A ride from Penistone to Sheffield

Sunday the 23rd Feb 2025, bad weather was forecast but I decided to risk it and take the train to Penistone and cycle home on my trusty Cube e-bike. Conditions were a bit damp but manageable.

I could have used quiet roads to get across to Langsett but I chose to head west along the TPT to Bullhouse Bridge (which is closed but repairs are due soon) then a short stretch on the A628 before veering onto Fulshaw Lane. The winds were strong and I was glad to have some electrical assist although I was husbanding the power, not wishing to run out before the steep climb back to my house in Sheffield.

You soon drop down to Langsett – foregoing the pleasures of the Bank View Cafe this time – and my plan was to get onto a little-known section of the Little Don Trail that lurks in the woods, unsigned, parallel to the very busy A616. I managed that at Hollin Wood and had a very pleasant run down the disused railway line that was used to build the nearby dams. Just outside Stocksbridge, at the Equi-Trek works, you have to cross the main road – a crossing is due to be put in but at the moment there is only a pedestrian refuge to make a bit safer.

Use the pedestrian refuge just to the left of this crossing-to-be

Then you can get onto a closed bit of road but you have to climb up again at Underbank Lane to get onto the next section of the Little Don Trail which takes you above the steelworks (which is struggling at the moment apparently) and descends to Fox Valley where again there is a lack signage – you can either up and over on Samuel Fox Avenue or go through the shopping centre (it does have a Trak store ans a couple of outdoor shops) – head to the side of Aldi to get back on the trail.

That gets you through to Deepcar and by taking station road there is a link up to the TPT (Plank Gate) that’s a uphill pull and again I appreciated a bit of juice. In the future you might be able to use the Upper Don trail for a pleasant run along the river – but not yet.

Plank Gate is in pretty good shape at the moment – it gets resurfaced after forestry work) and was a thrilling run. I dropped down to Oughtibridge ambled through Beeley Woods and using the off-road path along Penistone Road, and the new roundabout at West Bar got home without getting soaked – just!

When the little Don and Upper Don trails are complete we will have some fabulous new routes and trails in this area.