British Walking Federation

CHAIRMAN’S JUBILEE WALK ORGANISED BY THE BWF NATIONAL COMMITTEE

CONTACT: Brian Whitaker, 25 Rutland Place, Wombwell, Barnsley, S. Yorks. S73 8PU
Tel: 01226 210730     E-mail: brianwhitaker44@gmail.com

DISTANCE: 10km
ENTRY FEE: £1.00 per walker (Cheques payable to BWF)
AWARD: Certificate
ENTRY SYSTEM: Postal
START VENUE: Wombwell Railway Station Park & Ride S73 8UE
APPROACH BY ROAD: Leave M1 at Junction 36 and take the A6195 (Dearne Valley Parkway) towards Doncaster. Go through 3 roundabouts and at Roebuck Hill Roundabout take the first exit (B6096 to Wombwell). Go down Wood Walk and immediately after the X-roads at the bottom of the hill cross the railway bridge to the Park & Ride Car Park. There is a free Car Park on both sides of the road.
CAR PARKING: At the start.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Trains stop at Wombwell on the Sheffield to Leeds and the Sheffield to Huddersfield lines.
TERRAIN: Urban & woodland, mainly on pavements. Suitable for pushchairs
REFRESHMENTS: The walk goes through the centre of Wombwell where there is a variety of cafes & pubs.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION (Updated 17 January 2012)

Leave the Park & Ride Car Park and go over the railway line. Turn left along Hemingfield Road. As convenient, cross to right hand pavement. Continue along Hemingfield Road to take the underpass beneath the Dearne Valley Parkway. Keep forward along Hemingfield road and cross to left hand pavement before road bends to the left.

Q.1. What is the name of the farm shop?

As the main road bends to the right and starts to descend, keep forward into Briery Meadows and in approx, 50m bear slightly left onto tarmac track with field to left and houses to right. At end of track continue forward still with houses to right. At end of track, on reaching road, turn right downhill. At the main road turn left into Beech House Road as the road curves left and begins to climb. As the road flattens, turn left along a footpath between the houses, immediately after No. 34a. Follow footpath to cross over dual carriageway and then continue forward to climb up a track with the golf course on your left. At top of hill turn left along road. (1*)

Keep forward to enter Wombwell Park through blue gates and follow path with grassed areas to each side. (2*) Keep going forward and you will eventually reach a children’s play area & skateboard park. Carry on to leave the park by blue metal gates similar to those where you entered the park. Keep forward to reach a main road (Hough Lane) and turn right. Keep going downhill to eventually reach Royal Oak PH. Continue forward into Church Street to pass St Mary’s Church (dating from 1897).  (3*)

At T-junction turn left into High Street. (4*)  Continue forward passing the top of Station Road. (5*)  (You now pass through Wombwell Town Centre.) Keep forward along High Street and keep on into Barnsley Road. (6*)  Keep to  left side of road. Continue forward to eventually reach a roundabout. Take first exit and keep forward with Billingtons Steel on your right and reach Wombwell Carpet Centre. Turn left up Roy Kilner Road. When you reach the children’s play area, turn right on footpath across grassy area towards the flats/houses that you can see the opposite side of another road. On reaching this road (Aldham House Lane) turn left and cross as convenient. Follow the road as it bends to the right and where it bends to the left keep forward into Smithley Road.

Q.2. Whose Egg Farm is it?

Descend this narrow road and at the bottom cross a disused single track railway line. (7*)   Follow the road around several bends until you climb and pass Smithley Farm. Immediately after passing the farm you cross a bridge over the railway. (This is the line that goes through the station where you started the walk). Keep forward, climbing steadily to reach a T junction.  Bear left along road for approx. 100m and turn right to pass between some large boulders onto a tarmac track (You are now entering Wombwell Wood).

Q.3. What colour is the metal gate you pass through?

Keep forward along tarmac track to reach end of wood and continue forward to reach crushed stone track, turn left with wood to your left. Continue along this track to reach marker post at track X-roads.  Turn left following Yellow marker sign back into wood and then turn right. Follow track as it meanders along keeping roughly parallel with edge of wood to your right.  At junction of tracks bear right to reach end of wood and car park. Turn left and follow track to reach small fishing pond. Turn left with small pond on right and then bear right to pass between two ponds. At end turn left with larger fishing pond to your left. At end of pond keep forward and follow path as it gently rises.

Follow track as it wanders through woods heading approximately East. (There are several tracks that go through the wood, but all eventually reach a road. For safety try to stay in the wood until you reach the houses but if you reach the road before this point, just turn right and follow the road until it reaches the houses. You should be able to make your way through to wood keeping parallel to the road. PLEASE TAKE CARE THIS ROAD CAN BE VERY BUSY.)

Follow road to return to Wombwell Station and finish the walk.

* Points of interest along the trail.

1* When you reach the entrance to the Golf Club building, you can (if you wish), enter and see the monument to the Lundhill pit disaster, as shown on the PT badge. There was a serious underground explosion in February 1857, killing 189 men and boys. A disaster fund was set up to which Queen Victoria donated £200.00 & Prince Albert donated £100.00.

2* Wombwell Park was originally opened as a memorial to the men of Wombwell who died in the Battle of the Somme during World War 1.

3* While Wombwell Park was opened as a Memorial, the actual War Memorial is immediately to the right at the T Junction. You may be surprised at how few men were in the 2nd World War, but many were prevented from joining the forces and were obliged to stay working in the Coal Mines.

4* The car park, across the road, near the Town Hall  was originally Wombwell Bottom Market Place, before it was closed and turned into a Car Park. In 1954, a platform was erected and from here HM Queen Elizabeth II made a short address before continuing her journey to Barnsley. She drove slowly along High Street & Barnsley Road, which were lined with school children.

5* On the wall of the Town Hall in Station Road is a memorial to men who died in the Boer War.

6* As you go along Barnsley Road, you will see a large Methodist Chapel on the right. This has recently been cleaned and is in the process of being converted to luxury flats.

7* The disused railway line was a spur to Wombwell Main Colliery. The colliery was to your left and the field to the left as you came down the hill was a spoil heap. Wombwell Main Colliery closed in the early 1970’s.

When you have completed this trail please use the Permanent Trail Entry Form

The organisers are not liable for accidents, thefts and/or damage to property. Every effort will be made by the organisers to make this a safe, enjoyable and memorable event.

This trail is registered until 31 December 2012.