Stocksbridge to Worrall

Section from Stocksbridge to Glen Howe (see what I mean about the battered map!)

6 miles. Some steep ascents. Cumulative ascent 450 metres

       

This is a walk I did most recently, taking the 57 bus to Stocksbridge. I walked up the hill to Bolsterstone, but I've described the walk from higher up the hill, to avoid this initial steep climb through residential areas. 

If you are catching the 57 ask to get off near the bottom of Hollin Busk Road. Alternatively you can get tram to Middlewood and the SL bus to the top of Cedar Road. As this is a linear walk I don't recommend driving, although you could leave a car at Worrall and then take 57 bus from there.

So from Cedar Road continue to top of road, turn right then left along Stone Moor Road into the village of Bolsterstone. If you got off the 57 at Hollin Busk Road, go up the road and take first turning right, a cul de sac which has an alley at the end. This takes you to the footpath across a field to the village.

Walk on through the village, past the church and village hall. Before the road junction take the path left past paddocks and continue to Cote House. Just before the house take the footpath right downhill. Turn right on the road and take the next path left, signpost says Byway. At Storth House Farm swing to the right on a lane. At the junction go left on the road and keep on this road as it bends right past Ewden Village. 

More Hall reservoir from Bolsterstone

Cross the bridge and keep on road as it turns left. In about 250 metres take a path right uphill. At the top cross a stile onto a lane at Raynor House. Keep going up this lane and just before the junction with the road look for a footpath on the left.Go over a small hillock south west until you see a stile in the field corner. Over the stile turn left towards a copse. A footpath goes down to a footbridge. It's a lovely spot here. Then up steps the other side leading to Snell House.

Turn right on the road. When a bridge crosses the stream look for a footpath sign to the left  which takes you up to a field. Ahead see the disused quarry on top of the hill. Make your way slightly to the right of this to find a track that goes up to it. If you want you can just clamber straight up. Past the quarry the track winds round to the right towards more old quarry workings. Keep bending round leftwards towards a gate. Go through and keep on the rough track in the same direction towards a small wood. Just before the wood another rough track crosses at right angles. Turn right and very soon swing left on a much clearer track down past the wood.

 At Tinker Hill Farm the track goes right and becomes a road. At the junction at the bottom cross the road and take the footpath opposite. Following a little stream the path bends to the left heading towards Benteholme Farm. Keep straight on the metalled track past the farm - waymarked - and when the track swings right take the footpath ahead and follow to Glen Howe Park. At this point if you've had enough you can go down through the park and into Wharnecliffeside to get the bus. But there's plenty of loveliness to come.

Section from Glen Howe to Worrall

This bit is where navigation might get a little bit tricky. Once inside the park, go right and stick to the edge, crossing a couple of streams on small wooden bridges. After about 150 metres, after crossing one of the bridges look out for a stile over the wall out of the park just to your right, and out onto a rough field. The path is unclear here, but you are heading uphill, roughly south, towards the hamlet of Foldrings, which you can see ahead.To the left of the hamlet is a gate letting you onto the road. Take the road opposite but immediately take the footpath to the left through a wood. Where the path divides in about 150 metres keep right and when the path leaves the wood take the clear path right across a field and up through a copse to the road.

fields near Onesacre

Cross the road and go over the broken wall opposite (no footpath sign). Turn left then right to go round the edge of this field and the path now becomes clear all the way to Onesacre. There take the road opposite winding down to the beautiful hamlet of Coldwell. After the hamlet the road bends left, with a pond visible on the left. Ignore the footpath sign at the corner, but take the next footpath that soon leads to a footbridge. Cross this and go ahead towards a stile, not immediately but very soon visible ahead. Cross the stile and go uphill towards a farmhouse. Go to the left of the house, through a little gate and up to the stile onto the road. Opposite go into the garden of the house, across a neat bit of lawn to a stile in the wall corner. There is no clear path from here but just keep uphill on clumpy ground towards farm buildings. Go to the right of the buildings. 

Ahead a clearer path goes up to houses at The Asplands. Just past the houses take the footpath on the right. When you reach housing keep ahead, then left to a dead end and right along a path behind the houses. At the end of the path turn left down hill to the Blue Ball Inn and Post Office at Worrall. Here is the bus stop for 57 back to Sheffield, and also a pub to wait at if the bus isn't imminent.

A couple of bits a navigation are tricky and need some map reading. Take care especially around the disused quarry area and between Glen Howe and Foldrings, and the section between Coldwell and Worrall. But you are never far from roads and farms, so you can't get into too much trouble.