Rule of six puts Rebel and Doncaster Ramblers on red alert

Would this be the last time larger numbers could walk together?

We’d only just begun to meet again old friends and found new ones along those long forgotten trails. Would Covid-19 cut our ramblings short?

Luckily not.

While we at Doncaster Ramblers take the pandemic seriously and want to avoid spread, like the government, we realise the benefit of outdoor exercise so have been granted, along with other sporting activities, an exemption, so for the time being we continue to walk in groups.

And it’s a good thing too as this walk which begun in Campsall, but actually was more about Norton, had nine of us and the greyhound Rebel setting off from the car park before turning left on Church Field Road until just opposite Park Drive we turned right by a finger post and headed into the woods.

Emerging onto Ings Lane at the first opportunity we turned right then left along a wide gravel path.

Turning right on High Street, we follow the road around right before turning left onto Stubbs

Lane and walking north passed a water treatment plant then over the River Went and onto Tanpit Lane, entering almost invisibly into North Yorkshire.

At a T-junction, it’s left then left again along a footpath south.

This is not a well-defined route, much overgrown with bramble and grass and the final hurdle, a stile over a ditch, became a struggle for Rebel, our newly acquired greyhound mascot.

Following the road west passing Priory Road or Hall Lane, and Norton Priory – Norton Priory was developed on the banks of the River Went but this never grew to be particularly significant and was subsequently demolished following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1588.

At the T-junction with Spittlerush Lane, we turned right then left at the crossroads before going off road again at the next fingerpost.

Whether through stubble or wheat there is always something unique about walking on farmland.

At the next finger post turn left and head for the windmill, turning right through the farm yard eventually reaching Campsall Balk turning left and immediately right, following Ings Lane south stopping on route to harvest a few crab apples growing wild.

It’s a treat to lead these walks and a joy to see the smiling faces.

Doncaster Ramblers have now restarted a series of short, local walks, following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

A spokesman said: “Measures will be in place to safeguard walkers, including social distancing and groups will be restricted.”

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

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