The Trans-Pennine Trail (TPT)

Trans-Pennine Trail
Following an idea originating in Barnsley to celebrate the millenium, the TPT was begun in 1999 and was officially opened in September 2001. It runs coast-to-coast between Southport and Hornsea and was described as: 'The first multi-user long-distance route in the country.' It had cost about £60 to construct, although some parts had not been finished until 2004. it is 215 miles (346km) long in total.

This trail is for walkers, cyclists and it has long stretches suitable for horse riders, especially in our district. It mostly passes through green countryside away from the conurbations but some parts use the roads to link up the sections. At first, the ground was just loose gravel but the surface has been improved and widened over time and is now mostly rubberised (from old tyres) through Penistone. The trail is administered from Barnsley (link below).

In our district, the trail follows much of the old Woodhead railway line. From Penistone, Dunford Bridge is about forty minutes away by bicycle, when 'giving it some wellie' and there are picnic spots at Bullhouse bridge and Dunford.

Access and Parking
All Penistone car parking is free but town centre parking can be a nightmare and some places have time restrictions. The best place to park for the trail is next to Julie's cafe off the St Mary's Street roundabout (go immediately right at the top of Bridge Street) but there is also a small section near the Tesco and Showground. Walkers and cyclists can start or finish with refreshments at the cafe every day, including Sundays. The Tesco car park is also at hand but it is time-limited. Access to the trail is easy from Penistone Railway station but its free car park is often full to capacity. Access from the Community Centre on Church Street is also easy but Market Days (Thursdays) are always very busy and its small car park can sometimes resemble a dodgem track.

Beside's Julie's cafe, there are plenty of watering holes and cafes in Penistone town centre for the hungry or thirsty visitor.

A bicycle hire and repair CIC shop is available right next to Julie's cafe, so you don't even need to bring your own bike if you fancy a visit. The trail is very popular with dog walkers too so you might need a bell on your own bike as a polite warning that you are there. Be cautious around horses as they can be spooked by surprise moves or people cycling too quickly. As a popular leisure route, there are some rules in the use of the trail at the bottom of this page but, summing them up, it is just a matter of people politely giving way to each other. Oh, and our locals are quite friendly so it won't hurt to say or reply with "Hello" or "Good morning" as you encounter others on the trail.

Before they put lights in, Oughtibridge tunnel (first shot above) was eerie and completely dark in the middle. It was great fun riding an aging Triumph 'Palm Beach' bike with a dim dynohub light but I spooked someone ar the far end when I made some ethereal sounds to test the acoustics. Whooo-oooh! The tall building (top centre) was Penistone railway station in the old days. The steps to its right go from the TP trail to Wentworth Crescent. The very tall stone bridge is at Rockside. The fancy steel 'Millennium Bridge' is at Bullhouse and the pylon is about a mile from Dunford.

By the Railway Station
The black trail marker sign is near a gap for the railway station, so you can bring your bike from the train direct to the trail. The blue sign is close to the skateboard park on the Showground but has to be replaced every so often when it fades. Next are views around the showground. The snowy fields are towards Cross Lane and Hartcliff.

Stottercliffe Cemetery
Penistone churchyard had been used for burials for centuries but the local population was quickly expanding in the mid-19th century with the arrival of the railway and steelworks. The time had come for a new burial place. After a public meeting to discuss the matter in 1869, the Burial Board of the Ecclesiastic Parish of Penistone formed 12th May 1870 with Rev WS Turnbull of Penistone parish church as Chairman. The seal of the Burial Board was the Horned Penistone Ram. By the way, the name of this area is often spelled two ways, with or without an 'e' (as often occurs with Hartcliff).

After some discussion and negotiation, the new cemetery opened on 1st August 1880. Previous to this, Stottercliffe had been a wood through which ran the bridle stile from Penistone to Thurlstone. It was diverted when the railway came and the wood was cleared. The ground was subsequently purchased for use as the cemetery, requiring a loan of £3,800.

Being adjacent to the trail, not long after the trail opened, an unofficial access to the cemetery opened up. It had been a simple wire fence but the wires became broken and this became one of the most-used accesses to the 'dead centre' of Penistone. At first, BMBC repaired the wire but public use could not be held back and it is now an important, if unmarked, entrance. A tiny but un-marked grave plot had been directly in the middle of the footfall for this way in. We might guess that it was a family pet's resting place but it has gone now.

Until the mid-nineties, two dilapidated old chapels stood in the centre of the cemetery. One had been for Catholic ceremonies and the other for Anglicans. I don't recall either being used. Workmen carefully laid out the stones on the ground from one of the rose windows but where they ended up is not known. We must thank the BMBC workers for keeping this cemetery tidy and keeping its road clear of snow in winter.

Also close to the Trans-Pennine Trail, a new extension was officially opened on the other side of the Trail on Tuesday 6th March 2007. The ceremony was led by Bishop of Pontefract Tony Robinson and witnessed by the Registrar and Penistone Rector, Fr David Hopkin, Penistone Mayor Cllr Nora Collett, Town Clerk Elizabeth Sedgewick, assorted councillors and local people including Neville Roebuck (after whom the Penistone Archive room is named), and Yours Truly.

For much more about the history of local burials and this cemetery, please see Stottercliffe Cemetery.

The TPT Code of Conduct

Other Walks and Routes
See the Tour page for good ideas about local walks and cycling.