Lanpen one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Lanpen here.

Langsett is a passing through place rather than a destination unless B&B is booked at the Inn the only buses are on Saturday the shelter might require a very long wait. I had arrived from Stockbridge and noted this exit mirrored my approach along the other side of the road. Being on an old rail route, which I guess was built to construct Langsett dam, I had expected it would be a good path. Eventually this may be the case when Barnsley and Yorkshire Water complete the project but as it stands the linking path is poor.

It looks like significant funding has gone into upgrading the abandoned rail route to provide a good surface and safe path with fencing and other works way beyond what we would normally see on a public footpath or bridleway. However, this section is currently isolated which might explain the absence of other users.

The track is closed beyond Mortimer Road but that’s were we leave it so not an issue. From here after the gentle and easy descent we make a serious climb out of the Little Don valley and over to big brother. At the brow of the hill a view northwards opens up with Emley Moor transmitter mast on the distant horizon left and far distance right, about 30 miles, a power station which must be Drax as one of a few remaining in operation.

At Cubley I can see Hugh’s point that the track is the best route and I also wondered why the plotting did a short there and back. Then I remembered the instructions to early plotters, include services, and without the ability to highlight then with points or text the only way was to take the route to them perhaps that’s what the plotter had in mind to highlight the Cubley Hall Inn. I went to take a look but at 11.50am all was quiet and doors closed.

Hugh failed to locate the plotted path which from this direction is signed and clear but it doesn’t follow the route on OS or the Barnsley definitive map, it joins the track where there is a well used step stile following the black dash line on OS. Not the fault of the original plotter just one of those annoying anomalies.

At Long Lane to the south of Castle Dam there is a step stile opposite suggesting a path but it’s not on OS or Barnsley maps. Moving on we are directed with the difficult to miss white chevrons to pass to the left of a wall when a step stile offers unobstructed access into the field directly ahead. Not only that but there is another step stile at the far end to continue a parallel path in the field, definitive map online suggests the stiles are the correct route. Never mind the used path is well walked and offers a view into an attractive shallow valley with a stream.

The final stile / steps takes us to the Trans Pennine Trail which uses the old Sheffield Manchester Woodhead line, electrified in 1955 closed in 1980, what a waste.

Walked from Penistone to Langsett. A sound route with good views. I have a couple of minor quibbles with the GPX plotting but don't think a new route is needed.

From Penistone station, the route misses a trick immediately - there is no need to go round the north side of the buildings as there is a shorter path to the old railway track on the south side. The track offers a good quick route out of the town (but does not pass any facilities). We soon leave the track on a well used path that crosses a number of stone step stiles to reach Castle Lane. There is evidence of an unofficial path through the field by the small reservoir, but I stuck to the right of way as per the GPX (more stone stiles and some slightly waterlogged grass). We then follow Nook Lane right to a farm building, where we take the signposted path left into more pastures.

At the next farm I couldn't see any evidence of the path half right so I just followed the shorter path along the farm lane (which is easier and better used - OpenStreetMap suggests that the path I missed has been diverted to leave the lane further west beyond the farm buildings). A short walk along Mortimer Road (the pavement ends just short of our junction) and the very quiet Joan Royd Lane (no pavement) leads to another signposted path, which starts between fences a little further west than the right of way line. This then crosses open fields with more stone step stiles then joins Doubting Lane. Another farm lane takes us over the brow of the hill. Below Judd Field Farm there may be a temptation to stay on the lane too long, so watch for the stile where the path goes into the wood to the left. Part of the descent is through the fields on the left but we return to the wood lower down and though the path is clear, it can be quite wet and muddy, particularly lower down,.

At the bottom, the old railway we need to join is on a bridge, and the pedestrian route to it uses the lane to the right. The old railway offers an off road easy walk most of the way to Langsett, but the final section takes a surprisingly long line through the fields and right of a house to reach the busy main road, which has a pavement on the north side - the meeting point is a short distance left, outside the Waggon & Horses pub - there is also a cafe on the pavement side.

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