Walk through the castle grounds alongside the Visitors Centre and down the steps to the pedestrian gate on the lower grassed level.

Cross over the road and walk along Castle Avenue, enjoying views of The Priory and The Terrace.

Pop Lane or Bogey AlleyOn Castle Avenue, at the foot of the steps of a ginnel known locally as Pop Lane, (Bogey Alley in more recent years), is an interesting stone set into the wall. It is believed this could be part of a carving from the chapel at the castle or the original market cross.

Cross over New Hill and turn left in between the houses to Old Hill. Walk down this hill until you get to the brook backing onto Brook Square.

Old HillThe old coaching road from Doncaster to Rotherham came up Old Hill, a narrow rocky road from Brook Square, and proceeded up West Street to the ‘lightnings’ (now School Terrace). Here extra horses, which had been employed to assist the heavy coaches up the steep hill, were unhitched before they continued their journey to the Toll house at Hill Top and on to Rotherham and Templeborough.

Walk along the bank of the brook to Marchgate. Turn left and walk along the road over the bridge to the main road (A630).

The old tannery was at the bottom of Codder Alley (now Marchgate) at the other side of the brook which was crossed by a rope bridge. Whit or white leather was used for making horse saddles and a codder or cadder was the person who did the tanning.

Turn right and cross the main road and continue until you reach the entrance to Pigotts Park.

Climb the hill to the right of the wooded copse and follow the path left along the hill. Follow the path through the old fence, continuing around the hill towards Clifton Hill. Enjoy the panoramic views across the valley to Conisbrough.

The brickyard on the west side of Clifton Hill where you are standing can be traced to at least the 1850s when Ashfield Fire Clay Works was established. After 1920 the brickworks were reorganised and extended and employed over 100 workers. Each week around 200,000 fine weather bricks were produced. The works were converted for military use during 1942 but brickmaking resumed afterwards. By the 1950s the clay deposits were running out and final production at Conisbrough ceased in 1961 and the quarry later filled in.

Cross Clifton Hill at the metal gates and onto the right hand side of Windmill Avenue.

Continue up Windmill Avenue until you reach Snake Lane (on your right just after the left turning for Roberts Avenue).Snake Lane is an ancient pathway though the origins of the name (apart from the obvious) are unknown.

Follow the path past the allotments and continue to the grassed area.

Where the path splits, turn left and follow the path to the wood and onto Crookhill Road.

Turn left down Crookhill Road.

The Edwardian detached house next to Strikes Garden Centre, is the Matron’s House and the only remaining building left of the Crookhill Hospital site. Built in 1902 as an isolation hospital for victims of small pox, it took over from the original fever hospital on Drake Head lane. Further along the road is an avenue of trees which marks the boundary to the hospital grounds.

On the left hand side of the road is the area where the windmill to which this estate derives its name was located (between the footpath to the rear of Wheatcroft and Sheaf Close). The 4 sailed windmill was not used since 1870 and demolished in 1980.

At the bottom of Crookhill Road cross the A630 at the traffic island and onto Minneymoor field through the gap in the stone wall to your right.