Its 12-45 on a nice warm and pleasant Tuesday and my dogs are straining at the lead as we set off down our road on one of my favourite walks around Beauchief. Why not tag along and I'll show you what a wonderful part of Sheffield we live in.

One of the things that will amaze visitors to Sheffield is just how hilly it is. But those hills, once you have climbed them, will show you just what a green city we live in. The first part takes us down our road, down Bocking Lane, in-between two houses and up into Park bank or Park side wood.

This first part of the walk is one we do most days.

One in the wood we take the right hand path as it winds down the hill. Once it levels out we can see the wooded hillside on our left and golf course on our right.
All this land once belonged to Beauchief Abbey, and where they play golf nowadays was part of the Abbey's extensive farmlands. In fact you can still see the undulating surface caused by centuries of Ridge and Furrow farming. A hundred yards further down hill a stream dissects the golf course.

We have now come to a clearing and the three remaining monastic ponds. Originally there were about 5 ponds, with the top pond being used to supply water for the Abbey kitchens. The middle pond may well have been for watering cattle and sheep and the lower pond for fish. Below the Abbey was what they called the great pool and as this stood on the dirty side it would have been full of reads and grasses to cleanse the water before it tumbled down the hill towards the river Sheaf.

Most days throughout the year we take this gentle walk down here, especially very early in the morning, where you can see Herons, Kingfishers, Coots, Moorhens and many varieties of ducks. All this combined with the woodland birds makes this a very enjoyable and relaxing way to start the day.

The next part of our walk takes up on the path beside the Top Pond and up Beauchief Lane as it lazily climbs the hill toward Beauchief Hall.

This lane always reminds me of my childhood in Ireland, for it has no lines, very little traffic and goes nowhere slowly. At each side are high hedges and to the right the golf course follows the hill upwards. To the left, the hill falls away rapidly, at the bottom of which is the spring fed stream that fills the monastic ponds.
These hedgerows contain many wild flowers in the spring months, but now are full of stinging nettles. I know they sting for they just stung me.

We now pass the end of path on the right and we will be on that path in about half an hour or so when we have been round the hall. To our left, but well hidden, is Monks Well, an ancient spring that trickles out from the hillside. This water, rich in minerals and vitamins was sold by the medieval monks as a hangover cure. So you see, bottling and selling water is nothing new. This water must come from deep underground for it is reputed to be so cold that one can only sip it slowly.

The lane now levels out and to our right, over the hedge, you can see the old council nursery. Now derelict, it contains masses of wild flowers of all sizes and colours. One day someone will build houses up here, but for now, let us just soak in nature's beauty.

It is almost half one now, and we have reached Beauchief Hall. The Hall dates back to the 17th century and is reputed to be built from stone plundered from the ruins of the Abbey. I'll not go into the history of the hall, except to say that it has had quite a chequered history.

Tucked away to side of the hall is the old grange. This was once the main farm for the Abbey, who were great sheep farmers, and they exported their wool all over the place.
Next to us are another three ancient ponds.

We now start up a cobbled pack horse lane that skirts the hall grounds. On the left of us is the magnificent Abbeydale Golf Course. Unlike the one we passed earlier, which is a public course; this is private and very exclusive. At the top of the hill we turn right, still skirting the Hall and grounds. These grounds are used as sports grounds.
The path here is narrow and many nettles await us brave souls who wear shorts from May until October.

Right, it is a quarter to two and we have reached the highest part of our walk. Below us they are cutting the grass and the smell is slowly drifting towards us in the hot, still and humid air. To my right we can see the houses of Greenhill and Bradway, two suburbs on this southern edge of Sheffield. Looking straight ahead we can see Woodseats and woods of Graves Park.
You can see by both the above and below pictures just what green area we live in.
I'll just sit on this bench for while and drink in the view.
Apart from the sound of them cutting the grass, it is so quiet and relaxing up here.

I have now left the pathway around to hall because it gets very narrow and is full of nettles. Instead we have taken a path into Lady's Spring Wood where the air is much fresher. To my left the hill drops rapidly away to the valley below. In the valley you can hear the railway and the traffic on Abbeydale Road South. But the notable feature of the wooded valley is the River Sheaf as it twists and falls towards Sheffield. This is a very mature woodland, through which you get some fine views of the Pennines.

Keeping the hall to our right were go up a narrow path between mature rhododendrons, and into secluded walled area where in the spring wild daffodils and tulips dazzle the eye. We also get a superb view of the back of Beauchief Hall and the deer park. Now most people have no idea that there are deer up here, but one whiff and you'll soon guess.

This really is a very private sort of a place with wild flowers, hidden paths, stone walls and many trees. But you are never far away from civilisation. We really are very lucky round here for we can enjoy some wonderful walks like this any time of the year and it don't cost us a penny, for all these woods are owned my the city.

Do you remember some time ago whist walking up Beauchief Lane, I told you that we would be coming back on that path? Well this is that path, and I'll just take five on this bench and look at the view towards Woodseats. It's the same view we saw from high above the hall, but now we are a bit lower down. The road you can see is Abbey Lane. This wood to my left is where Beauchief gets its name, for from a distance it really is a beautiful headland, or from the Norman French, Beau Chief. (bee-chief).

Now we can continue on this path and down the lane, or we can cheat and cut across the golf course. Let me have look! No, there is nobody to play off so we'll take the short cut. The grass here is very long and the dogs love running thought it. My big dog, Sandy, likes to go chasing rabbits in these woods, so I'll have keep a close eye on her.

Well. Here we are back at Beauchief Abbey with the old barns and cottage to the right and the Abbey ruins to the left. All we have to do now is continue on the path and head off home.

We'll just have few minutes rest beside the ponds then we will head back home.

I do hope you have enjoyed our little walk. We are ten minutes from home now and ready for cup of tea and some cheesecake. We have been out for a little over two hours, met some nice people and seen some fine views on the way. You will have to come on some other walks with our dogs.
Feel free to email me and tell me what you think. stories@tonyturner.plus.com