Weekend Walk: Denby Dale Circular

It follows some lovely old bridleways and well-waymarked field paths and passes two reservoirs, Ingbirchworth Reservoir and the much smaller Square Wood Reservoir. The latter closed in the 1930s after its water was implicated in a typhoid outbreak. Denby Dale lies on the upper reaches of the River Dearne and once had numerous textile mills. Springfield Mill, seen near the start of the walk, made silk for the wedding dress of the late Queen Mother. The town is famous for baking giant pies, which started in 1788 to celebrate the recovery of King George III from mental illness. Look out for tufted ducks and dabchicks on Square Wood Reservoir.

1. Start from the Post Office on the main street, Wakefield Road (A636). Go down Norman Road and at the bottom continue ahead up Trinity Drive. Pass Holy Trinity Church and follow the path ahead through a small park to Barnsley Road (A635). Turn left for a short distance, cross the road with care to walk up Broombank. Near the top of the cul-de-sac find a path going right which leads under the railway line to the edge of Hagg Wood.

2. Turn left and follow a good bridleway, muddy at first after rain, but partly cobbled. At the edge of Upper Denby it meets a track which swings right to eventually become the tarmac Bank Lane. At the B6115 Denby Lane turn right. Further along the road turn right, crossing with care to follow the Trans Pennine Trail sign. Keep with this bridleway as it skirts Margaret Wood and goes uphill to cross fields.

3. Take a track going right on the fields section then follow the Trans Pennine Way left to Ingbirchworth. At the A629 Barnsley Road cross with care to continue on this route, forking slightly left to follow High Lane across fields. At the end turn right on Annat Royd Lane and at Ingbirchworth Reservoir follow it left. Past the reservoir look for a footpath turning on the right for Broadstone Lodge and once there follow the path right to join Green Lane walk to the busy A629 Penistone Road.

4. Turn left and after a short distance cross with care to take a farm access road downhill. Before farm gates take a stile on the right and walk along the field bottom to a gateless wall gap. Turn left downhill and follow the vague path to the right of an old hut. Aim for a gap between a wall and holly tree and keep with the path to the far end of Square Wood Reservoir.

5. Cross a wall stile and walk ahead to a farm road. Turn left and follow it past Wood Farm. In woodland turn right and follow the good road down to the A635 Barnsley Road. Cross with care, turn left then right at a junction to follow the Wakefield Road (A636)back to the centre of Denby Dale.

Difficulty Rating: 2 stars

Time: 3 hours

Distance: 6 1/2 miles

Map: OS Explorer 288, Bradford & Huddersfield

Parking: Denby Dale

Public transport: Denby Dale is served by Huddersfield-Sheffield trains on the Penistone Line, and bus routes from Huddersfield, Wakefield and Barnsley. For times visit www.wymetro.com or call 0113 245 7676.

Refreshments: Denby Dale, Upper Denby, Ingbirchworth.

Toilets: For refreshment customers.