Route Developer: DB

[1] From Woodhouse railway station, turn right and walk to Furnace Lane. Turn left and continue along Furnace Lane to reach a T junction with Retford Road and Sheffield Road. Cross to the other side of Retford Road here and turn right along Sheffield Road. Pass a sewerage works and cross over the Sheffield-Lincoln railway line.

Keep your eyes peeled for the former 19th century St James mission church and war memorial, on the opposite side of Retford Road, which is now used by Scorpion Blinds. Also look out for the Woodhouse Mill regulator, which is designed to control the flow of the River Rother after heavy rain.

[2] Cross over the railway bridge and arrive in the village of Fence. Within a few metres turn left into Falconer Lane. Walk along Falconer Lane past a children’s playground on your right (the playground may be closed due to renovation work). Continue up to the end of the row of terraced houses and, just as the lane curves to the right, go straight ahead along a well-defined footpath which should be waymarked as the Trans-Pennine Trail. Follow this path for about 250 metres until it reaches the lakeside track by Treeton Dyke.

You can continue along this path to go straight to Treeton Dyke lake or you can take a detour to explore the (A) Hail Mary Hill Woods, which gained their name because the land was once owned by Kirkstead Monastery. Don’t turn onto the Trans-Pennine Trail, stay on Falconer Lane until you reach a large set of gated farm buildings. To your left is a narrow footpath that leads into the wood. The track through the woods is firm and broad with short gentle ascents and descents.

Take this path and within a few metres it joins a broad well-defined track. Turn left along this track, and follow it as it runs parallel to the lake. Ignore all tracks leading off to the right. After about 400 metres the track starts to bend back towards the lake. Turn right to rejoin the main walk.

[3] Continue along the firm Trans-Pennine Trail by the lakeside edge for about 600 metres until you reach a building by the side of the lake. This belongs to the local sailing club and in fine weather you may see some boats on the lake.

Continue to follow the path all the way around the lake. As you near the bottom end, there’s a very short stretch of path made very narrow by boulders from a disused quarry. This part of the path can be wet and muddy. Crossing this patch takes you into an open field and you can see the row of terraced houses back on Falconer Lane. Either walk diagonally across the field to the houses on Falconer Lane or turn left and walk for a few metres following the fence to rejoin Falconer Lane, without having to cross the field.

[4] Retrace your steps along Falconer Lane and return to Sheffield Road. Go back the way you came, until you arrive back at Woodhouse railway station.