River Loxley and Acorn Hill

[1] From Malin Bridge Tram Stop, continue along Loxley New Road and into Loxley Road. Turn left at the public footpath sign after 100 yards and follow the River Loxley to a dam (A) in an attractive wooded setting. Continue on the natural path between dam and river to a weir. Weirs like this were created to raise the river level, thus allowing water to be diverted into artificially created mill ponds to hold the water required to power the waterwheels. Ascend the steps and turn left to continue upstream. Climb some steps and go straight on at the junction along a level tarmac lane, which soon becomes an unmade track.

[2] Continue along the lane past what used to be mill workers cottages and turn left at the junction beyond the Mill Dam car park. Pass another row of cottages and turn left at the footpath sign in front of a barn to rejoin the river. Follow this easy going trail past a dam to the road, where there is an information panel on the Loxley.

[3] Turn left then left again at the public footpath sign after 50 yards. Cross the packhorse bridge, ascend the concrete steps and turn left at the end of the handrail on the path signed Acorn Hill and Stannington. Follow the steep, stone-flagged path to a squeezer stile and continue up the hill to the next stile. Turn left then right to continue the ascent of Acorn Hill (B). Upon reaching the road, turn immediately left back onto the hillside, following the summit path with a precipitous drop to your left, from which you are protected by a fence. Keep right at the fork on the higher path, but branch left after crossing a stream and just before the path becomes cobbled. Rejoin the fence and stay with the edge to join a lane.

[4] Turn left along what soon becomes a gently descending footpath. Continue round to the right where it becomes a wider track to reach the isolated Robin Hood (C), sadly no longer a pub, despite the sign still being in place. Continue down the pleasant quiet lane to a junction and turn left on Myers Grove Lane. Turn left at the end and follow the right-hand pavement to cross Stannington Road opposite the Anvil pub. Go straight on down the public bridleway and turn left at the junction. Cross the road at the lights and turn right. Just beyond the Loxley is the restored grade II listed Malin Bridge Corn Mill (D), which was used to grind knives in the 18^th Century. It was destroyed in the flood of 1864, rebuilt as a corn mill and operated until 1956. Though now converted into apartments, the undershot waterwheel, which was renovated in 2008, can still be seen. Cross over to the Yew Tree Inn and turn right back to the tram stop, which is also close to bus stops for SL2, 11, 12 and 61. 

Streams draining from Bradfield Moor gather in Damflask Reservoir below Low Bradfield and flow as the Loxley for six miles to the Don at Owlerton. During its short course the Loxley descends 280ft (85m), which made it a perfect source of power for industry. Corn mills were in operation as early as the 13^th Century. Cutlers’ wheels for making knives and forks and sickles and scythes appeared in the 16^th Century. During the Industrial Revolution of the 19^th Century the cutlers’ wheels were replaced by forges. The Loxley is most famous for the Great Sheffield Flood, the 20^th most disastrous flood in world history. Shortly after its completion in March 1864, Dale Dyke dam wall collapsed, releasing a devastating torrent of water down the Loxley Valley all the way into the city centre and beyond. Every bridge and 800 houses were swept away, 20 in Malin Bridge. Over 100 of the 270 people that died lived here.

These walks have been developed for Walk About Hillsborough by Rob Haslam, author of Walking South Yorkshire. See it on Amazon.co.uk.