WHERE CAN WE RIDE?
Fact sheet No. 2
Dove Valley Trail
Barnsley Council has embraced the Trans Pennine trail idea much more so than Kirklees it would seem. As a result they have had dedicated off-road cycle routes for a number of years now. So long in fact, that some are beginning to fall into disrepair. However, off road cycle routes come in all shapes and sizes and they can’t all be Spen Valley greenways!
The Dove Valley trail runs from Silkstone towards Wombwell and beyond passing through Dodworth and Worsborough and forms part of the National Trans Pennine trail. It connects with the Penistone to Sheffield leg via a short technical section between four lane ends (Travellers Rest pub) and Oxspring.
The surface and gradients on this ride are a little more challenging than most but all of it has been ridden with an 18 month old in a rear child seat.
The total out and back ride is 20 miles but being an out and back with the café stop ½ way along the out leg you can ride as far as you like.
Where to park
The ‘official start’ of this ride is four lane ends on the A629 1½ miles south east of Hoylandswaine roundabout.
There is limited parking at a number of places around the four lane ends junction.
Travelling from Ingbirchworth on the A629 go straight across the roundabout at Hoylandswaine where the A628 from Penistone crosses. Descend the hill for about 1 mile passing under some large power lines and pylons. As the road levels and starts to climb look for telegraph wires passing overhead and a small farm on the left side close to the road, opposite this is a bright green ‘Trans Pennine trail’ sign pointing down a narrow lane.
Turn sharp right into this narrow lane where you will see a large grass verge on the left hand side on which to park. As this is an access road to Willow Lane farm please park considerately.
After prolonged rain the verge may be a bit soft, if so then limited on road parking is available in the lay by beyond the Travellers Rest pub. To find this, rejoin the A629 turning right away from the roundabout, descend the hill through the crossroads past the Travellers rest, and the lay by is on the left with a phone box attached.
Further limited parking is also available where Coates Lane meets Bird Lane. To find this climb up the hill (Coates Lane) at the side of the Travellers Rest ignoring the left fork for the TPT continue round the right hander and Bird Lane joins from the right 100 yards further on where there is some space for parking.
How to find the route
Assuming you’ve parked on the farm lane verge return to the A629 where there is an excellent red tarmac cycle lane/footpath along side the A629 which after crossing over, takes you down to the four lane ends crossroads & the Travellers Rest.
At the Travellers Rest turn left into Coates Lane and up the short climb where a left fork at the top (TPT sign) takes you along a stony track to Far Coates farm.
Keep left through the farmyard and descend yet stonier track for about ½ mile until another TPT sign and information board takes you right through a gate and onto a slightly better surface.
The next ½ mile or so is down a path created especially for the Dove Valley trail to avoid a long rail tunnel. As a result it is downhill for the first ¾ mile until the new path joins the old tracked.
The route crosses a number of roads along the way, mostly minor, including one with a cyclist operated ‘toucan’ crossing.
The first road crossing is Knabbs lane (a continuation of Coates lane mentioned earlier). A little further on, the old track bed is reached and it is now mostly level cycling (actually slightly downhill) all the way to the café.
Easy and Short ride option to the café (6 ml out and back)
For those wanting a shorter, less technical ride to the café and back then some parking is available on the verge directly adjacent to the TPT at Silkstone Common.
To find the parking and access point, follow the previous instructions to the Travellers Rest at 4 lane ends and turn left up Coates Lane immediately after the pub. This road becomes Knabbs Lane a bit further on and after about 1 ½ miles the TPT crosses just after the 30mph sign as you enter Silkstone Common.
Continue into the village looking out for the 2 pubs facing each other across the road – the ‘Station Inn’ on the left and the ‘Bonny Bunch of Roses’ on the right. Turn right immediately after the latter and down the hill. About ½ a mile down, the road passes under the railway (TPT) bridge.
There is some parking here beside the road. The gate and access ramp is next to the bridge, enter the gate, climb the ramp and bear left (west) along the TPT.
The surface is mostly cinders with a few short stretches of tarmac further on and passes over the M1 with interesting (clearly ‘official’) graffiti decorating it.
Once over the motorway, the TPT crosses a minor track before meeting the road on the old level crossing at Worsborough. Go straight over the road (with care) and continue along the TPT for a few more yards.
The café is signed to the left whilst to the right is access to Worsborough Mill Country Park – well worth a visit if you have time. Binoculars are a good idea to spot the birdlike on the reservoir.
The Café [open 10; 00 - 4:00 all week]
Wigfield Farm Café is excellent. It is much more than a café with a brilliant kids play area and an open farm to rival the one at Cannon Hall.
There are some cycle racks to lock your bikes to and the food is simple and inexpensive.
Take your time and enjoy the visit!
For those who wish to ride further before visiting the café, continue along the TPT in a westerly direction through the toucan crossing and enjoy the luxury of tarmac for a while, as you pass through Worsborough.
After several more road crossings the trail passes under the Sheffield – Wakefield railway viaduct, soon after which we must bear right up the ramp (look for the big sign) in order to continue on the TPT.
The trail now descends down a cutting and over a couple of road bridges until we come to a T junction in the trail where Route 62 meets Route 67 as heralded by a big sign.
A right turn here takes you eastwards eventually to the East coast!
However a sharp left takes you into the centre of Barnsley on a short leg terminating near the old Oakwell football ground.
Taking this sharp left turn (signed Barnsley and Wakefield) we pass over a small dismount stile and then skirt the brickworks (look for the small brick pyramid on the left) The route around the brickworks is a bit more technical than the rest of the TPT & not quite as straight forward so a little more concentration is needed! However we are treated to yet more tarmac.
This route terminates at the railway bridge above the busy Stairfoot roundabout, where it is nice to watch the motorised madness down below from the safety of our car free tarmac strip.
There is even a drive through McDonalds with access from the TPT should you wish.
The route continues for another 1 ½ miles into Barnsley and there is a branch off travelling northwards past Cudworth.
You are now about 10 miles down the TPT (from 4 lane ends) and it’s about time to retrace back past the brickworks (don’t get lost) and to the café (again, if you called on the way out).