Wednesday 1st April 2026
Walk Leader & Report: Mel H
Walk Report
Upper Pilsley was the start point for today’s Wednesday medium car walk. Following a short trip through the village the walk proper began at what is deemed the source of the river Rother. This was followed for a short distance before turning north and following a number of field paths to reach Lower Pilsley. Coffee break was taken at the southern end of North Wingfield before proceeding on to North Wingfield proper.
Passing through Hilly Fields and crossing the Five Pits Trail the northern end of Williamthorpe was reached for the start of a section through what is now a mainly industrial area created from the remains of the now defunct Williamthorpe and Holmewood Colliery sites. Although the industrial buildings are less than aesthetic a corridor of trees has been preserved to, at least along part of the track, to lessen the impact of the buildings.
After a rather embarrassing, “for the leader” unplanned and rather “loopy”, route through the newer housing developments in Holmewood the group stopped for lunch close to the point where the Holmewood rail station once stood. Following lunch the Five Pits trail was used to return to Pilsley via Timber Lane, Loco Plantation and a final crossing of the very young, “tiny stream”, River Rother.