Making Trax
At the beginning of August 2007 I picked up a leaflet in the Rotherham Visitor Centre for Making Trax Walk 1 - Swinton Rotherham Roman Ridge. Now I may be making assumptions here but anything labeled 1 is likely to have at least a 2 in the pipeline. On the basis of this I have begun a new page for these walks.
Making Trax is a campaign to promote travel plans and sustainable transport in Rotherham. Making Trax is all about making travel choices easier. To find out what people have to say about methods of travel other than using a car on their own. In 2010 it looks as if the Swinton Rotherham Roman Ridge may turn out to be the only one in this category: I have searched in vain to find others.
Making Trax Walk 1 - Swinton Rotherham Roman Ridge
This is a 4½ mile walk along part of the remains of the Roman Ridge in Swinton. Each time we've done this walk we've taken a detour northwards towards Dearne Valley College thus adding about a mile onto the walk. This bit runs alongside the railway track: well-overgrown in summer and there are some boggy ponds. The walk is mostly off road, but on metalled tracks (though these can still be very muddy in places in wet weather) with only one or two gradients. It is not possible for wheelchair users because of the bike gates to stop the motorcycles but everyone else should manage it.
Other footpaths meander off across lands owned by the college so you can mooch further if you want.
The very small section of the Roman Ridge still exist off Golden Smithies Road at Roman Ridge Dyke but you have to know what you're looking for. The ridge also runs south of this walk through Chain Bar Plantation and westwards.