Visit Penistone - the natural centre of the East Peak
Langsett Reseervoir

Walks in and around Langsett & Penistone

Stage 2 of Le Grand Départ passes through spectacular landscape and you've got the chance to do something the competitors don't - explore the region at your own pace.

Over the years, groups in the area have been devising walks for all abilities and ages and are carefully cataloguing them on easy to access websites. Below you can read more about them and use their free guides to enioy the area even more.

There's even "Le Tour à Pied", special route devised by Stockbridge Walkers are Welcome which roughly follows the Langsett to Bradfield stretch.

Langsett

Museum montage

The Langsett area lies at the north of the Peak District National Park; the surrounding region is part of the Dark Peak with around 100 miles of moorland to explore - a mosaic of blanket bog and dry heath, one of the world’s rarest habitats. There are 3 reservoirs: Langsett, Underbank and Midhope, and relatively easy walks have been devised for each. The largest of the three, Langsett reservoir is around a mile long and has a nearby visitor centre (Langsett Barn), car park and picnic area with the Waggon and Horses pub and Bank View Café both nearby. There is also extensive woodland to explore at Langsett Bank Woods.

Le Tour à Pied

Source: Stockbridge Walkers are Welcome

Length: 14.5 miles, 23 km

Le Tour a Pied booklet cover

Starting at Langsett Barn and going on to Bradfield, this walk takes you on a route which is approximately parallel to that to be taken by the Tour de France (Le Tour) as it skirts Stocksbridge. The route picks up at Langsett before following the line of a disused railway. It then goes through the village of Midhopestones, ascends to Barnside and Broomhead Moors and then skirts the Canyards before leaving the route of Le Tour at High Bradfield.

Grade: mostly well defined paths, some open moorland, rough ground and stiles. Can be muddy in places.

Start: Langsett Barn Car Park. parking is free. It does get busy, so if it is busy use the lay-by 200 m further up the hill.

Public transport: bus 23 and 23A from Barnsley and Stocksbridge stops at the Waggon and Horses Inn. National Express route 350 (Liverpool - Cambridge) stops by request at Langsett. Bus 61 from Hillsborough visits High Bradfield.

Refreshments -Bank View cafe - Langsett, Waggon and Horses, Langsett, Ye Olde Mustard Pot, Midhopestones, The Old Horns Inn, High Bradfield.

Public Toilets - Langsett Barn car park.

For detailed information and a downloadable, illustrated booklet (above, right), please visit www.stocksbridge-walkers.org.uk/Walks/LeTour.html

A Walk around Langsett Reservoir

Source: Bradfield Walkers are Welcome

Length: 3.5 or 5.3 miles. Time: 2.5 hours for the shorter walk.

A walk which combines woodland with views across open moorland. Much of the walk is on Yorkshire Water land and consequently is very well signed and maintained. There is a steady climb from the top of the reservoir to the turn on the moor, but the views are well worth the walk.

Langsett Reservoir

Grade: Steady ascent and descent across fields. A short section on roads. The paths are well defined. There are stiles, steps and gates.

Start: Langsett Barn Car Park. (Toilet facilities available.)

Public transport: Bus 20A from Barnsley and Stocksbridge / Deepcar stops at Wagon and Horses Inn, Langsett.

Refreshments: The Waggon and Horses Inn, Bank View Café, Langsett Public Toilets – Langsett Barn.

For full information including route directions please go to www.bradfield-walkers.org.uk/Walks/Langsett.html

Langsett Reservoir for Wheelchair Users

Langsett Reservoir is visited by over 100,000 a year and is ideal for wheelchair users.

The Peak district National Park commissioned a series of films following John Harris, a former UK Paralympian, as he travels round the Peak District in the heart of England showing how wheelchair users and people with mobility problems can enjoy the Peak District National Park.

The video here is from this series.

The original page can be found at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/accessible-places-to-visit/access-peak/langsett.

Further videos in the series can be found at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/accessible-places-to-visit/access-peak

More information for wheelchair users can be found at Jeff's Wheelchair Walks and Wheely Access below.

Three Reservoirs Walk: Underbank - Midhope - Langsett

Source: Stockbridge Walkers are Welcome

Length: 8.0 miles

A walk past three reservoirs, taking in farmland, woodland and a disused railway line. The walk starts by following the shore of Underbank reservoir before a climb up to Midhope reservoir. Excellent views across the valley are afforded before the route drops back down to the river Porter and then on up to Langsett. The route returns to Underbank along the line of the railway that was built to supply materials during the construction of Langsett Reservoir.

Langsett Reservoir

Grade: mostly well defined paths. Some rough ground and stiles. Can be muddy in places.

Start: Smithy Moor Lane / Unsliven Road, Stocksbridge.

Parking: On Smithy Moor Lane / Unsliven Road, Stocksbridge.

Public transport: 57 bus to Unsliven Road

Refreshments: Ye Olde Mustard Pot Inn at Midhopestones, Bank View Cafe and Waggon and Horses Inn at Langsett, Underbank Outdoor Activity Centre - seasonal Public Toilets – Langsett Barn car park.

For full route information and illustrated PDF, please visit www.stocksbridge-walkers.org.uk/Walks/ThreeReservoirs.html

(Photo - Stocksbridge Walkers).

Other websites and walks nearby

The following walks may also be of interest. The first four open in a new window and points to Stockbridge Walkers are Welcome - these are just a selection of the many on the site which is well worth visiting.

Jeff's Wheelchair Walks is a site featuring easy walks suitable for wheelchair users; the South Yorkshire is covered, including Langsett.

Yorkshire Water maintain many of the local reservoirs and their site features information about a wide variety of walks and activities including cycling and running routes.

Wheely Easy Walks

Bradfield Walkers are Welcome group were awarded a grant in August 2011 from the Sheffield City Council 50+ Small Sparks for Older People fund to investigate routes in the Bradfield area suitable for mobility-impaired walkers, especially users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

As a result of feedback from users and visits to the area to assess routes, a leaflet has been produced to allow those wishing to enjoy Bradfield’s countryside to judge the suitability of routes for themselves taking into account their particular circumstances and local conditions.

You can download the leaflet, which includes routes in the Langsett area, from the Bradfield Walkers are Welcome home page.

Public Transport

You can plan transport to the starting points by going to the Travel South Yorkshire Journey Planner which includes information for both trains and buses.