Responsible WalkingThis walk uses just a few ofour many rights of way toaccess the countryside. Aright of way is not owned bythe council, it is a right topass over private land. Whenyou go out please rememberthat some of the land youcross is in private ownership,and someone’s livelihood willdepend on the livestockthere. Our countryside is notjust a beautiful place but aworking environment, pleaseplay your part by keeping ittidy for the people who walkand work there tomorrow.

Take a responsible attitudeinto the countryside, leaveonly footprints and take only photographs.

Follow the Country Code, happy walking!

The WentworthCountryside WalkHow do I get there?Wentworth is served by aregular bus service fromRotherham. For up to date information contact Traveline on 01709 515151 or visit www.sypte.co.ukfor timetables.

The walk starts at theRockingham Arms, MainStreet stop.

Something to think about

This walk would not bepossible without the help oflocal people and farmers. Wewould particularly like tothank Fitzwilliam (Wentworth)Estate for their help inplanning this walk and alsoMelvyn Jones for Kings WoodInformation.

For Further Details of ElsecarHeritage Centre telephone(01226) 740203.

Any enquiries please ring 01709 822168

Remember to keep a track of where you are in thedescription, occasionallywaymarks get vandalised and we may not have had time to replace them.

Key

Walk No: 9 The Wentworth Countryside Walk.

Doorstep Walk No:9

The Wentworth Countryside Walk

An easy way to explore the beautiful,local countryside on your ‘doorstep’.

Produced by the Rights of Way Team.

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Public Paths in Rotherham areclearly shown on the OSExplorer Maps Nos. 278 and279. Why not pick up a copyat your local bookshop anddevise your own walks.

9

Needle’s Eye

The Needle’s Eye was built by Charles, the second Marquess of Rockingham sometime between1730 and 1782.

The folly was constructed on a private coach road which ran from Wentworth Woodhousethrough Rainbrough Park to the Lion Lodges near Brampton Bierlow. Legend has it that theSecond Marquis built the structure as a result of a wager that he could drive his horse andcarriage through the eye of a needle. The map used is based on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 mapping with the sanction of the controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Crown Copyright Reserved. LAO76287

Doorstep WalkShort, Easy tofollow and localEnjoy a short walk in thecountryside around Wentworth

■ This walk will take around2 hours. The route followsa gently rolling landscapeand contains a number ofshort easy uphill climbs.

■ The route starts andfinishes in the picturesqueVillage of Wentworth. It also takes in the hamletof Street, Needle’s Eye,Elsecar Heritage Centre and Kings Wood

■ You do not need to read a map.

■ You do not need fancyequipment.

Just follow the Doorstep Waymark

On reachingClayfield Lane turn rightand walk along the lane,

passing the converted windmillon your left, before arriving atCortworth Lane. Turn left and

walk along the pavement by theside of Cortworth Lane. After a

short while you will get yourfirst glimpse of The Needle’s

Eye through the treeson your left.

2Start on Main

Street outside theRockingham Arms. Facing

the public house turn right andwalk through the Village on thepavement by the side of Main

Street. At the end of the villageturn left onto the public

footpath opposite the warmemorial and follow thepath across the field to

Clayfield Lane.

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Continue alongCortworth Lane, carefullycrossing over Coaley Lane,

and you will eventually reachCortworth House on your left.

Follow the public footpath up thedrive to the house. At the top of

the drive the footpath forks to theright and passes through a kissing

gate. Keep following thefootpath up the hill to the

picturesque hamlet of Street.

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At Street turn left onto Street Lane

and follow the lane toCoaley Lane. Taking extra

care cross over Coaley Lane and follow the footpath

which runs down the side of Stump Cross Cottage. After a

short time you will reach Needle’s Eye, one of the

Wentworth Follies.

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The path thencontinues along the

ridge with panoramic viewsof the Dearne Valley on yourright and Wentworth Village

and Wharncliffe Chase on yourleft. The footpath eventuallydescends into Elsecar, passing

through farmland and anarea of woodland before

finally arriving atForge Lane.

5a

On arriving at Forge Lane turn sharp left

and follow the waymarked pathacross the fields and through KingsWood. At the far side of the wood

continue along the winding track passingthrough Low Wood before eventually arriving

at Barrow Field Lane. Turn left onto BarrowField Lane and follow the roadside pavement

towards Wentworth Village. At the bend in theroad turn left onto the track marked as apublic footpath and then left again alongthe hedged lane which is also marked as a

public footpath. After a short while thetrack splits into two as it gently

descends the hill. Follow thetrack on the right.

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As the tracksteadily climbs up the

hillside it soon turns into afootpath. Continue along the

footpath keeping thehedgerow to your left. Turn

right immediately afterpassing over the fourth stile

and follow the fence lineheading towards the

Village.

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On the edge ofthe village the path

meets Clayfield Lane. Passover the stile and continue

straight ahead along ClayfieldLane to its junction with Main

Street. Carefully cross over MainStreet onto to the roadside

pavement and turn left walkingalong Main Street throughWentworth village back to

the RockinghamArms.

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Wentworth has some greatwalking country. The walk time isbased on an adult walking fairlyslowly and having a few rests. Thesection through Kings Wood canbe muddy during the winter, so itis advisable to take bootsespecially following wet weather.There are three pubs on the route,two on Main Street in Wentworthand one at the end of Forge Laneat Elsecar. There is also a shop onMain Street in Wentworth.

For more details, downloads ofalternative route descriptions andthemed guides check out our web-page on www.rotherham.gov.uk/prow

Kings Wood

Kings Wood is an ancientsemi natural woodland whichonce straddled the ancienttownships of Wentworth andBrampton Bierlow. KingsWood and nearby LowWood originally formed oneextensive body of woodlanduntil Low Wood wassignificantly reduced in sizeduring the early part of thetwentieth century.

The woodland has been an important resource for localindustry for at least 400 years.There is a long history ofcoppicing in Kings Wood and much of the wood has beencoppiced to provide charcoal to power local industry.

The main tree species in Kings Wood are sessile oak, silverbirch, rowan, beech and holly. Kings Wood is also rich in bird lifewith great spotted woodpecker, tree pipit, willow warbler andblack cap all recorded in the woodland.

To take a shortdetour to the Elsecar

Heritage Centre carry onwalking along Forge Lane.

The Elsecar Heritage Centre is aHistory and Craft Centre, set in the

former ironworks and colliery workshopsof the Earls Fitzwilliam. After visiting the heritage centre retrace your stepsback along Forge Lane. At the end ofForge Lane the track splits into two

public footpaths. Take the righthand route following the path

across the fields and rejointhe walk.

5bThe Wentworth Countryside Walk