Go with Brian

Tag: Hiking

  • Finkle Street to Oxspring

    Starting at the car park at Finkle Street, near Wortley, a walk along the Trans Pennine Trail to Oxspring and back. Just over 10km. The path is really well maintained, mainly tarmac, although there are a couple of sections at the Finkle Street end that get churned up by trail bikes and horses so would be very muddy after rain.

    Quite a boring section of the trail, mainly tree lined the whole way so the views are restricted, although there are many intersections with public footpaths and bridleways so lots of scope for making loops out to the farmland and hill.

    It was about 9am when I started and there were a lot of trail runners, bikers, dog walkers, horse riders and many families doing bike rides in the sun.

    I was going to go on to Penistone but found the path quite boring despite the people around ! so did a loop of Oxspring village and back to the start.

    Main point of interest along this section was the tunnel at Thurgoland, sound of horses clip clopping there way through was loud !!!.

    Best part of the morning was the ice cream sold at the farm shop in Finkle Street, I didn’t check the flavour though as I just stuck my hand in the fridge and picked out the first one. Turns out it was Lemon and Ginger, nice but not what I was expecting with the first mouthful. Our Cow Molly.

  • Dover Bridge to Pennington Flash

    Walk along the canal to and around Pennington Flash nature reserve.

    Really great day for walking if slightly warm, mix of canal towpaths, muddy paths through the woods and tarmac roads. Started from the park at Dover Bridge, had a couple of stops around the flash to watch the wildlife. There are some hides around the lake but unfortunately they have been closed since the pandemic kicked in,

    Very peaceful walk but it was early, just a few dog walkers and bike riders. Families were just starting to arrive at the flash to enjoy the facilities,

  • Stocks Reservoir Fail,,,

    Was going to do an eight miler round Stocks reservoir but my back and right hip were playing up, so just did a few miles out and back from the car park. Will have to return as it was a quiet area (only myself at the car park pre 8am) with outstanding scenery.

    Stocks reservoir and the moorlands are in an Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) and Special Scientific Interest (SSI). There are lots of things to do here, especially hiking, trail running, biking and viewing wildlife. There are quite a few active farms in the area, mainly sheep and I passed a couple of places selling eggs on the minor roads along with honesty boxes and suggested donations.

    Click to access StocksRes.pdf

    The initial plan was to stop off at the Gisburn Forest hub for a brew and cake but as I cut the walk short it wasn’t yet open.

    More info on activities can be found on the Forestry England and visit Lancashire websites.

  • Canal walk

    A nice lunch time walk along the canal to Haigh Hall park and back, a bit overcast with sunny spells and quite warm.

    Love these barges, once thought about living on one of these when I was in London but the rent and moorings fees were way too much for me at the time (30 odd years ago). Only thing about them is you have to be really organised as they are very narrow, but chugging up and down very slowly waking to a different view every day appeals.

  • Entwistle Reservoir

    With just under a year to go until the Cateran Yomp 2021 I will class this short walk as my first training walk. Actually did this to add a few kilometres on the #100for100 challenge. It is the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Signals this year and has all the phsyical get togethers, events, reunions etc have been cancelled due to Coronavirus there are a few virtual challenges and events running.

    Metrics as recorded by Garmin Vivoactive 3, nice walk around the reservoir with a brief walk up to the cliffs above. Couple of breaks for water etc on the way around.