Silkstone Waggonway
Location - Pot House Hamlet, Silkstone, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 4JU - (what3words location)
Distance (around) - can take a long or short walk, depending on you ability
Accessibility at a glance:
Access: ⭐⭐
Dog friendliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Facilities: ⭐⭐⭐
Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐
More in depth:
Parking and entrance:
We parked in Pot House Hamlet, just across the road
There are a number of spaces, some accessible others not so much, it can get quite busy
Paths and distance:
Terrain is mixed including dirt, dust and stone/gravel.
Lots of bumps from the historic Waggonway.
Manageable for my mobility scooters but requires advanced thought to avoid getting stuck.
Generally flat as it follows the original Waggonway line
Best in dry months likely to become muddy in winter
Path is wide enough for two people side-by-side for most of the section walked.
Facilities
Facilities are available at Pot House Hamlet, but not along the route itself.
This walk is part of the historic Silkstone Waggonway, beginning in and around Pot House Hamlet. The full route stretches approximately 3.5 miles, though it isn’t completely accessible due to the age and condition of the former industrial trackway, due to lots of railway sleepers.
For our visit, we opted for a shorter, more manageable section, about a mile, following the old Waggonway that runs alongside Silkstone Beck. The water is largely hidden behind bushes and trees, but it’s lovely when you see it alongside you as you walk. This path once carried coal during the 1700s, and many remnants are still visible along the way.
We started at Pot House Hamlet, crossed the road and the small bridge, then headed down a lane between residential homes and a field to join the track. The path is comfortably wide, easily allowing two people to walk side by side. However, the surface varies are dusty, loose dirt, and occasional stones. My mobility scooter coped well overall, but I did need to stay aware of ruts and uneven ground to avoid getting stuck.
The route itself is quite straight. Along the way, you’ll encounter the humps and bumps of the historic track, as well as an information sign and an old wooden waggon with a bench beside it. It’s a great little spot to pause and soak in a bit of local history and nature.
Despite the tricky ground, the walk is genuinely charming. There are open views across the fields, glimpses of sheep and cows grazing. The hedged sections give way to airy, open countryside, providing plenty of variety and lovely scenery.
We met a few walkers and dog owners, all friendly and happy to share the space. There were a few cyclists too, so we stayed alert, but overall the atmosphere was relaxed and quiet. Betty trotted along quite happily on her extended lead, thoroughly enjoying the abundance of new smells.
Since we hadn’t planned the walk in detail, we simply continued until it felt like a good time to turn back, retracing our steps to the start. In total, the outing took about an hour.
Aside from the bumpy surface, something my scooter could handle with a bit of planning, it was an enjoyable walk. We’d definitely return, especially in the summer months when the ground is firm and the route is at its most accessible.
Tip - park in Pot House Hamlet and get an ice cream on the way back.
