Mike Cooper's Permian Way

Route Four

Hickleton to Darrington

(See Book Four for description and photographs)

Leave the church and go westwards along the A635 through the village and turn right down the B6411 Lidget Lane. At the bottom of the hill opposite the entrance to Phoenix Park go right along Chapel Lane. A farm lane takes you to the right and up to Stotfold Farm. Beyond that a path leads up to Watchley Crag. Follow the path round to the left along the edge of the wood along Watchley Lane to meet Bilham Lane on a bend. Left here will take you up to join the B6422 to go through Hooton Pagnell.

Distance: 5.1 km.

At the north end of the village bear right onto Northfield Road and shortly afterwards take Broad Baulk down to Old Street. This track northwards leads towards Hampole. When reaching Hampole Field Lane turn right along to the A638.

Explorer 279. Again.

Turn right here and cross over. Turn left into Hampole village and again into Main Street. At the end turn right onto a footpath that will come out on Leys Lane. Turn left and continue eastwards.

Distance; 4.2 km.

Pass Priory Farm on the way to the A1 and cross over on the footbridge. Now in Skellow go along Hampole Baulk Lane and Skellow Road and turn left onto Crossfield Lane. On reaching the children’s playground take the footpath towards Burghwallis. Turn right at the crossroads, onto Grange Lane.

Distance: 3.8 km.

At the war memorial bear right onto Old Village Street and follow it round to the left back onto Grange Lane. Turn right and continue past the Hall and the church, the turn right onto The Abbes Walk. After leaving the houses a footpath to the left goes across the fields, along Lady Gap Lane and meets Suttonfield Lane at the edge of Sutton village. Turn right here, then left at the Ann Arms. Follow the main street to the far end of the village and before long you get to Askern. Pass a school and some shops and turn left onto Avenue Road.

Very shortly you come to Instone Terrace on the right. Take that and almost immediately, just opposite the mission church there is a footpath off to the left. This takes you into Warren House Park which is on the site of Askern Colliery. Now a pleasant green space with a network of tarmaced paths and good views all round. Go clockwise round to the northwest corner to where a new housing estate is being developed. There should be a path through here. Turn left and take a field path westwards to the southeast corner of Campsall Country Park. The PRW continues through a wood and across the field to the southwest corner of the park. An better alternative is to turn right into the woods and follow a path round to the north side of the park to pick up another that takes you through the park passing a pond and over a bridge to the western exit. You will come out at the side of the Old Bells Inn on the High Street. Go right here past up to the church.

Distance: 6.5 km.

Go along The Avenue and take Ryecroft Road. Pass the school and turn left up Windmill Lane. The path goes past the old windmill and out into the field beyond. It leads to a track called either Old Acre Lane or Southfield Road. Turn right here up to Cliff Hill Road. At the crossroads go left then right down Back Lane. Turn left at the Priory Lane / Hall Lane and left at the t-junction. This is Norton Mill Lane and goes westwards out to the fields. The path goes right to a footbridge over the River Went then across the fields to meet Willowbridge Road. Go left here and in a few yards right up to the old railway bridge. Pass under that and across the field to Little Smeaton bridge. Go left up Water Lane to Kirk Smeaton church.

Distance: 6.6 km.

The path goes right at the east end of the churchyard down to a footbridge. Cross over the river and up to Chapel Lane. Turn left here, go past the old chapel as the road become a footpath. Continue past Long Crag into Brockadale, nature reserve and descend to the river. Cross over and follow the riverside path to the viaduct on the Wentbridge bypass.

Distance: 3.3 km.

Explorer 278. Again.

On reaching Wentbridge turn right at the B6474, cross the river and just past the hotel take the track parallel to the road up the hill. Rejoin the road the go left just before the mast. Westfield Lane takes you to Darrington.

Explorer 290. York, Selby and Tadcaster.

Go right at the crossroads and follow Estcourt Road to Phillips Lane just before the church. Left here goes up to a track. Go right here at the back of the houses up to the A1. Turn left and follow the path parallel to the A1. At Spital Gap Lane turn left.

Distance: 5.2 km.

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