Best walks from Stocksmoor

Stocksmoor Station to Brockholes Station

While the railway uses the 1631-yard Thurstonland Tunnel to descend into the Holme Valley, the walking route climbs gradually across fields and pathways to Thurstonland village before dropping steeply to Brockholes station. Leaving Stocksmoor station the route follows Fulstone Road briefly, then takes footpaths and field paths past stiles, a stoop guide post of the kind ordered along hilltop roads from 1697 to guide travellers in misty weather, and Lower Halstead Farm. It climbs to Upper Halstead and Haw Cliff Lane to reach Thurstonland, a hilltop village recorded in the Domesday Book as Tostenland and historically known for farming, mining and brickworks. Passing the Rose and Crown, the walk begins the descent of Thurstonland Bank with fine views ahead to Meltham Moor, following a cobbled-and-flagstone plateway built to carry coal and bricks. A railway footbridge offers a good view of the Thurstonland tunnel portal before the route passes through a subway under the line and emerges near Brockholes station, a village set in a deep wooded ravine whose name means 'badger hole'.

4km.

A steep descent of Thurstonland Bank towards the Holme Valley.

Documented by Penistone Line Trail / Penistone Line Partnership.

Shepley Station to Stocksmoor Station

A short walk taking the walker across the boundary into Shelley, past the location of two old corn mills, along Shepley Dike (also called Thunder Bridge Dike) to Thunder Bridge, and up the hill to Stocksmoor village. Shepley, recorded in the Domesday Book as Scipelei, was known in the 19th century as the 'richest village in England', home to tailors called 'Higglers' whose trade flourished after the railway opened in 1850. From Shepley station the route heads downhill on the walled track of Stretch Gate and along Long Lane, with a fine view of the Emley Moor mast, before descending through woodland to Corn Mill Bottom. It crosses Shepley Dike via a Grade II listed roadbridge and reaches the pretty hamlet of Thunder Bridge, once known as Pound Bridge and home to the Woodman Inn. The walk then climbs steeply up Birks Lane to Stocksmoor, a village best known as the birthplace of Ben Swift Chambers, the church minister who founded Everton Football Club, arriving at the Clothiers Arms beside Stocksmoor station.

2km.

A steep climb up Birks Lane towards Stocksmoor.

Documented by Penistone Line Trail / Penistone Line Partnership.