Just testing the email function.

Lets post a picture and see how it goes.

This is a lovely one of Jane hugging the tree in our back garden on our 55 wedding anniversary, yesterday. 

Sunday Morning Walk To Blacker Hill

A later start this morning walking from Birdwell to Blacker Hill via Hay Green Lane, and return via Platts Common and Hoyland Lowe. Even though there was a little bit of pavement pounding the rest made up for it. Another 5 miles under my belt.

Heading up High Royd Lane from Shortwood.

Top of High Royd Lane by the hamlet of, guess what  High Royd.

Never pass up a snack! 

Met a red fox here this morning, it didn't hang around though.

Yep, a stile.

Looking Back towards that stile.

Evening Walk Around Pilley

An evening walk for a change. From Birdwell up the hill to Pilley then across fields to Wortley Lodge, back down to Pilley Green up through Tankersly Industrial estate then a wonder through Potter Holes plantation and back to Birdwell.

Heading away from Pilley.

Follow the path.

Evening sky.

A

A few more miles.

A Bit Damp in Birdwell

It was pouring with rain this morning as I set out on my walk that also gave me a chance to test my re proofing of my old Regata jacket.

These two had the right idea.

love these old tracks, this is coming off Hay Green Lane, Birdwell.

Getting a bit damp now up in Shortwood.

So the weather did dry up a bit and more importantly my waterproofing wash on my old jacket certainly improved things.

Just under 4 miles walked this morning.

Time For A Haircut.

No it's not me having the haircut it's our lovely Willow Tree in our back garden.

We love this tree but over the last 8 years it had grown very large and was blocking out a lot of light from our garden and our neighbours.

Before the haircut.

And after the haircut a job well done.

The Cherry Blossom looking good at the bottom of the garden.

Of course we kept all the wood, why wouldn't we?

Ooops! Winter's back.

Early morning today in Worsborough Dale looking out towards Birdwell with Wharncliff  Chase and Grenno woods in the distance. Looks like we could be in for more snow.

After spending most of the day down at Worsborough Dale and in pretty heavy snow I decided to walk back home, after all it might be my last chance to walk in snow for a bit.

My phone didn't pick it up so well but it was snowing and blowing, should have been a poet, quite a bit. Loved it!

Let's take a look at where I was going!

After the snow but not quite spring.

Well early March in Birdwell and the month certainly came in like a lion, it was quite nice the see the snow and it did last for nearly a week.  

And then, as if by magic, the snow melted away and I reached for my walking boots and headed out for a Friday afternoon walk out into the countryside a just few minutes from our house in Birdwell. Twenty minutes into my walk and I was deep into local history around the old Rockley furnace.

The picture above is the old engine house that would have been the home for a beam engine that would be used to pump water from the adjacent iron ore mine, whilst the pictures below show what remains of the iron ore furnace itself. 

This blast furnace was constructed around 1704 and replaces an earlier furnace built in 1650 which no longer survives. If you look through the wood to the right of the picture you can make out the bank of the nearby M1 motorway that obliterated more workings from this site.

Whilst researching more about this site I came across a great video showing the site today and with the help of some clever work how it would have been 300 years ago. You can see it on this post by clicking here!

Leaving the furnace site it looked as though this well trodden path would take me towards Worsborough Mill, unfortunately it took me to the motorway embankment and no way forward, so I had to retrace my steps back to Rockley Lane and onwards.

Good walking on the lane however with views across to Worsborough Dale and my destination for the afternoon.

It has to be the nicest day for a walk this month so far.

An Evening Walk Hay Green Lane Birdwell.

17th of June and just a couple of days after our trip to Crete and I decided to take myself off for a late evening walk just a short distance from home.

Turning down Hay Green Lane which is just off the Sheffield road we walk about half a mile and then it turns into this delightful country lane. 

Following along we then walk through Shortwood and along the track of the old railway line which is now a wonderful nature reserve and a very peaceful place to walk.

After maybe half an hours walking we end up circling  Barrow Farm, or at least we would if we were going for a longer walk, but as it's late it's time for me to turn around and head for home and my bedtime cup of cocoa.

A Winter Walk Around Birdwell

We were out and about today enjoying the winter sunshine with a gentle walk from our home in Birdwell.

This is the first walk Jane and I have had since we got back from our road trip to Crete.