Hike from Denby Dale via Upper Denby, Upper Cumberworth, and Birdsedge

This is a circular tour based on Denby Dale. I started and finished at Denby Dale Interchange, which I reached using the #X1 from Wakefield.
I began by walking down Wood Lane, then Norman Road and Bank Lane to reach Barnsley Road. On Barnsley Road I turned into a new housing estate of Broombank to pick up a path that led into Hagg Wood. Coming out of Hagg Wood, I walked around the boundary of Claverley Wood before walking across open fields towards Toby Wood.
In Toby Wood, I turned right down a path and then down steps to cross the River Dearne, which, because of the drought, was not even a trickle. When I climbed up to a track, I decided to continue in the wood, although had I taken the track it would have taken me to another entrance to the wood. Going the way I did, gave me an opportunity to test my agility with a small set of stepping stones.
These woods are called Upper Dearne Woodlands and I found them the most enjoyable part of the hike. There are two or three different paths that you can take. I then climbed up a field to reach Park Lane, where I turned left. Park Lane must have been busy at one stage in its life as it still has cobbles.
My route then took me across Cumberworth Lane and Barnsley Road before going more or less diagonally across a field to reach Heator Lane. This field had been used for grass growing, but the path across it was clearly visible.
The path across the next field to reach Cumberworth Lane was less easy to recognise as it was across a ploughed field, and that made it hard going. I turned off Cumberworth Lane on to another field and at a bend in the lane, I should have taken the path in the field instead of deciding the farm tarck was better.
The path across the next field was not at all visible, but I managed to find my way to Wood Lane, which led to the Denby Dale Interchange.
I didn’t count the stiles and wall stiles, but there must have been at least six of each kind – a good test of stretching ability! I thought my route would enable me to get some good views of the famous railway viaduct at Denby Dale, but I was sorely disappointed. I got one glimpse after Hagg Wood and that was it. It’s probably best seen from the junction of Barnsley and Wakefield Roads.