Detours, a dog and good company make for great Doncaster ramble

Meeting at The Green in Finningley were seven trusting souls plus a dog, writes Peter Rowsell, of Doncaster Ramblers.
Doncaster Rambler enjoyed a walk to Blaxton and back, from FinningleyDoncaster Rambler enjoyed a walk to Blaxton and back, from Finningley
Doncaster Rambler enjoyed a walk to Blaxton and back, from Finningley

Setting off south down the Old Bawtry Road for quarter of a mile, we failed to find an opening right, so had to backtrack onto Wellington Drive, where a broken fence left just managed to get us back on track, which after 180 metres turned right and headed north through dense vegetation.

We could have been in the middle of nowhere.

After walking aimlessly for what seemed like forever, the shout went out “Are we in Blaxton?”

“No we’ve not left Finningley yet.”

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Aand as we emerged from Church Lane, everyone exclaimed ‘I recognise that’, as the village store and post office came into view.

What wasn’t immediately visible, despite the Follow Me Easy Map App was the footpath right, which took a couple of attempts to find, but we got there in the end tracing the southern edge of the recreation ground before turning left and heading north along Lindley Road and across the railway.

We were now rambling proper and for the next mile an a quarter we encountered open scrub, field edge and darkest forest, before a couple of left turns bought us onto the Thorne Road south for the return leg.

But not before a cunning detour from the route developer, Hilda Levine, which took us west of Blaxton, avoiding the busy A614.

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Sadly though, after 1,400m we were back on the main road, but surprisingly now the path headed into a narrow strip of woodland sheltering us from traffic.

All too soon it was back on the pavement and across the level crossing when a sharp left turn brough us back to the Recreation Grounds which we crossed diagonally left, then retracing our steps right right and left passing the post office before crossing the road to walk down Church Lane and onto St Oswald’s Close, then a final left hand loop through the churchyard and back to The Green

This was a great five-and-a-half mile walk in lovely company.

A Doncaster Ramblers spokesman said: “Since the middle of March Doncaster Ramblers have had to suspend their popular programme of led walks due to Covid-19.

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“We are now pleased to announce since the easing of lockdown, Doncaster Ramblers has recommenced with a series of Short Local Walks.

“Measures will be in place to safeguard walkers, including social distancing and groups will be restricted to five, plus the walk leader.

“The safety of those who walk with us is paramount and walkers will be asked to book in advance and submit contact details at the start of each walk – everyone is welcome, so please come along.”

For further details, a copy of the walk programme and to book, see doncasterramblers.org.uk

Follow Doncaster Ramblers on Facebook at fb.com/doncasterramblers where GPS Mapsof many past walks can also be found.