Countryside Walks

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THE DEARNE WALK

In 1982/84 the South Yorkshire County Council created a 40 mile walk based on the course of the River Dearne, many improvements to the water course and water quality had been carried out. It exposed the fact that beautiful sites mingled with Pits and Spoil Heaps.

The River Dearne enters South Yorkshire at Bretton Hall, passing the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to Darton, Monk Bretton Priory, Darfield, Bolton and on towards Conisbrough; the River Dearne joins the River Don.

There are 8 leaflets available that plot the route and maps that indicate points of interest.

THE YORKSHIRE MINING HERITAGE TRAIL

In the early 1990s Barnsley and Wakefield Councils created a "round walk" within South Yorkshire area. It takes the visitor on a journey through the communities of Barnsley and Wakefield, two areas where heritage and social evolution are inextricably linked to the mining of coal.

The "new age" of coal saw many wealthy owners who built splendid mansions. Bretton Hall, Cannon Hall, Nostell Priory; while the miners and their families lived in poverty and squalor.

The trail starts at Caphouse Colliery (now the National Mining Museum), where underground visits are well worth while. Other places of interest include Cannon Hall, Worsbrough Mill, Darfield Church, Nostell Priory, Elsecar and Kinsley (check up on the Kinsley rent strikes and evictions).

Leaflets are available from Barnsley and Wakefield Town Halls showing the route and depicting places of interest.

Countryside Walks