With beautiful Yorkshire countryside the minute you walk out of the door, Spicer Manor is a walker’s paradise. There are a wide range of routes you can explore directly from the house, as well as more challenging hikes slightly further afield on the open moors. Here are four walks you could try during your stay.
Reservoir walks
Ingbirchworth Reservoir, which can be seen from the house, and the nearby Scout Dike and Royd Moor reservoirs provide a walking route which can be completed in half a day. It follows part of the Barnsley Boundary Walk, which is signed, so it’s easy to follow. There’s a mix of road walking, surfaced paths and open fields, so it’s worth having substantial footwear if you’re thinking of doing this walk.
Penistone Boundary Walk
If you’re looking for magnificent views, this 16-mile walk is not to be missed. You can pick up the route at Royd Moor viewpoint, a mile down Spicer House Lane. The walk takes in Hartcliff Moor, with panoramic views across the Peak District, and Cubley Hall, where there is a cafe to refresh you, before heading up to the eastern side of the town. You’ll skirt round the villages of Silkstone and Hoylandswaine before passing Scout Dike and Royd Moor reservoirs on your way back to Spicer Manor. Allow a day for this walk, and make sure you have sturdy walking boots as the terrain will be muddy even in the summer months.
Pennine Way
Being close to the Peak District means you could sample part of the legendary Pennine Way. The closest access point is at Crowden reservoir, 12 miles away from Spicer Manor off the Woodhead Pass. You can then enjoy a spectacular moorland walk, whether it’s northwards towards Marsden or south towards the Pennine Way’s start point in Edale. But be warned – this section of the route is very bleak, with no facilities in either direction for a further distance than you could walk in a day, so be sure to take supplies with you.
Langsett Circular Walk
This short circular route surrounds Langsett reservoir, but the two parts of it are very different. Start at Langsett car park, before walking down the northern side of the reservoir on an easy flat path. Once you reach the end of the surfaced path, you head up onto rugged open moorland, which offers fantastic views, before descending back towards the village of Upper Midhope. From there, walk back down Midhope Cliff Lane towards the reservoir wall. Allow up to 90 minutes for this walk.
If you go walking during your stay at Spicer Manor, we’d love to see your photos. Tag us in on Facebook and Instagram @SpicerManor.