This route starts on one of the better quality cycle routes in Sheffield. Starting at Meadowhall, it follows the course of a disused railway along the Blackburn Valley as far as Ecclesfield – you can get to Chapeltown but there are rough sections beyond Butterthwaite Lane. Running parallel are the M1, the Sheffield – Barnsley railway (why two railways were needed along here is beyond me) and the busy B6082, so there is some competition for your transport choice (although I know which one I prefer.)
Trail access is easy at Meadowhall with regular trains from Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Doncaster. (Supertram come here as well but have no use for your money unless you have a folding bike or are on foot. )
The first part of the trail is on NCN67 and links to NCN6 at Meadowhall. If from Meadowhall Interchange – head for the Park and Ride and follow the signs.
Getting round Meadowhall from the Five Weirs Walk can be tricky – go straight past the shopping mall, under the bridges and then do a U-turn to get onto Meadowhall Way. Cross by the Sainsburys petrol station with great care, veer right, under the railway bridge and keep to the left as you enter the car park to follow the link onto the trail.
There are some unnecessarily draconian access barriers as you leave the Interchange – you can avoid one of these by leaving via the car park, turning left onto Barrow Road and accessing the trail via the entrance to the Travelodge.
At Grange Lane, if you are heading for Parson Cross & Grenoside (For TPT West towards Manchester) turn left onto the road and right onto Ecclesfield Rd. Note this is a diversion from the “official” route which is not usable with a bike. Pick up the route about a quarter of a mile along to the left. Our route continues on a paved surface. About half-a-mile further along the trail leaves the old railway and you can head north on the Trans-Pennine Trail towards Thorpe Hesley, Wentworth and Barnsley, Leeds and York or East to Hull, while the link to Chapeltown is straight on.
For an on-road journey to Chapeltown continue on the signed track to Butterthwaite Farm, and when you reach the junction carry straight on Loicher Lane until you come down to Ecclesfield, then continue on the A6135. But you can continue on the old railway alignment on a good quality track until you come to a business park that has a rough track encircling it. We recommend the lower track which comes out on an access road into the Business Park – use the cycle track and at the far end look for the continuation of the route on the other side of the A629.
This continues along the back of a housing estate with woodland on one side – this is part of the Smithy Wood ancient woodland site. You pass the on your left just as the tarmac ends you can turn left and – go through the very pleasant town park to get to Chapeltown centre, where Chapucinno is an excellent little coffee shop and the Commercial is a great pub
Chapeltown has a station with Northern trains to Sheffield, Leeds and Huddersfield via Barnsley and the Trans-Pennine Trail has a link with Grenoside to get you over into the Upper Don Valley.
If you press on, the route gets a bit rougher before it exits onto the new Coppice Wood housing development.
At the end of this is the A6135 and you can turn left and first right onto Cart Road to access the Trans-Pennine Trail towards Tankersley where you can join the Timberland Trail (these routes are quite rough – MTB recommended). About halfway along Cart Lane is a left turn which is the TPT link to Grenoside. This goes up through some open land and finally a fairly steep and quite busy road to the A61 – cross with care and you are in Greno Woods. For High Green, turn right at Greengate Lane, left at Foster Way and you’re on your way!