Denby Dale Viaduct

I had to curtail my planned circular tour in order to catch the bus from Denby Dale back to Wakefield. I thought I could manage the four miles I had planned in 1 hour 50 minutes, but I found that I was only managing to travel at just over 2 mph. So instead of walking back into Denby Dale over fields, I stopped at the junction of the Barnsley and Wakefield Roads where, fortunately, there is a bus stop.
I set off from the bus stop on Wakefield Road just before Station Road and went down the road on the left leading to an industrial complex. I thought I had to turn left before the viaduct and crossed a small clapper bridge before my SatNav told me I had gone the wrong way. I should have taken a path after the viaduct by the side of the industrial estate. This I did and it gave me great views of the viaduct.
The path brought me to Barnsley Road where I was able to walk along a pavement until I came to Toby Wood Lane. Where the lane later turned left I went straight ahead on a path that eventually brought me to a set of steps to cross the River Dearne and into Upper Dearne Woodlands. There are two or three different paths that you can take here.
After passing New House Farm, I took the wrong route again going down a track on the left instead of going diagonally across a field. The path climbed steeply up by a wall and I was surprised just how steep it was there – something I was not expecting. The path carried on to Penistone Road, where there was again a pavement to walk on.
I turned down on the track leading to Pog Hall and the followed paths to reach Square Wood. Just after Square Wood Reservoir I picked up a farm track leading to Toby Wood Farm, where I was able to reach Toby Wood Lane.
I could then follow this to Barnsley Road and onward to Wakefield Road where a bus stop was.
There were four ordinary stiles and two wall stiles to negotiate on the tour. For me, the most interesting part of the walk was the Upper Dearne Woodlands, though I also enjoyed the views of the viaduct from the path going to Barnsley Road.