Summary: You will really enjoy our walk today; the vast majority of it is on level trails and in open countryside. On the day of this recce, Jane and I did the walk in less than 3hrs but we will allow a little longer for the group.... there shouldn’t be any problems with timings.

The walk in more detail…… Not long after leaving the coach at Mosborough Hall (a Best Western Plus Hotel), we’ll enter a very long ginnel – protecting Eckington Hall from our prying eyes with its  high walls - as we head due west to get out into the open countryside.

The next section is down hill (though not too steep) as we head towards the Sheffield Country Walk path which runs along the valley bottom. After a short while we briefly touch on the very edge of Eckington as we head to open fields which will lead us to the Trans Pennine Trail.

Once on the ‘trail’ we’ll head south to start a little loop that is one mile around and will arrive back at the same point on the trail.... this serves two purposes as it makes the walk a suitable length for our limited time and it also reduces the length of walking in a straight line along the TPT. At the bottom point of this loop we’ll pick up the Cuckoo Way – a 46 mile long towpath as it follows the Chesterfield Canal on its journey from Chesterfield to West Stockwith before joining the River Trent. This section of the canal is disused now though.

Returning to the TPT, we’ll walk along it for about 1.5 miles but the journey will be broken by a stop at Eckington Station (a former station on the trail) for a refreshment break whilst sitting on the old raised platform.

Leaving the TPT after brushing alongside the parish of Killamarsh we’ll head due west on a tarmac path – this type of surface will be with us all of the way back to the Hotel but, at around the 6 mile mark, we start to regain the height that we lost during the first section of our walk…… it’s not too steep though!!! We follow a lot of pedestrian footpaths around the houses, which is good as it keeps us away from the roads. After exactly seven miles we will arrive at the Hotel for the ‘secondary’ event of the day.... our dinners etc. !!!                  

Some of you ‘might’ find the use of a walking pole helpful whilst doing the first section of our walk as we will be going downhill for part of it – who knows what the weather will be like on the day???

Other than that, the walk should be lovely and leisurely.

                                                                                       ENJOY YOUR DAY  !!!!

Short Walk - Leaders - Elaine, Jean & Isobel. Distance - 4 miles. Ascent - 480 feet. Linear.       

 Since the walk is relatively short at around 4 miles we may have time on arrival at Mosborough Hall for drinks before starting the walk and still have sufficient time after the walk to change into our festive outfits!  However, it would be a good idea to bring a drink with you in case we are pushed for time or the Hotel is too busy on the morning to  serve us.

We begin with a short walk along Sheffield Road before turning right along a narrow ginnel with high stone walls on either side which allow Eckington Hall, on the left, privacy from passersby.

Our route soon leads into open countryside as we continue westwards, descending steadily towards a narrow quiet lane which leads into Cadman Wood. We continue our descent through the wood, but now eastwards, until we meet the footbridge at the junction with Twelve Acre Wood where we once again head west following the course of Moss Beck along the Sheffield Country Walk.

We intend to walk only as far as the footbridge which goes over the beck before retracing our steps back to Mosborough. The last time we did this walk the beck was flooded and difficult to cross and it is more than likely to be the same this time.

The return part of the walk will obviously involve more ascent since much of the early sections were downhill but the overall ascent is manageable and will be taken at a leisurely pace.

If you have a walking pole it would be advisable to bring it along since the paths will almost certainly be wet and tricky at this time of the year.

We hope you enjoy the walk. Happy Christmas to you all.