Best walks to or from Penistone

Hadfield Station to Penistone Station

impressive vistas. Old railway trackbed (Longdendale Trail/Trans Pennine Trail), moorland paths and country roads. Trans Pennine Trail follows the course of the old Woodhead Railway Line between Manchester and Sheffield. Electrified with new tunnel in 1950s, closed 1981 after 30 years.

25km.

Steep tarmac section; busy A628 crossed three times; steep climb.

Documented by Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights) — download GPX route

Penistone Station to Barnsley Interchange Station

A walk that is an uninspiring pavement plod out of Barnsley along the main road, then footpaths and farm tracks west of Dodworth that can be quite muddy, with a steep climb giving good views and before crossing fields and woodland into Penistone. Passes a pack-horse bridge with an informative plaque, and a viewpoint over Penistone viaduct with a bench. Silkstone has two pubs just off the route.

Tough: steep ascents. 11km.

Several busy, fast roads to cross, including the B6462 in Penistone, the A628 near Silkstone and the A629, plus a motorway slip road where cars accelerate fast. There are lots of high stiles. Can be muddy.

Lunch stop: the Bells.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Penistone Station to Denby Dale Station

The hidden Gunthwaite valley, bridleways and a packhorse bridge, past the 16th-century Gunthwaite cruck barn and 29-arch Penistone Viaduct, ending at the 'Pie Village' of Denby Dale. The trail's longest section.

10km.

Steps onto Acre Lane can be overgrown.

Highlights: Gunthwaite Hall barn (A 16th-century Grade I listed close-studded cruck tithe barn still in agricultural use today) and Denby Dale Viaduct (A 21-arch stone railway viaduct opened in 1880, built alongside an earlier timber viaduct of cobweb appearance).

Documented by Penistone Line Trail / Penistone Line Partnership (PDF).

Silkstone Common Station to Penistone Station

Trans Pennine Trail along disused railway through the Don Valley, past a Grade II listed 1730s packhorse bridge and Penistone's railway heritage.

6km.

One field can be boggy.

Highlights: Willow Bridge (A Grade II listed packhorse footbridge crossing the River Don, once part of an old packhorse route to Bolsterstone).

Documented by Penistone Line Trail / Penistone Line Partnership (PDF).