Walk Summary
A walk along the Trans Pennine Trail. Expansive views to the Pennines from Hartcliff Hill. Pleasant walk through fields and tracks.
Date: 03/10/2021
Length: 8.08 miles
Height Gain: 151 m
Terrain: Flat National Trail, boggy paths, grass, steps, stony track, lightly used roads
Navagation: Good. Signage good. One tricky section near Hartcliff Hill (instructions noted on map)
Start: Parking near Penistone Cycles in Penistone
Route: Penistone, TPT West, Ecklands, Hartcliff Hill, Doubting Lane, Castle Hill House, TPT East
Map: OL1 Dark Peak Area
Weather: Sun and showers
Walkers: Nun
Gallery
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Roy Moor Wind Farm
Captain's Log
Penistone Boundary Walk South
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 southern half.
The sun was out and there was a blue sky as I walked westwards on the TPT. Interestingly it was also raining heavily too. The TPT is a trail that runs east to west, coast to coast and runs through Penistone. It is a disused railway track and provides easy walking. Plenty of people were out on the trail including some 'virtual' London Marathon runners. I encouraged one with a 'Keep it up' but got no response. The view was mostly blocked by trees and embankment out of Penistone, but by Thurlstone the windmills on Royd Moor could be seen. A lovely rainbow gave the scene a dash of colour.
Hartcliff Hill
I left the TPT and crossed a field towards Ecklands. The accompanying field had a number of cars, tents, tables and portaloos. It looked like this was the base for the 'virtual london marathon'. The wind was blowing so hard it looked like the tents were struggling to stay on the ground. The route followed farm tracks until it reached Hartcliff Road. There is a particularly dangerous bend (for walkers) when heading uphill on this road and I avoided it by climbing up to Hartcliff Hill (see map). It is worth doing this diversion anyway since the view from Hartcliff was amazing. I could see over to Howden Moors and right the way across to Black Hill and the Southern Pennines. Once I was back on the road, I sat down on a roadside bench for a rest. A Kestrel appeared and almost hovered above me. It enjoyed surfing the strong winds that blew from the moors. It was accompanied by a flock of Lapwings that struggled bravely into the wind towards Pike Lowe.
Hartcliff Hill Kestrel
Doubting Lane Kestrel
Kestrel And Crows
Along Doubting Lane I spotted another Kestrel on a telephone wire. Two crows appeared and there then ensued a Kestrel-Crow dog fight. I always wonder why Kestrels don't put up more of a fight with crows. Sure, the crows are a little bigger, but I would have thought the Kestrel's talons are a little sharper. Two against one though, maybe the Kestrel did the right thing.
Kestrel Crow Dog Fight
Joan Royd Lane Horse
Hairy Horse
On Joan Royd Lane a chestnut coloured horse was grazing. The wind was blowing the hair of its long mane and tail. It looked very contented. The route followed some field and wall hopping until it hit the TPT again. The trail followed the railway track past Penistone railway station, bypassed the town centre, before reaching the car park.