GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

Elsecar Reservoir and Canal Walk

3.42 miles (5.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This nice waterside walk takes you around Elsecar Reservoir before picking up a footpath along the Elsecar Branch Canal. Along the way there are lots of interesting old buildings related to the village's mining history. You can find out more at the excellent Elsecar Heritage Centre which contains the only Newcomen steam engine in the world to have remained in its original location.
The walk starts from the parking area in Elsecar Park. From here you can pick up nice footpaths taking you around the pretty park with its woodland, flower beds and bandstand. Trails then lead you around the reservoir which is also a nature reserve where you can look out for a variety of wildlife.
The route then passes the heritage centre and the train station belonging to the Elsecar Heritage Railway. The railway runs steam and diesel locomotives, between Rockingham station (at the back of the Elsecar Heritage Centre) and Hemingfield Basin.
Just past the station you can pick up the canal-side path and follow it to Wombwell.
Part of this walk uses sections of the Barnsley Boundary Walk and the Trans Pennine Trail. You could extend the walk by continuing along the trails into Barnsley.
Also in the Barnsley area you will find Worsbrough Mill Country Park. The park includes a 60 acre reservoir and a 17th Century working water mill set in 240 acres of lovely parkland.

Elsecar Reservoir and Canal Walk OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Elsecar Reservoir and Canal Walk Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Photos

Elsecar Heritage Centre Yard March 2017

Elsecar Heritage Centre

Elsecar by the sea. - geograph.org.uk - 550496

Elsecar Reservoir. Once termed Elsecar by the sea due to the large numbers of day trippers who arrived by train.

Autumn in Elsecar Park - geograph.org.uk - 1535475

Autumn in Elsecar Park

Elsecar Park - geograph.org.uk - 1505296

Elsecar Park. The bandstand in the southern section of the park with formal gardens.

Elsecar Newcomen engine - geograph.org.uk - 682125

Elsecar Newcomen engine. This adds to the profile of this engine over the years, this one being from 1986.

Building site by Elsecar Canal - geograph.org.uk - 1427796

Building site by the Canal

Dearne and Dove Canal - geograph.org.uk - 486227

Dearne and Dove Canal. This is the Elsecar branch of the canal which was constructed at the end of the 18th century to carry coal from the colliery owned by Earl Fitzwilliam. The canal now lies on the route of the Barnsley Boundary Walk.

Canal gate position^ - geograph.org.uk - 550478

Canal gate position

GPS Files

GPX File

Elsecar Reservoir and Canal Walk.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Elsecar Reservoir and Canal Walk.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)