The Sheffield Way Leg Three
Note: These are electronic OCR scans from the original text scans. They have been proof-read, but they could still contain transfer errors, so please bear that in mind. Also, as the book is old, the course and surrounding area itself may have also changed over the years. Basically, this is all provided on a best endeavours basis.
Start: Near the car park on Rivelin Dam Head (GR 273866).
Page 1
Take the footpath on the right uphill through the wood to climb numerous steps with Wyming Brook below to the left. Continue to follow the narrow path climbing steadily across eight wooden bridges with the final crossing over stepping stones to reach a car parking area and then Redmires Road.
On reaching the road that goes round the reservoir turn right and follow it to its very end. On reaching the end of the road turn right again up to the long causeway towards Stanage Pole. This path is reputed to be the course of an original Roman Road.
Page 2
On reaching the pole, continue forward on the paved main path west from Stanage Pole to Stanage Edge. On reaching Stanage Edge turn left and go along the cliff top remembering that we are still inside the Sheffield City boundary. Admire the magnificent views across the Derbyshire Peak District as you go along this path heading towards the trig point at 1,500 feet.
Keep to the path that skirts round the left hand side of the trig point and follow the path as it descends down towards the road at the hairpin bend at Upper Burbage Bridge.
Page 3
On reaching the road continue along it over the two stone bridges past the small gate until you reach a stile. Climb the stile and follow the path as it continues along the Burbage Edge. Once again admire the magnificent views across the valley. As the path descends cross the two small streams then head for the high ridge once again. Ignore the footpath that crosses over near a large stone cairn and a waymark. Continue forward to climb steeply to the left of and then right past the top of a large stone buttress. Climb steadily up the edge path for about 150 yards to where the path levels out and then bear left across the moor in a south of south easterly direction towards Parson’s House Farm which is an outdoor pursuit centre (you can see the chimneys and roof of the building on a clear day when about 10 or 15 yards from the edge path). There is no defined path across the moor and care should be taken to aim left of the building to reach the near left corner of the field to the left of the farm.
Follow the path that runs down by the wall, cross the lane at the bottom and head down the path towards the tree and wooden stile on the Hathersage Road.
On reaching Hathersage Road turn left and walk for several hundreds of yards up the road until it reaches the Strawberry Lea Plantation on the right hand side.
Page 4
Ignore the road that comes in from the right but note the stone plaque just past the road on the left which commemorates the site of the Stony Ridge Toll Bar which was closed in 1884. On reaching the wood turn right along the cart track which takes the path onto Blackamoor and Blackahill.
Continue to follow the wide track through the gate as it turns east towards the rifle range above Totley. Once again note the extensive views of the City of Sheffield. As the path begins to descend down to the valley go through two stone gateposts and in about 100 yards pass the ruined building which is now just piles of stones and once through this rubble turn right down towards the gate at the bottom left hand corner of the field. Do not continue on the main track towards the trees. On reaching the gate go through and follow the path to the left that keeps on the low side of the hill. As the path follows round and skirts the hill it will eventually join the main track running down towards Totley.
Once again more magnificent views come into view. Take the track, turn left and drop down. After passing through a gate along this track about 30 yards just round the bend there is a wooden stile on the right hand side. Climb this stile and then descend down the steep bank into the valley across two wooden stiles towards a large ventilation shaft which comes from the Totley Tunnel which is beneath this land. After passing to the right of the shaft drop down the bank towards a small stile which leads into Moss Road.
Changeover: Moss Road (about 1000m past Cricket Inn, Totley, GR 297798).