Tree Troublers

There were occasional breaks in the woodland offering wonderful glimpses along the valley. At one spot I looked across the valley to some residential flats on the outskirts of Sheffield. It seemed odd to be in this natural environment with a massive city on the doorstep. From my previous time along this route I'd remembered a bench at a viewpoint just before reaching Lodge Lane. I intended sitting down there to eat an apple. When I got there I was surprised to find three teenage girls sat down chatting. It was only 08:15; shouldn't they be in bed asleep? I did think about asking them to udge up so I could sit down, but I didn't think my request would be well received. Instead I wandered to the viewpoint and admired the panorama westwards over the wooded valley to the Rivelin Dams.

I continued along the valley rim. A few dog walkers were about and an old lady filled a plastic tub with blackberries. I'd not yet eaten all those that I'd picked on yesterday's walk and so I left her to it.  The track eventually started swinging around to the south-west and I could hear the tumble of water; I was approaching Wyming Brook.  I used the stepping stones to cross the brook and made my way up to a track to the carpark. Normally the carpark would be busy, but it was empty today. I then noticed that the footpath down the west side of Wyming Brook had been taped off. 'Aye, aye' I thought. I read a couple of notices that explained that the Tree Troublers were having some fun around the Rivelin reservoirs and that footpaths had consequently been closed. This would affect my return journey. They offered an alternative route that seemed to run parallel to the A57. I'd been looking forward to the pretty route alongside the Rivelin reservoirs, but it looked like my plan had now been scuppered. There was nothing for it, but to plod on and deal with whatever was presented to me when I reached the Rivelin reservoirs.

Redmires Reservoirs

I left the trees behind and followed the road around to Wyming Farm. Just beyond the farm I followed a track that linked me up with the path that goes around the Redmires reservoirs. There are three reservoirs: Upper, Middle and Lower. There were plenty of dog walkers and runners out today. The path offers fine views across the reservoir. Normally I'd seen a lot of birdlife around the reservoir, but they were mostly absent today. I could see a lot of white speckles on the surface of the Upper reservoir, on its far side, which I took to be gulls. A few notices pinned to posts said that the water vole population was thriving in this area. I kept a canny eye out but I didn't see any. Some bagged dog poo cairns brought me to the Redmires Road. I'm not sure whether the bags had been deposited there for somebody to pickup on their return or whether they'd just been left for us all to admire and enjoy.

Further down the road I joined a signed footpath at the carpark, and I headed off northwards across the moor. When I'd been walking around the reservoirs I'd noticed some figures and what looked like a car, on the top of the hill that I was now approaching. I had wondered if it was the Tweed Trouser Brigade out on manoeuvres and whether they might have closed the moor to public access. When I approached the summit I came across a group of teenagers hauling a load of camping equipment back down to the road. It was obviously a tent that I'd seen on the summit and not a car. With some relief, I plodded on northwards.

The Head Stone

Further along, a water conduit contoured around the hillside and then headed back to the Upper Redmires reservoir. It appeared that no drop of water is wasted on this moor. My presence scattered a flock of sheep from the track a few minutes later. As I continued on, one of them started following me about 30 metres behind and was quite vocal with a surprisingly piercing bleat.  I'd stop and turn around to look at her, and she would stop and just look at me. I'd set off and she'd follow me bleating aloud again. It was a bit like playing a game of 'What Time Is It Mrs Sheep.? At a crossroads of paths I headed off left towards the Head Stone, and my new, noisy friend still  kept trailling me.

I disturbed some more sheep when I reached the rocky outcrop of the Head Stone.  Fortunately, my recent fan joined them and finally shut up bleating. The rock was very impressive and is actually visible from the A57 as you drive along. It is also know as John Stump and is said to turn around on a 'certain' morning each year on hearing the cocks-crow. I waited a while but no rock turning took place. There again, I didn't hear any cocks crowing either. I also read that visitors in late August with the sun highlighting its western face, have also reported seeing human face. I had a look, but I didn't see a face that I recognised.

I headed back to the crossroads of tracks and continued on eastwards along Head Stone Bank. I picked up at track to the right that took me into  Reddicar Clough and deposited me on to the Rivelin reservoir track. From my review of the maps at Wyming Clough, earlier this morning, I'd expected to see a lot of Tree Troubler's tape and notices at this point, preventing further progress down the track. There was nothing. Maybe the reservoir track was still open? I couldn't face going to see and then having to retrace my steps and so I followed the track the other way up Rivelin Brook and then across a bridge to the A57. The Tree Troublers had offered an alternative route at this point, but there weren't any notices around. I could see the A57. Oh, and there was the pavement running alongside it. Hmmm, maybe my expectation of a newly laid woodland track had been a little too ambitious.

Rivelin Rough

I walked along the pavement alongside the A57 towards Sheffield. The road wasn't that busy and so it wasn't too bad. I did get a good view of the reservoirs from the elevated position of the roadside. I could see exposed areas below where the Tree Troublers had nuked the trees. It wasn't long before I reached the dam of the Rivelin Lower reservoir. I could see that the Tree Troublers had blocked the other end of the dam and so I'm glad that I'd not attempted the reservoir track.

The last leg of my journey was to take a woodland route through a woodland area known as Rivelin Rough and then drop down through fields to the carpark. The woodland part of the route was only about 3/4 of a mile. From my previous walk through here in 2020, I'd found it a bit rough, but not really a problem. The track initially was well defined but it soon become overgrown with ferns. A sign said that this was a conservation area and that I should follow the yellow marked posts. I found two of them (the same number as in 2020) and then they disappeared. I came across a swing that somebody had strung up from a branch.  At least somebody else had been here. After the swing all semblance of a track vanished. I started wading through chest high ferns. Then brambles started clawing at my clothes and bare arms and these stalled my progress forward. I went through areas where the leaves of the ferns hid fallen trees or mossy boulders and I fell over a couple of times. About 300 metres from the end of the woods I came to a steep section where I just couldn't progress forward. I tried two different attack routes but it was useless. I just couldn't physically go forward...I had to go back. My clothes were drenched with sweat and my arms were bloodied from the thorns. Flies dive bombed my face. I thought I heard some voices, but it may well have been hallucinations. There was nothing for it, I'd have to turn around. If the outward journey had been bad, then the return journey was horrendous. I didn't find any semblance of track until I was about 150 metres from the entrance at the A57. I staggered on to the pavement, squinting at the bright sun. I'm not sure what passing motorists thought of the ragged, bloodied figure sat weeping on the kerb side, but I can confirm that nobody stopped to find out. 

Return

I started walking along the pavement again alongside the A57. Rivelin Rough Woods looked quite enchanting from the roadside. Nobody knew what hell lay in there. It took me less than 15 minutes to cover the distance that had taken me an hour and a quarter in the woods. It was supposed to have been an easy walking day, today. It had turned into an epic.

The carpark was full when I got back and somebody had parked in the centre of the carpark directly behind me. I was in such a mood that I was in a mind to ram the blocking car and force my way out, but instead I opted for a 23 point turn.

With the exception of Rivelin Rough Woods, the day had been really enjoyable. It was a shame the Tree Troublers had closed the track alongside the Rivelin reservoirs. In the above map, the yellow line shows the route that I took. The red line shows the intended track through Rivelin Rough Woods. I managed about 2/3rds of this today before having to retreat back to the A57. If I did this walk again, then I'd make use of the  'alternative' section to the south of the Rivelin reservoirs. That route is pleasant, has good views of the reservoirs, and avoids most of the A57 pavement plodding.