Route Developer: DB
Route Checker: Diana Grainger
Starting from Herdings Park Station.
[1] At the park exit opposite the bus stop turn left along Raeburn Road. The park exit gives extensive views over the wooded Lumb Valley. Although there are paved paths within these woods they are not easy to negotiate with pushchairs. Keep to the left hand pavement and follow Raeburn Road as it bends round and within a short distance just before the telephone box cross Raeburn Road into Constable Road. There are three steps down into Raeburn Road. Take care whilst crossing Raeburn Road. It is a fairly quiet road and you have clear views of traffic from both directions.
[2] Continue along Constable Road with its glimpses of Norton Water Tower in front of you. You will cross several minor estate roads as you continue along the road. Pass a small patch of open land on your left with a seat embedded in concrete. Ahead of you is a Co-operative mini-supermarket.
[3] Continue past the store, at the T-junction turn right along Blackstock Road, keeping to the right-hand pavement. Within a short distance you can see ahead of you the distinctive separate modernistic bell tower of the Gleadless Valley Methodist Church, built in 1960. From here you have extensive views over the Gleadless Valley estate built in the early 1960s as a ‘garden’ estate. Many place names here are associated with John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, son of Edward III and father of Henry IV. In the late fourteenth century he had extensive holdings in South Yorkshire.
[4] Upon reaching the bell tower cross Blackstock Road using the traffic island. Take care as traffic can be busy but you do have a clear view of the road in either direction. Upon crossing turn right to go past the John O’Gaunt pub, a small parade of shops, the Gleadless Valley Community Forum and the bus terminus. Continue along Blackstock Road for a short distance as the road bends left..
[5] Turn left into Gaunt Way, keeping to the left hand pavement.In autumn the last 10 yards of this path can get slippery with fallen leaves but the pavement on the other side of the road by the houses is clear. The road ends at a T-junction with a wooded valley below you. Cross over. Here you are overlooking Lees Hall Wood with Lees Hall golf course behind it. You also have good views over Sheffield city centre and can pick out the distinctive buildings of Hallamshire Hospital and Sheffield University Arts Tower.
[6] Keep on this side of the road and turn left, continuing to see the unfolding valley and paths beyond. Follow Gaunt Road as it curves gently uphill. Near the top you reach a small patch of wild land on your left just before the road goes into a small parking bay. You can follow the road round and turn right into Gaunt Drive as per the map or take the hedged pathway left just before the wild land, turn right at the end and almost immediately left into Gaunt Drive. This is a short road leading to a T-junction with Blackstock Road. Upon reaching the junction turn right and continue for a short distance to a bus stop past the telephone box up the hill.You can see Norton Water Tower ahead of you.
[7] Cross Blackstock Road at this bus-stop, taking care, and go down the footpath straight ahead of you, marked by a small stone pillar. Continue straight crossing Blackstock Drive on a further path which comes out into Mafwn Avenue. You have entered a small quiet housing estate.
[8] Turn right and at the junction turn left to continue along Mafwn Avenue past the Orpen House flats on your right. At the end of the avenue just after you have crossed Landseer Drive on your left, turn right along Gibbons Drive on your right. Turn left when you see open ground to residents` parking area.
[9] Keep the garages on your left along a short footpath with a squeeze gate at its end, to stop cycles etc. using the path. Upon reaching Sandby Drive turn left following this minor road, crossing Sandby Court on your left.
[10] At the end of the drive, on your right is St Anthony’s Catholic Church. Ahead of you is Raeburn Road. Cross Raeburn Road here and turn left to return to the station.