IT'S A BIT HILLY AROUND HERE!

Once again, we cross the River Don and immediately start the steep ascent that I promised you in the last post. It's worth the effort thoufg as the reward is a visit to the Blake Hotel, one of Sheffield's better free houses.

 Not far away is the Blinf Monkey. another great pub with some fine beers. It's Retired Martin's local.

Upwards into Walkley, once reached by Sheffield's trams (single deck ones).

Sadly, the Old Heavygate Inn has now gone, but here's a reminder of it.

Thankfully, the Walkley Cottage is still open.

Downhill now, into the valley of the River Loxley and the old tram terminus at Malin Bridge. Modern day trams also serve this location.

Motor buses of Sheffield Corporation connected with trams at Malin Bridge.

Following the Loxley downstream, we soon come to the centre of Hillsborough. Some of Sheffield's old trams used to terminate here.

South Yorkshire PTE buses once served Hillsborough.

Today, both Firstbus and Stagecoach buses can be found in Hillsborough.

Stagecoach also operate the Supertram through Hillsborough.

On the northbound platform of Hillsborough tram stop is the Rawson Spring. In my opinion, it's one of the better Wetherspoons.

Across the road, again alongside the tram stop, the Beer House.

Les than a hundred yards away, another newish pub, the Hillsborough Tap.

Along Langsett Road was the George IV, now sadly closed, but it was home to Kai the dog - a BIG dog!

Not far away, another lost pub. The Hillsborough Hotel.

Beneath the pub was the now defunct Crown Brewery.

Down in the valley, the excellent New Barrack Tavern.

Northwards now to Herries Road, where South Yorkshire PTE had a depot.

If you're lost, don't forget that you can follow the route on this map. Herries Road, near Wadsley Bridge, passes under the Five Arches viaduct, seen here with a Great Central Railway (GCR) local train passing over it.

Wadsley Bridge station, latterly only used for football specials, was on the GCR's Woodhead route.

The signal box survived into the late 1970s.

On the other side of the valley, the terminus of the Supertram at Middlewood, a Park & Ride facility.

As we head into Oughtibridge (also called Oughty Bridge), we pass Middlewood Mill.

The GCR had a station at Oughty Bridge, again on the Woodhead line. Note the elevated signal box in the upper photo, later replaced by the standard GCR one see in 1979 in the lower picture.

The remains of the station in 2007, with just a single line for traffic to Stocksbridge.

That's it for now. Next time, we'll head towards Barnsley.

KELHAM ISLAND AND NEEPSEND

Our next calling point is Shalesmoor, on the tram line towards Hillsborough. 

Shalesmoor tram stop is very handy for a really good pub, seen here as the Cask & Cutler.

The Cask & Cutler has reverted to its earlier name, the Wellington. It's still well worth popping in for a few pints.

Mainline buses used to pass by.

Over the road is the Ship, with a great exterior.

Down in the valley, a decent free house, the Riverside.

We're now in the Kelham Island area, home to the famous Fat Cat.

Behind the Fat Cat was once Kelham Island Brewery.

Just around the corner, the Kelham Island Industrial Museum, where one is greeted by a huge Bessemer converter.

Back in 1988, a short miniature railway had been set up outside the museum.

Inside, another miniature loco and some more steam devices.

The biggest steam powered machine is the River Don Engine.

A stone's throw away is the brilliant Kelham Island Tavern.

Pusscat was the pub moggy, rescued from one of the recent floods.

A short walk away was the Milestone, since closed.

Above the Kelham Island area was the Great Central Railway's Woodhead route, home to Bridgehouses Goods depot.

A tunnel covered over the long gone connection to the Midland at Wicker Goods.

The first passenger station out of Sheffield was Neepsend. 

The GCR, later the LNER, had a cramped loco shed at Neepsend, later replaced by a new one at Darnall.

The Neepsend area has long been prone to flooding. This shows the aftermath of the 1874 flood.

Despite the occasional inundation, the Gardeners Rest has survived and serves an excellent pint.

Close by was the Stone's Brewery, since closed.

There's still brewing in the area, as the Neepsend Brewery is thriving.

That's where I'll leave you for now. Next time, we've some steep hills to climb, but it'll be worth it.