Stocha one

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Some great countryside on this walk with urban at each end. Go prepared for some mud and you will have an enjoyable walk with some great views and plenty of easy walking. Various styles of stiles, lots of sheep and some cattle. Some minor plotting errors but they don’t create a disaster. No services in the middle so stock up before leaving. A bus service links the two settlements for a linear walk or services out of Sheffield.

I walked from Stockbridge, a town that is yet to grab me but it does provide views demanding that I escape to climb the hills for a good walk. Starting along the road don’t miss the link to the Trans Pennine Trail which could perhaps be joined earlier. This now offers easy traffic free walking following the Little Don.

The rail line alongside, but not crossed has no sign of current use to the steelworks. We meet and cross a road before starting to climb gently out of the valley of the Don. The path is initially a narrow footpath but after passing the small pond it joins a track. I missed the footpath and dam bank path recommended by Hugh but getting back on track is not difficult through Wharncliffe Heath Nature Reserve. This is grit stone country and we could easily be approaching one of the popular Peak District edge walks.

Frost on the grass and falling leaves confirmed a winter walk but the steady climb kept me warm. Whaarncliffe Heath marks the summit of our walk and the path along the perimeter offers good views northwards.

The fields east of Smithy Fold were a delight but the plot is wrong approaching Hazelshaw Farm. Leave the field boundary and head for the stile before turning right. This next section is rather muddy but some frost in the ground did help. Later the frost was a hazard having frozen cattle trodden ruts which had left no even ground for the path.

Back in woodland it’s another farm track and again the plot through the farm is not perfect but a large sign in a tree is useful. The road crossing can be busy and low sun didn’t help but there is a pavement. The short cut path was no issue but I see there is a pavement if you need to stay on the roads.

The approach to Chapeltown has a few points of interest and a shop. It will also be a gentle climb if walking in the opposite direction. I enjoyed this country walk it was better than I had expected.

Walked from Stocksbridge to Chapeltown on a mostly fine afternoon after a very wet week. The first half is excellent but the second half is very wet and muddy after rain, and the road walk down into Chapeltown is rather tedious. I have a couple of minor quibbles with the GPX plotting (see below).

From Stocksbridge we go east along the main road. Beyond a small wood we descend a steep unsurfaced stepped path which cuts a corner to join a lane which offers a longer but gentler route. We cross the lane to join the surfaced cycle track (Little Don Cycleway) which we follow over the river and alongside the disused railway down to the A6102. I had no problems crossing this road, but there is no assisted crossing so take care. We go down then follow Station Road right to cross high above the Don. Just beyond the bridge we take the steeper of the two paths left which has a few steps as it climbs before joining a wide track which passes under the two old railways.

Beyond Plank Gate there is no shortcut path along the right of way line so it is easiest to stay on the main path then traverse left on another good path over the dam of a small reservoir to join the good track above (there are plenty of alternatives, but none of them stick to the right of way/GPX line). Higher up the track becomes a watercourse, and where it narrows higher up it can be difficult to follow dryshod. Eventually we pass Wharncliffe Chase (to the right) and beyond the brow of the hill the views left over the plain are excellent.

We cross Woodhead Road and go a short distance right before taking the signposted farm lane down to Smithy Fold, where we follow the track right below the farm then use the first of several stone step stiles to enter the fields beyond. Note that the GPX file suggests that a shortcut exists along the top of the last field, but there is no alternative to using the stile on the right of way line further left/down. We cross another stone stile to leave the field, then follow the very wet muddy path by the wall right up to a muddy pasture. (I did wonder whether the straighter lower path might be a better option, but I haven't tested it). Eventually we join a farm track which goes diagonally down the last pasture then goes through woods (more wet sections) to emerge in a farmyard where you should eventually see a sign which indicates the footpath down to the A61.

Cross this main road with care and join the pavement right along the south side. Ignore the first path left and take the second one, which starts well but is wetter lower down. In wet conditions crossing Charlton Brook may also be impossible dryshod. Shortly beyond we reach Hall Wood Road and from here the rest of the route is a long and rather dull downhill pavement walk.

The route was pleasant and mostly quiet. The first section out of Chapeltown was on a road, but the route was almost entirely away from roads after this. The quality of the surface varied, some sections were tarmac or gravel, but other sections were very muddy.

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