Dearne Valley Walking Festival 2019

The run up to Easter saw Dearne Valley Walking Group celebrate its tenth birthday with its week-long Dearne Valley Walking Festival 2019 to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The festival was an outstanding success with excellent attendances across all eight days which saw the attendees walk a combined distance of 1098 miles. More importantly the festival raised a magnificent total of £720 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Festival got underway on Saturday 13th April from the Old Moor Tavern at Broomhill with the Mayor of Barnsley, Steve Green, conducting the opening ceremony before the group of 28 adults and 2 children set off on a 6 mile Darfield Boundary Walk which took in the banks of the River Dearne, part of the Dearne Way and returned via the banks of the Rover Dove.

The following day saw our group embark on its Sprotbrough & Cusworth Circular Family Walk with a very healthy turnout of 22 adults and six children who made their way around the 4 mile circuit. The walk started along the section of the Trans Pennine Trail known as Linear Park and then continued on the Cusworth Cycle Trail, passing Cusworth Hall and then passing the Ivanhoe pub before descending to the 800 year old St Mary’s Church and then completing our circuit.

This walk saw David Richardson pass 1000 miles walked with our group whilst Nicola Royston (adults) and Rhys and Oliver Powell (juniors) won the Easter hat Competition.

Day three of the Festival saw our group take in a wonderful 6 mile walk from Hooton Pagnell. Seventeen adults and one child walked via Hooton Pagnell Wood and the Frickley Railway Path to reach Moorhouse Grange and then returned to our start point via Lound Lane and Narrow Balk.

The half way point of the Festival was reached on the Tuesday when 23 adults and one child completed a pleasant 4 mile Pottery Ponds and the Roman Ridge Evening Walk. Starting from Pottery Ponds Car Park near Swinton this walk took us through Creighton Woods and over the Roman Ridge into Rawmarsh. We then walked via Warren Vale and Wath Wood to cross the longest surviving section on of Roman Ridge and back via the Waterloo Kiln, the former home of Rockingham Pottery.

The fifth day saw our Festival move to Ingbirchworth where 19 adults and 2 children completed a 6 mile circuit of Ingbirchworth, Royd Moor and Scout Dyke reservoirs on a beautiful sunny day. Our route took in Spicer House Lane, which gave wonderful panoramic views of the reservoirs, and part of the Penistone Boundary Walk.

Day six saw a fantastic attendance of 29 adults and 2 children for our Conisbrough Evening Walk. Starting from the station this 3.75 mile walk began along the Trans Pennine Trail and then on to the impressive viaduct before meandering along tracks and through Mill Piece to the castle and then back to the station.

The penultimate day of the Festival saw us move on to Wentworth and our 6.5 mile Wentworth Classic Walk. A party of 30 walkers headed for Needles Eye and The Vinegar Stone, through the hamlet of street to Hoover Stand. Field paths and the Roman Ridge took us to Nether Haugh and Wentworth Park on our return.

The final day of the festival saw a staggering 37 walkers undertake our 4.5 mile Rockley Blast Furnace Walk from the Edmunds Arms at Worsbrough Village. The route ventured along field paths to Worsbrough Mill Country Park where we crossed the reservoir to Rockley Old Hall. Here we emerged near Queen Anne’s Obelisk and descended through woodland to the historic Rockley Blast Furnace before completing our circuit. A special mention goes out to Marian Russell and Steve Ellis who both completed all our eight walks.

Following the walk a large party of us enjoyed a lovely celebratory meal in the Edmunds Arms whilst completing the fundraising and putting together our final total.

The Dearne Valley Walking Group offers a big thanks to everyone who walked with us and who helped and supported us with our Festival, it was greatly appreciated. Thanks also to everyone who donated towards our cause, £720 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a fantastic achievement.

They now return to our regular walks programme which can be found on our website at www.dvwg.org.uk or on Facebook at @dearnevwalking. New walkers are always welcome.