Swakil one

Verified Slow Way

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A walk that is good in the middle but the links at either end are in comparison poor and could perhaps be improved. Services I'm told at the country park centre just off route. Some steps but no stiles or cattle and it can be muddy on sections that do not have an improved surface.

I walked from Killamarsh and wondered why we head out in the wrong direction, perhaps to call at the Co-Op. The link path to the Country Park is poor and the right of way that we should follow is across the low ground that was wet on my visit. I would suggesting staying on the well used but longer flood bank but this was also very muddy. Still February 2024, say the met Office, had been the wettest on record.

Once onto the main path, which has a stone surface, things got easier. A seat alongside fails to offer the view located just a few yards before we can see the river to the left and Meadowgate Lake to the right.

We meet the long vehicle access road to the Rother Valley Country Park which can be avoided if conditions are right by using the river side but there is a wide grass verge and even a stoned path alongside the road. The main centre appears to be over the river so I missed any services that I guess are on offer.

The signs all suggest this is a popular cycle centre, all brought in by car, but there were few, if any about in late February. The path therefore remains good and firm until the River Rother turns west and we double back up hill. If your destination is Rotherham it may be better to stay in the valley.

The bridleway crosses a railway over a bridge that Network Rail claim in not a right of way then a bridge over the road so both plus points. But then we take a narrow path parallel to the road and along the back of houses, a path that gradually improves as it approaches our meeting point in Swallownest. The local authority say “Swallownest took its name from the Swallow family who had a farm nearby”. There are shops and buses here.

The route was walked by a small group in October. We began at Swallownest Co-op, crossing over the main road leading between houses, please note this is one of a few areas with accessibility issues given there is a turnstile allowing one person a time to pass. Further along the route there are no paths which could make it unsuitable for push/wheelchair users.
The path leads across a bridge over the A57 to Rothervalley Country Park where there are toilet and cafe facilities.
Following the river alongside the Rother Valley access road leads to playing fields, by staying on the embankment you will find a path (not particularly obvious so watch out for it) that goes between houses and leads to Killamarsh where there's a selection of shops and cafes.
Overall a nice route to walk. Some access issues to be aware of as mentioned. Not all areas of the walk have established paths so good footwear is recommended for the different terrains.

I walked this route from Swallownest in March. The route leaves the Swallownest hub, crosses the main road (crossing provided) and passes downhill between the houses, before following a stream up to where the road has been constructed. It then follows alongside the road through woodland before climbing to the bridge which takes it across into the Rother Valley Country Park. This next section follows the Pennine Bridleway route down through the reclaimed parkland. The visitor centre is good for toilets and refreshments. Follow the river and not the access road after the VC. The path rises away from the river eventually to reach a playing field on the floodplain. By going straight ahead and climbing the embankment directly (with no obvious path) we approach Killamarsh on a public footpath between the houses. At the main road there is a pedestrian crossing and a rising side-road leads to the hub.

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