Whitwell Moor

The Sutton-in-Ashfield  Rambling Club continue their popular winter programme with a 9 mile linear walk, in a rarely visited area of the Dark Peak. There is an Interesting mixture of moorland, woodland walking and a reservoir.

As always the club are very pleased to continue to welcome new members. There is usually a shorter walk option. Please ensure that you bring your own refreshments as there are no facilities  on the main walk.

The ramble  commences at Smithy Moor, just to the east of Stocksbridge, a town in South Yorkshire. We start  with a steady climb up a green lane, and contour round a hillside to  reach the hamlet of Whitwell. Onwards  then heading south along the quaintly named Mucky Lane, maybe some mud? We then visit Hunger Hill and the Salter Hills and move north onto Whitwell Moor, via The Height. Then across Wind Hill and down to Brooks Bank.

We then soon reach one of the features of the day, namely the Under bank Reservoir to the west of Stocksbridge. We follow the eastern shoreline, until reaching the dam wall. Then turning west, and then north beside the attractive Spring Beck.

The next target will be through Sheephouse Wood, and then some quiet road walking northwards to Castle Green, at the south-east edge of the market town of Penistone. We finish by walking a short stretch of the Trans Pennine Trail, aiming to arrive at the church in the centre of Penistone, for a 4.30 pm coach departure home.

In the morning the coach departs from the “Staff Of Life” pub in Sutton-in-Ashfield at 9.17am and from the Bancroft Lane end of Stockwell Gate outside Asda in Mansfield at 9.30am. There are other pick-up points between these locations. The coach fare is £12. Accompanied juniors free. For further information please contact the walk leader Martin on 01623 513961 or John on 07749164455. (See also under “Programme’ on the home page, for more pick-up points, no need to book, just go to your most convenient place).