The morning was slightly misty but I
was still able to see a nice sunrise. Considering I was surrounded
by housing estates the area is very quiet.
I wheeled my bike back down the hill and on to 67 cycle track along
the old abandoned railway. |
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I continued along through the trees
and was glad I’d chosen last nights camp spot on the hill as my
original plan was to camp somewhere along the track, which wasn’t
very nice. |
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I emerged at Grange Lane, turned right and headed for the Monk Bretton
Priory ruins but when I got there the gates were locked and a local
told me it didn’t open till 9am. As it wasn’t 8 yet I continued into
Barnsley town centre. It was surprisingly quiet for a Thursday
morning as I’d expected a lot more commuters about. |
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The
museum was an impressive building with an interesting information
display at the front. I left the town to the NW and headed for Gawber
and A635. |
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I was concerned because I kept seeing signs saying
the A635 was closed ahead. As usual there was no information about
where or what for. After Cawthorne I came to a junction where all
traffic was being diverted left and a ‘closed’ sign was across the
right branch. I decided to risk it and continued down a long
descent. At the bottom my heart sank as I came to a construction
site and locked barriers across the road. |
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Seen in
a garden near Upper Denby |
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There was no way through.
A minor lane off to the left had a sign saying no access to Denby
Dale. My map showed a lane running through so I headed off on the
long climb up to Upper Denby. It was another hot day with
temperatures in the high 20s Centigrade. In the village I turned
left then right to rejoin my original route along the A635. On the
way I met a cyclist out on a road bike who slowed down to chat for a
while before vanishing into the distance. |
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On the
descent into Holmefirth |
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Through New Mill I came to Holmefirth
and stopped at Sid’s Café which was frequently featured in the TV
series ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ I had a scone with jam and cream
for £2.50. It was delicious. The young lady expected me to eat it
outside but I though I’d stay in for a short sit down. |
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Sid's
Cafe interior, Holmefirth |
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Scones
with jam and cream |
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I left
the café then the short ride to the house where the character Nora
Batty lived. It was along a narrow lane by the river and I’m glad I
was on a bike. It is now the ‘Wrinkled Stocking’ tearoom. I left the
town for the long haul up and over Saddleworth Moor. |
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Nora
Batty's house, Holmefirth |
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Holmefirth boundary marker |
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I was still on the A635. It was quite
steep at first and the gradient didn’t ease for some miles. Over the
summit I had a long descent of even gradient down into Greenfield.
There I had to negotiate a steep and complicated sharp junction. |
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Dovestone Reservoir on
the descent into Greenfield |
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Bright Shop Mill by the River Medlock.
Built in 1907 on the site of the Wellington Coal Pit. |
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Site of
the Bright Shop Mill by the River Medlock.
Built in 1907 on the site of the Wellington Coal Pit.
The circular brick structure is the base of the chimney. |
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Some
narrow lanes are used for fly tipping |
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Road
heading under the Manchester
and Ashton under Lyne Canal |
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On the outskirts of Oldham I took a very
minor lane to avoid the traffic. By the River Medlock I rode through
some sort of nature reserve where mines and mills used to be. In Failsworth
I joined the Rochdale Canal towpath which is also the 66 cycle
route. |
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I had to wheel my bike down steep steps to get onto it.
It was a pleasant ride but I left after a mile to head for Harpurhey.
In Pendlebury I stopped by a memorial to commemorate the Agecroft
Colliery that used to be on the site. There is no sign of it now as
it closed in 1990. An old lady got off the bus and we had a short
chat about her memories of the colliery and how the Miner’s strike
split many families in the area, including her own. I rode on
through Swinton and Walkden to join the A6 for the final leg home. I
was home by 16:30. |
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Agecroft
Colliery memorial |
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Return to
Whittle Wanderer
