Denby Distractions

Sue and Katie had planned a visit to the Denby Pottery visitors centre, so I went along and planned a walk around the local country.
The idea was to start in the car park and do a loop to Strret lane village via Park Hall, then continuing to Marehay. From here I could return to the visitors centre if the girls had finished, otherwise I could continue to circle around to Denby Village before returning to the car park.

The weather had changed and was distinctly winter - there was a biting wind and occasional rain drops.
We parked in the visitors centre car park, and as the others went along to the delights of the centre, and I walked back to the entrance and along the road (B6179). Opposite the workers entrance I took a lane down to a farm.

Through the industrial units in the farm yard and out to the fields behind, climbing a farm track.
The track ended at a back road and I crossed over to a locked gate - over this and to a pair of grass fields - the path went along the right hand one.

Across the fields and through a small wood - with a narrow track.

Down the field to the buildings of Park Hall. Here across the farm track and through a field that went aroudn the farm - I guess I could have gone straight across but it was long wet grass!
Down a slope, across a stream and then up the far side to the edge of the A38

Avoiding the foot bridge over the road, by following a path along the top of a couple of grass fields. By now my feet were soaked.
The path curved back down the slope beside Morrell's Wood.

Back over the stream and joined a farm track on the far side.
This led to Street Lane village.
Across the lane and down a track next to a school.

The track got rougher as it passed between woods, before coming to a stop - the lane was barriered off.
I turned onto a path in the scrub to the righthand side. This followed the fence beside the blocked track.

This was obviously a new route for the path when a stile led into a grass field and it was the only entrance.
Across the field and onto a residential road leading down to Marehay and the B6179.

Over the road and opposite a campervan dealership (also sells Wildax vans), I took the driveway up to a farm (now residential).
At the farm I found the ongoing track after scanning around for a while. This track climbed back up to a ridge 

On the high point I turned along the ridge aiming for Denby Common. First on one side of the hedge then the other.

Beside a wood the path followed the edge to a separate field.
across this field to a farm track.
This track curved around and down towards Denby village.

Through some wooded area and down to a stream.
Along the stream on what I assume was a local nature trail that serpentined its way o9utof the scrub.

Along a raised bank around a horse paddock

Through a hedge and into a sports field with a skateboard park.
Over this to the back road beside a school and a  church.
Just along from the church I took the track (Denby Lane)

Leaving the lane when it got "private" signs. The path moved across a grass field to a horse paddock.
Back over the ridge above the Denby factory.

The path lost its definition here - there were many variants - so I walked down the solar panels and then across to a dirt track that led down to the employees car park.
This had a link to the visitors one, and I crossed back to the car.

As the girls were not at the car. I continued into the visitor centre, with the aim to find a bench for coffee. However I fell under the spell of the tea room and the warmth coming from it. This was an excellent idea as the girls were there too, so an opportunity for some hot soup.