Oxspring

Leaving the car park we pass beneath the Trans-Pennine Trail, cross agricultural fields and pass through a private garden with its attractive duck pond, which originally powered the water wheel of the local corn mill. We reach Roughbirchworth Lane, pass Root House Farm and cross fields to Castle Dam with its wading policemen and large gaggle of Canada geese.

We continue over fields and uphill along a farm track and minor road to The Bungalow, formerly the site of an isolation hospital, before a gentle incline over the fields of Roughbirchworth Common takes us close to the site of an Iron Age fort. The incline continues through the fields of Snowden Hill Common to Dyson Cote from where we have a short stretch along Tofts Lane to descend on Mucky Lane and join a section of the Barnsley Boundary walk. We pass Briery Busk Farm and have a short incline along the farm access track. We cross Hunshelf Hall Lane and then it is downhill along Dean Head Lane, Pond Common Lane and along farm tracks to return to our starting point.

The walk is predominantly on field paths and farm tracks with views of the surrounding countryside throughout. However there are short stretches of road walking along quiet country lanes. There are a number of stiles along the route.