Meet: Thursday mornings in the foyer of Wisewood Sports Centre in time to order coffee and start walking at 10.45.
Day: Thursdays
Time: 10.35 in time to start walking at 10.45 am
Meet: in the foyer of Wisewood Sports Centre, 75 Laird Road, Wisewood S6 4BS
Our meeting point is the reception area at the Wisewood Sports Centre. We gather from 10.30 to chat before setting off at 10.45am to walk on Wadsley & Loxley Common. The Sports Centre has plenty of off-road parking. The walk is on good footpaths or bridleways, suitable for most people. The common is a rare example of lowland heath and is a delight in all seasons. We walk by various paths up to the top car park where we often see a variety of birds including yellowhammmers, chaffinches, tits of every sort and even, if we are lucky, a woodpecker or nuthatch. The view of Bradfield Dale is well worth the steady climb. The walk generally takes about 80 minutes but for anybody who can’t manage that distance one of the leaders will walk with them back to our starting point.
On our return refreshments are available in the Riva Community Café next to the Sports Centre where friendly volunteers provide tea and coffee at a subsidised price or, if you prefer, a wide choice of freshly made snacks and light meals at very reasonable prices.
Over the years we have added to our activities. We maintain the Trig point on the common, washing and painting it once a year. We decorate a fir tree on the common every Christmas. We have had fungi walks and occasional trips to other parts of the city or around Dam Flask at Bradfield. We are a friendly group and the social aspects of our walk are just as important as the health benefits of walking on our beautiful common.
We walk every Thursday. If the common is judged too icy to walk safely, we still walk around the area.
Buses: Various. Visit the TravelS Yorkshire website and use the Journey planner and Timetable finder Apps for up-to-date information. Alternatively, phone the Traveline on 08009520002.
Parking: Walkers may use the Wisewood Sports Centre car park.
Toilets: There are toilets in Wisewood Sports Centre at the start of the walk and in the Riva Community Cafe at the end.