16/11/2019

A route around the Rivelin valley.

Another wet day was on the cards, but 13 familiar faces [ including mine ] turned up at the Rails road car park in the Rivelin valley for todays walk with the Doncaster ramblers. Suitably kitted out in full waterproof regalia we listened to our leader as he delivered the walks briefing..It was going to be a grand day out..if a little damp.Leaving the car park we set off up the lane steeply at a cracking pace.Warmed up, the route levelled out and we enjoyed the path as it snaked its way through an area of woodland [ mainly Birch ] known as Rivelin rough.

Emerging from the trees we crossed the A57 to be greeted with the lovely sight of the Lower Rivelins dam reservoir, some lovely autumnal colour reflected in the glassy stillness. I don't seem to have done much walking this autumn, it seems to have passed me by..This makes me feel sad..never mind Winter will soon be here, the loveliest of all our seasons.

From here are route was to follow alongside the delightful Wyming brook on a popular path as it climbs out of the valley passing pretty little waterfalls. Sadly though today this was not going to happen for as we rounded a corner we were greeted with a path closed sign, apparently several of the bridges that cross the brook have been damaged in the recent bad weather, with one of them being actually washed away...Oh well....we reverted to Plan B.A quick perusal of the map and we found another route up to the car park on the Redmires road. We followed soggy wet paths and crossed even soggier meadows to reach todays pub stop, the Three merry lads. 45 minutes and a couple of pints of Moonshine later 8 merry lads and 5 merry lasses were ready for the afternoon walk.

  

This afternoon we were to follow a path that sticks to the high ground as it traverses the valley along its southern edge...Drizzle came then went, then came back again but we hardly noticed as we followed this entertaining undulating path passing many a fine viewpoint.The highlight of this section being the crossing of Blackbrook...A raging torrent today.[ a slight exaggeration ]

All safely across and it was more ups and downs to cross the road near the old Bell hagg pub..We were on the very edge of Sheffield now.

We dropped down steeply on wet slippery paths into the Rivelin valley were we were to follow the Nature and heritage trail back to our cars..for me this final 2 mile stretch turned out to be the best part of the walk..Waterfalls, weirs, stepping stones, mill pools, bridges and a rushing river all backed with some lovely autumn colour...Whats not to like.

Its been a cracker..