Walk Summary
The Penistone Boundary Walk north of the Trans Pennine Trail. A walk through fields and woodland with ample opportunity to view birds, insects and flowers. Passes Scout Dyke Reservoir where Cormorants parade their feathers and Great Crested Grebes dive for their dinners.
Date: 15/09/2021
Length: 11.23 miles
Height Gain: 248 m
Terrain: Fields, boggy paths, grass, steps, stony track, lightly used roads
Navagation: Good. Signage good.
Start: Parking near Penistone Cycles in Penistone
Route: Penistone, TPT East, Whin Moor, Gunthwaite, Scout Dyke, TPT West
Map: OL1 Dark Peak Area
Weather: Cloudy/sunny
Walkers: Nun
Gallery
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Captain's Log
Penistone Boundary Walk North
The Penistone Boundary Walk is a 16 mile walk around the town of Penistone. The Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) bisects the Penistone Boundary Walk in half. My route was on the northern half.
The walk started along the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT), a national trail that links the east and west coast. The trail bypassed Penistone town centre before meeting up with the Penistone Boundary Walk. A bit of pavement walking and I arrived at the Penistone Recycling Centre; an odd location to include on a boundary walk around a town. The reason is that behind the site is a delightful packhorse bridge that takes you over the River Don. This led to fields and an escape into the country.
Macro World
The weather forecast was for a cloudy day and so I decided to take my macro lens. The problem when I take my macro lens on a walk is that I get totally absorbed in photographing the macro world. Your attention is drawn to what is happening in this small world. Consequently I find my 'macro walks' take much longer than my 'normal' walks.
The Penistone Boundary Walk crosses fields and woodland and provides ample material for macro photography. Other wildlife was on show too and within a couple of miles of Penistone, I'd already spotted a Barn Owl perched on a tree near a barn.
Luna
Near Tinker Farm I chatted with a man with a young Husky. I'd followed him grimly across field that had horse manure on the top. His dog was called Luna. He said he had got it from a rescue centre. The dog looked a bit feisty and I wasn't surprised to hear 'Slow Down Luna! Slow Down!' being shouted as they followed behind me.
Hoylandswaine
The forecasters had got it wrong and it was a lovely sunny day as I walked along Cross Lane at Penistone. The hedgerows were a hive of activity and I got totally absorbed in photographing some ladybirds. 'Good Morning!'. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I was concentrating so much I'd failed to notice the woman approaching down the lane.
From Hoylandswaine the walk headed off into the wooded area of Gunthwaite. The path leading up to the Huddersfield railway line had overgrown somewhat and the nettles made their presence known.
Scout Dyke Reservoir
The picnic site at the Scout Dyke Reservoir gave an opportunity for lunch. A robin on a nearby bush sang a song and took a keen interest in what I was eating. I wasn't sure whether it was an avian busker.
The water level was low in the reservoir. The Cormorants dried their feathers on the banks of the dam. Great Crested Grebes dived for their dinners.
There was more field walking to Thurlstone where I gained access to the TPT and a short walk back to the car park.
It was good to have a day looking at the smaller world, rather than far off landscapes.
