11 members turned out for a good walk around the Rotherham mountains, organised by Neil.

The weather was cool but dry and there was quite a bit of mud around from recent heavy rain.

After coffee and chocolate(!) biscuits at the Sitwell Arms the group spent 2 1/2 hours covering the 7 miles or so to, and around, the Ulley Country Park.





After some Abbotts ale we had an excellent lunch of (mostly) pie, chips & peas followed by, for the more undernourished types, treacle sponge and custard.

We also had Christmas classics playing in the background and shared the restaurant with what must surely be the first office party of the season.

DIRECTIONS FROM M1 TO SITWELL ARMS, PLEASLEY ROAD, WHISTON .

Leave M1 at junction 33. Take the 3rd exit (from south) or 1st exit (from north if you've dropped your partner off at Meadowhall to do some Xmas shopping). The road is the A630 (signposted Rotherham) - also called Rotherway. Proceed along Rotherway to next roundabout (approx half a mile). Take 2nd exit (A631 signposted Whiston / Wickersley) and proceed to traffic lights. (approx half a mile) Turn right at traffic lights, signposted A618 Clowne (Pleasley Road), and go down the hill for a short distance. The Sitwell Arms is on the left, on the bend, opposite a Jet petrol station.

DIRECTIONS FROM A1(M) TO SITWELL ARMS, PLEASLEY ROAD, WHISTON

Come up A1(M) to junction 35 (M18). Take 1st exit (signposted Sheffield) and continue along M18 to junction 1. Take 3rd exit (A631 Rotherham) and stay on dual carriageway up the hill. Go straight over Wickersley roundabout, and follow signs to Sheffield. Continue down dual carriageway, over Worrygoose roundabout, before reaching traffic lights in the dip at Whiston. Turn left at the traffic lights, signposted A618 Clowne (Pleasley Road), and go down the hill for a short distance. The Sitwell Arms is on the left, on the bend, opposite a Jet petrol station.

THE WALK
The walk will take approximately 2½ hours, taking in the village of Ulley and Ulley Country Park. It is a combination of road, track and fields, sections of which will be on the muddy side. There are one or two slightly steep bits, but a helping push / pull from a more able colleague should ensure that everybody makes it back to the Sitwell Arms for lunch.

Click on the map to see a larger size.