Route Developer: HJ
[1] At the bottom of Forest Close turn left along Middlewood Road until you reach the crossing. Cross over on to the other side of Middlewood Road and turn right. Head towards (A) Middlewood Park.
[2] Enter the park at the first entrance on your left. Walk down the path into the park and follow the path to the children’s playground. Follow the path around to the right up a slight incline past the playing fields and out of the park, turning right and back onto Middlewood Road.
[3] Follow the path back towards Forest Close. You will come to a Public Footpath sign on your right, follow this and walk down the steps into the woodland. Be careful as some of the steps are worn away – use the handrail. Follow the woodland path to the left and walk alongside the River Don.
The River Don rises in the Pennines and flows for 112km (70 miles) eastwards through the Don Valley, via Penistone, Sheffield, Rotherham, Mexborough, Conisbrough, Doncaster and Stainforth. The Don’s major tributaries are the Loxley, the Rivelin, the Sheaf, the Rother and the Dearne. The Don derives its name from Danu, a Celtic mother goddess. The Don was one of the rivers that flooded during the 2007 floods. The lower part of the Winn Gardens estate (which is situated next to Middlewood Park) was inundated by the River Don with 200 residents being evacuated and given shelter at nearby schools.
[4] At the end of the path you will come to a Rocher Bridge (a footbridge) that leads you over the river and into Beeley Wood. Instead of taking the footbridge, turn left and walk up the steep steps and back on to Middlewood Road. You will come out at the Middlewood Tavern.
This section of the A6102 road just past the Middlewood Tavern collapsed in the 2007 floods when the raised embankment was partly washed away. The road was closed for 17 months before it was finally re-opened in December 2008. Middlewood Tavern is a public house going back to 1835 when Joseph Bowden applied for a license to sell liquors on the premises.
[5] Walk back along Middlewood Road until you reach the crossing, cross over and then head back to Forest Close.