Ramblers can choose their distance on popular South Yorkshire route

This outing is a figure-of-eight route taking in Edenthorpe and at seven-and-a-half miles is not exactly short.

But don’t worry there’s a shorter five-miler built in – where we can, ramblers like to offer a choice.

Starting in the car park, and your back to Sandall Beat road turn 45 degrees left and walk through the black gate into the woods.

After 150 metres turn right on a well defined footpath.

1. Head south through the woods for 300m to reach a crossroads.

Turn left, passing Sandall Beat lodge, then on to steps crossing railway lines.

At the bottom turn left heading out of woods towards open ground.

After 350m, turn sharp right and continue uphill for 240m then turn left for a leisurely stroll along the top to eventually reach Barton Lane

2. Turn left and continue to a T-junction – Church Street – turn left then next right onto Mere Lane.

This is Armthorpe.

Continue on Mere Lane for just under half a mile

3. For those on the shorter five-mile walk, turn left and continue at number five.

The rest continue on the same direction for 600m taking the underpass to the edge of playing fields, then turn right onto footpath.

Follow this for about half-a-mile to enter Long Plantation woods

4. Turn left as the path sweeps anti-clockwise around this still open land.

After half-a-mile, exit the wood and turn left, right, left right, following garden fences and field edges to reach Mere Lane, turn left.

After quarter of a mile, begin to retrace steps back through the underpass eventually reaching point number three.

Turn right

5. After quarter of a mile turn left into Shaw Wood heading – off piste – south east for quarter of a mile as the path swings right to get back on track turning left to reach footbridge over railway.

After crossing the path curves right, then slightly left to reach, after half-a-mile, the A18 Leger Way.

6. Turn left on Leger Way and walk along the grass verge for 1,000m to reach Armthorpe Road.

Turn left, crossing at the pelican crossing, then after 100m turn right and continue straight – avoid paths off left – for 560m then turn right and stay on this path as it sweeps left to return to the start.

Please take care when walking and follow the Countryside Code.

Following the easing of lockdown restrictions, Doncaster Ramblers has restarted a series of walks – places must be booked in advance and appropriate social distancing should be maintained.

For further information and to book on a walk, see doncasterramblers.org.uk