PART ONE – Doncaster to Conisbrough

The Danum Trail has been a route we have known about for what seems an age, after our April 2022 Social Walk A Ramble around Rosso whereby we stumbled across a way marker from the 90s. It began a little exercise for our Walk Secretary to see if this route was still viable on the ground as it were.

What with rail strikes and a threatened bus strike (only in London) found 3 Vermuyden members and a visitor from East Yorks join us on the first part.

Leaving the Doncaster Dome, we made our way through residential Bessecarr on the White Path then the Red path and onto Warren Lane (or Stringy Billies Lane as John E told us)

https://www.francisfrith.com/new-rossington/memories-of-my-childhood-in-rossington_memory-48201

Over the New Road (Great Yorkshire Way) we found the Rossington brick pond, onto Littleworth Lane to TR we found the path for a short water stop on the Roman Ridge. Dropping to Bond St. We joined the Heron Way towards Stancil. This path was not as wet at feared as the Sunny, Breezy weather had dried the paths over the River Torne, Dadsley Well Stream and Hopyard Slant (drain) we found the A631 and the old Toll house Tickhill. The route went behind the Castle and we had late elevenses, early lunch on some ‘lovely’ benches.

Leaving Tickhill on Apy Hill Lane then onto Hindley Lane past the Tickhill Alpacas, we crossed the strangely named Denaby Wifes Dike. Finding Stainton we had a liquid lunch at The Three Tuns.

The afternoon saw us leave via Stainton Lane and took the footpath around Maltby Pit Tip. Arriving at Braithwell and their pump and cross. Now into the hills we arrived at Micklebring at the highest on the route, some 450ft.

An afternoon pit stop and a chat with a local we began the downhill path following The Rotherham Round under the M18 towards the now derelict Park Lane Farm. We crossed the last field onto Kearsley Lane crossing the A630 we found the 'cut through' behind the houses towards the Castle.

This part saw us finish at the steps that takes us to the Church but we walked the short way to the Castle and awaited the bus back to Doncaster.

PART TWO - Conisbrough to Askern 

An early start was required as we needed to be back at the place where we finished part one. The 6.32am #87 bus took me to Doncaster then the X78 dropped us off at the Castle to begin Part 2.

With the visitor from East Yorks in the big smoke, one of the Vermuyden members with a sick note, this left the 2 Vermuyden committee members and a visitor from High Peak group to carry on to Askern.

Leaving Conisbrough we walked up the steps and found the church, finding the regenerated North Hill park paths (we made the short detour to the train stn just on case anyone was there at 08:30am) these paths then took us to old Denaby. Crossing the River Don we found the Mexborough canal tow path to the A6023 bridge.

Skirting Mexbrough we then found the River Dearne bank crossing into Harlington we had elevenses at Barnburgh church.

This next section saw us leave Barnburgh and take the route through Melton Wood, crossing the busy A635 at Marr began the 2km road walk to Pickburn eventually turning right just after Brodsworth Hall.

Fields & woods found us crossing the A638 the railway then finding Skelbrook Church for lunch.

The next section left a lot to be desired. Leaving Skelbrook we found a pleasant enough field that took us to the Barnsdale Bar roundabout. Taking the flyover (with no pavement) over the A1 saw us onto Woodfield Road, taking a left and onto White Ley Road we were glad when we turned right.

Unfortunately, over this field the heavens opened in earnest, by the time we got to The Royal Oak in Norton we had earnt a well-deserved pint.

Once refreshed the last 1.5ml left some pleasant enough dog walking paths to find Askern Lake and the ending of this part two.

The Arriva bus took us back to Doncaster where we parted our ways to find our ways back home.

PART THREE -  Askern to Hatfield

Only the three thru hikers made the 9am start at Askern Pond for this penultimate section of The Danum Trail.

We took the clockwise path around the pond and found the style over the first trainline crossing (the Knottingley West Junction and Shaftholme Junction line). Leaving the environs of Askern, we then crossed Mill Dike and Heyworth Lane.

To cross with care the East Coast main line (trains travel here in excess of 100mph the warning signs warned). This path brought us to the edges of Moss and the now defunct Star Inn where we found the old sign abandoned in the yard.

The path across from the old boozer we found in disrepair and it was blocked off at the far end (but not for long). Along Fenwick Common Lane we found the graveyard of long forgotten.

Finding Haggs Lane this took us to the Village of Sykehouse where we had our elevenses across from the church (was locked and the porch seats were a local library).

We left the green and took the right-side path towards the Lock on the New Junction Canal. Crossing and finding Kirk Lane, just after the little wood we come across a fallen tree blocking the path. With a little diversion and a bit of a faff we found ourselves back on route at Hatchel Farm.

Now onto the Thorne round walk (our February social walk morning stint) saw us onto the Don bank and found St Cuthberts church Fishlake open for lunch as a slight annoying drizzle had materialised.

After lunch we found the Fishlake Nab path blocked as some work was being carried out. A bit of faffing about saw us find the style onto the Don bank again to be took of it before the intended route as per Feb. The road took us over the Stainforth double bridges, and we found The New Inn open for a swift half.

Now on the Stainforth and Keadby canal we found the Poltontoft path onto Kirton Lane. Around the Pit Tip (no pipe tunnel anymore) and found the bridge over the Railway. Now onto the area with some major civil engineering projects (behind the Doncaster North services).

The green lane of Hugh Hill had been covered over by plastic sheeting to try and save a bit of animal habitat. Eventually it ran out and we crossed the ‘new’ road onto Cuckoo (not many of them about here anymore) Lane.

This lane took us into Hatfield the end of our section today at the bus stop at Manor Lane/Carr Side lane.

PART FOUR - Hatfield back to Danum 

The three thru hikers made the 9am start from the Carr Side Lane / A18 junction.

Following the lane towards and over the M18 we then joined the Doncastrian Way along Gatewood lane towards Boston Park Farm.

Not the most pleasant road (A614) walk took us to The River Torne. Following the southern bank we crossed the river and entered the pleasant village of Auckley. Passing the Eagle & Child (too early) we found what remains of Bell Butts Lane then across the Yorkshire Wildlife Park car park we had elevenses at the Hayfield Lakes complex.

Leaving the ponds we found Warning Tongue Lane then entered Brockholes Lane towards the Old Farmhouse whereby we found the The Branton Oak believed to be the oldest tree in the borough.

From the village of Branton we followed the B1396 and crossed the M18 for the final time.

Finding the last Danum Trail roundel (and the last one since Skelbrook) we found the village of Old Cantley.

This is where we lost Peter as he had personal issues and this just left me and the East Yorks bod the enjoy lunch at the Sandall Beat Wood visitors center.

Leaving the wood we followed the Straight Mile of the Doncaster Racecourse onto the Ledger Way. Following the A18 in front of the Grandstand we crossed the A638 passing the site of the old Doncaster Rovers ground ‘ Belle Vue’.

Arriving back at the Doncaster Dome we left 70 miles ago.