Todays walk in detail

After some light early morning rain, the skies cleared as twenty-three walkers set off from Cawthorne Village Green. We passed the parish church and followed the steep lane down into the village before heading towards the park. In the formal gardens, we diverted briefly through Fairyland to see the recently renovated plunge pool. Continuing uphill, we reached Cannon Hall for a group photograph, then completed our circuit of the park, passing the Deer Shelter and descending to the lakeside for another photograph on the footbridge. We continued along to Cawthorne Cricket Ground for our first refreshment break. The route then followed the River Dearne across the fields, passing Cinder Hill Farm, before a further drinks break and a gradual climb along a bridleway to the busy A635. Turning left, we followed the road to Barnby Basin, once the terminus of the Silkstone Branch of the former Barnsley Canal and part of the area's coal transport network. After carefully crossing the A635, we joined the Silkstone Waggonway, constructed in 1809. Here we saw evidence of the concrete sleepers that supported the iron rails used by horse-drawn wagons to carry coal between the local collieries and the canal basin. A final bridleway brought us back to the A635. After another careful crossing, we returned to Cawthorne and the Spencer Arms, where welcome refreshments were enjoyed outside in the afternoon sunshine. A varied and enjoyable walk, combining attractive parkland and open countryside with reminders of the area's fascinating industrial history.My thanks to everybody who supported my walk today and, in particular, Andrew Wright for back marking and Steve Harrison for doing the walk recce with me last month.