Howell Wood, Great Houghton, Clayton, Grimethorpe & Brierley Common
October and Autumn is an ideal time to do this mainly woodland walk. Twenty-six of us began our walk from Howell Woods, near South Kirby. Only nine miles away from our Spread at Darrington and it's one of the nicest woods you could visit. However, the woods are under threat from HS2 Phase 2 which passes through from Leeds. This is one of 47 Ancient woods that will in some way be destroyed; Howell Woods will be a direct loss.
The foliage colours were an amazing sight as we traced our way through the many available paths in Howell Wood. We descended a well marked path across a field to an isolated farmstead, where loose chickens and Shetland ponies were among us as we walked through to our next wood; Challenger Wood, near Clayton. The name seemed apt as we turned right off the Wakefield Way, where we encountered bramble, ruts and slippery stones on our way. I did slip on one stone and got tangled a couple of times in the bramble. Also I tripped in a rut while avoiding three horse riders who were passing through.
From the "challenge" wood we arrived at a road and stopped for refreshments. We were sad to see so much rubbish dumped at this point, and I really wonder what kind of person can live their life in this way? Really sad....
The next stretch was a wide open space of farmland. The path is not clearly marked but it is permissible and official. It passes through three fields until reaching the outskirts of Great Houghton. We only skim the edge of all the villages as there isn't much to see; they are mining villages of times gone by, mainly housing and a few shops is all. Onwards on Park Lane to the next woodland, New Park Spring. The area appears to have been used for 4x4 off-roading, with deep ruts and damage to trees all around. There are signs displayed but rules seem to be made to be broken. It didn't spoil our walk at all as we delved deeply into the next woods-Haigh and Lady Wood. Many paths here, in fact if you don't have maps it would be easy to loose yourself!
We emerged at a busy road which after a 150 yards needs to crossed with caution. There is a care home at this point which you pass on the left to the final path back to Howell Wood. 6.5 miles in total, and around 3 hours.
Unfortunately, we didn't book for our pub stop at Burntwood Hotel and Spa. The place was nothing less than heaving, the queues endless and even getting a drink was impossible. So from here we split after trying to find alternative restaurants; some went back to the Spread, and a party of 12 went to the Carleton Hotel and managed to get a Sunday lunch and drinks. A great day!
Photos from Fiona, Paul and Phil.
The foliage colours were an amazing sight as we traced our way through the many available paths in Howell Wood. We descended a well marked path across a field to an isolated farmstead, where loose chickens and Shetland ponies were among us as we walked through to our next wood; Challenger Wood, near Clayton. The name seemed apt as we turned right off the Wakefield Way, where we encountered bramble, ruts and slippery stones on our way. I did slip on one stone and got tangled a couple of times in the bramble. Also I tripped in a rut while avoiding three horse riders who were passing through.
From the "challenge" wood we arrived at a road and stopped for refreshments. We were sad to see so much rubbish dumped at this point, and I really wonder what kind of person can live their life in this way? Really sad....
The next stretch was a wide open space of farmland. The path is not clearly marked but it is permissible and official. It passes through three fields until reaching the outskirts of Great Houghton. We only skim the edge of all the villages as there isn't much to see; they are mining villages of times gone by, mainly housing and a few shops is all. Onwards on Park Lane to the next woodland, New Park Spring. The area appears to have been used for 4x4 off-roading, with deep ruts and damage to trees all around. There are signs displayed but rules seem to be made to be broken. It didn't spoil our walk at all as we delved deeply into the next woods-Haigh and Lady Wood. Many paths here, in fact if you don't have maps it would be easy to loose yourself!
We emerged at a busy road which after a 150 yards needs to crossed with caution. There is a care home at this point which you pass on the left to the final path back to Howell Wood. 6.5 miles in total, and around 3 hours.
Unfortunately, we didn't book for our pub stop at Burntwood Hotel and Spa. The place was nothing less than heaving, the queues endless and even getting a drink was impossible. So from here we split after trying to find alternative restaurants; some went back to the Spread, and a party of 12 went to the Carleton Hotel and managed to get a Sunday lunch and drinks. A great day!
Photos from Fiona, Paul and Phil.