Grenoside - The Hollow

DISTANCE - 4 miles (2 / 3 hours)

STARTING POINTS

Near to Old Red Lion, Main Street, Grenoside

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Most of the walk is through both deciduous and coniferous woodland offering a good selection of wildlife. Small numbers of Red Deer are found in Wharncliffe Woodlands and it may be possible to catch a glimpse of one - if you are lucky. A point near the end of this walk offers one of the best views of South Yorkshire.

ROUTE INSTRUCTIONS

From the Old Red Lion Public House walk up Main Street for about 50 yards and turn left onto the footpath which passes in front of the stone cottages. As the footpath enters Wheata Wood take the path which bears left. Follow the path until it emerges at some houses and continue along the lane between the houses. At the end turn sharp right up Bower Lane (TPT).

Over the stone stile at the top of the lane and follow the footpath straight on up Rough Lane. Squeeze past the gate at the top of the lane and take either (original path) straight on keeping the stone wall on your right and through the gap at the top or after 15 yards cross over the stone stile on your right into the wood and bear left on the woodland path. Both paths join about 100 yards ahead. When the stone wall finishes go straight on down hill for a short distance to a crosspaths. Turn right through the wood. After some 300 yards you then have another choice (a) keep to the main path, or (b) original - over a stone stile
across the corner of the field to the right corner and over the next stone stile where the paths join.

Follow the path straight on through the large beech trees onto Woodhead Road. Turn left and walk about of a mile and take the 2nd path on your left. (The woodland car park being the first). Into Hollow Bank Wood and bear right following the track (TPT). After about 200 yards leave the TPT track and bear left down the banking which ends at a field side. (You will pass the large mast on your right). At the bottom of the track turn right along the fieldside with the stone wall and Hollow Bank Wood on your right. (You can see 'The Hollow'across the fields). Continue to the field corner, over the stone stile, turn left and follow the wall down to a track which divides the fields.

Cross the field (with the new stable buildings on your right) to a stone stile beneath a large holly tree. (This is an ideal time to have a rest and view the woodlands and beyond). Over the stile and turn sharp right past some holly bushes keeping the new buildings on your right. Keep to the path with the stone wall in view on your right.

Turn right at the field corner and follow the path until it joins a muddy track crossing it out of the field. Turn left here over a small wooden bridge and follow this wide track through Prior Royd Wood to Hunter House Farm.

Just before you reach the farm turn left up a steep path for about 300 yards to a stone stile, over the stile and left following the wall on your left to the top of the hill then bear right. This is a good point to catch your breath and pick out landmarks both east and west.

Here must be one of' the best viewpoints in South Yorkshire! Again, you have a choice

(a) original - continue along and turn left down Hill Top Lane, then bear left at the bottom onto Topside. Turn right at the end down Bower Lane, then second left along Cupola Lane. Finally, emerge on Main Street at the Old Red Lion.

(b) straight down the wood path and you will eventually pass buildings on your right. At the cross paths turn left and after 50 yards right down a narrow path - then keep to the right to the start of the walk.