowhall the route leaves at the side of the long disused but recognisable station building and joins the road. Best to cross the road because the next bit is not perfect but doable. The route needs to pass under the motorway at the northern part of junction 34 the famous Tinsley viaduct. Opened in 1968 it was the first two tier road viaduct in Britain. Our route uses a mix of subway and level crossings and I survived to write this review, you will, with care.

Charot uses a footpath that does not exist on the ground or definitive map so from here we need to stay on Meadow Bank Road or along Meadow Bank Road by the houses which is a short respite from the noise but involves a little more elevation. Once on the main road there is a narrow grass buffer between road and pavement.

A pelican crossing offers safe passage for our turn right down a track which has a sign suggesting we are not welcome but I suggest that refers to cars not pedestrians because it becomes apparent this is a well walked route to the canal path, back on the Trans Pennine Trail.

The route now follows this into Rotherham and again has an excellent surface. There is interest with locks and perhaps passing boats. As the route approaches the end we pass the football stadium so I guess this area will be busy on match days. We pass the train and tram station before crossing the canal and river to the bus station.

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