High Fernley Road - Sowden Lane - Norwood Green

 

Description

A green lane in parts running bisecting the North and South Woodlands running over Judy Bridge to Norwood Green via Sowden Lane

Route

View looking down High Fernley Road near High Fernley House the line just running to the left of the pole is FP114. The woodland to the Right (North) is Old hanna Wood and the Woods to the left (South) Low Wood. Follow the road through on foot to rach Norwood Green

 

 

Pedestrain Access from the bollards onward to Norwood Green over Judy Bridge and up the steep hill at Sowden Lane

 

 

 

 

Not a marked FP but the stile on the left will take you along the field margin into Low Woods

 

 

 

 

View down the shaded lane to the Bridge just after the Royds Hall Lane Junctio.Note the sutrface is rough but there is and elevated walkway just visible on the left. This would have been part of the old Coach Horse Route

 

 

Looking back on the paved walkway to the side of High Fernely Road . The stony suface is bvery uneven and becomes a waterlogged stream in heavy rain hence the eevated walkway along its side

 

 

 

 

Over Judy Bridge to Norwood Green either by the firlds straight ahead or round the steep lane to the right (Sowden Lane )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just looking back on the route if you are headoing toward Norwood Green the gap down the side of the Bridge (stepped) to the North is the beginning opf FP 125 which takes you into the biggest of the Woods on the North Side of this Bridge called Royds Hall great Wood.

 

 

 

Round the bend and up the steep hill for norwood Green (Sowden Lane ) or you may go straight through the stile and up the Hill covered in old bricks , and eventually over two fields to Norwood green this route is muddy in winter. The stile is just visible . Sowden lane is steeper and can also be muddy

 

 

 

 

Wildlife

This shaded lane hosts many shady plants. Enchanters Nighshade , Marsh Willowherb, Bittercresses, Cow Parsley , Wood Sorrel, White campion, Hogweed

 

History

Look At the stones on this section of the road you will notice some are bubbled and like "Moon Rock" they are quite heavy . These stones have been fired in a kiln and then dumped on the road as a slage or crude surface . Evidence of the bygone days of the Low Moor Iron works. Look also mainly on Royds Hall Lane especially after a shower for the blue stone these are ores of copper called Malachite which are a Copper ore which have been discarded . Many are smooth and shiny and glss like signifying that they have been fired

Safety

The sections to Norwood Green can be muddy and slippy in winter. Stick and Footwear recommended . Sections on these unmade tracks are also stony.