The Walks
I am told that I really should include some of the walks, I will try to give an accurate description of the tracks and the difficulties I have come across, please try to remember that some of the walks are not officially recognised and are just me getting off the beaten track, where possible I will include maps and directions.
26/08/2013 Bank Holiday Monday 13:00
Wantley Dragon Wood/ Bitholmes Wood
Public transport (57, platform D in the bus station) from Sheffield City Center to More Hall Lane which is between Wharncliffe Side and Deepcar, once there follow the lane up the hill, its approximately 100m and is the very first public footpath sign you come across 
make your way up the path, you really need to take in the very sweet perfume that comes from the meadow over the wall, the path isnt steep but is uphill and in places is slippery and very shaded
this path eventuall comes to a fork, to the left and back is the path to the Wantley Dragon, to the left, forward, uphill is the path across the top of Bitholmes Wood, taking in the rocky cragg, forward to the right goes into the bottom and new section of Bitholmes Wood.
As you turn to walk to the dragon there is a large five bar gate in front of you, take the small over grown path just to the right and follow it round past a bench, which by the way is well worth pausing at, the views from here are right across sheffield, round the next corner is the dragon...not more than 200m from the fork....heres the pictures anyway
Once you have been to the dragon return to the fork in the path, I took the right fork for a circular path of the lower part of Bitholme Wood, as i said it is a round walk but is only maybe a km and a half at the most in length, the path is easy to follow as it is well sign posted. The wood is a mixture of new wood and ancient wood, with your eyes open it is quite easy to spot the difference, there are young Oaks mixed in with Alder and Ash i even noticed the odd Sycamore, on the level below were Hawthorns and Blackberrys, even lower were Cranesbill, foxgloves, Ivys and some i dont recognise...
This one i dont know...
I also took note of this invader too
The wood has a good mix of wet and dry areas, note that although slippery with muddy patches the path ways are dry.
There is the constant background noise from the traffic on the A6102 Manchester Road, there is a disused tip nearby that also attracts off road bikers, whilst they do not get into the wood they do add to the noise levels.
This small wood is a real gem, it is quite unknown at the moment so the pathways are somewhat overgrown, this in itself makes it worth the walk in there. Next time i am out there i will walk the top path so that i can finish this walk.
