If you do not have it, click this button:
b) The map is a moderately large file that will take some time to download if you are on a telephone line
(but a quarter of the time of the previous version)
Queries about this page to
Henry Marston
(include a Subject and Body text - unexplained attachments
are treated as spam)
General links
Route description (Supporter's cars)
Route description (Participants)
Grid references, GPS data and how to clear your GPS unit
NEW: View the route on Google Earth (inc. 2007 route)
the strip (Wainwright-style)
Map
(updated for 2007, to be progressively updated for 2008)
This is a 500 kB
downloadable .pdf file, for Adobe Acrobat - right click, Save Target As...
and open the Acrobat - .pdf - file
Now in colour (of sorts)!
a) you need Adobe Acrobat,
which you probably have on a 'modern' computer.
If you do not have it, click this
button:
b) The map is a moderately large file that will take some time to download if you are
on a telephone line
(but a quarter of the time of the previous version)
Wainwright map of changes (as a .pdf file)
Changes
to Route
There may be more; check here again nearer the day
Summary of Changes
We are using the 2006 Event Centre, Dearne Valley College Sports
Checkpoint 1 has been moved further into park (access from Droppingwell Lane)
Stage 2 after Hill Top and down to pylon and over road: there is a metal gate on track to a new house, Take care to go along small path to right of track at wooden gateposts.
Catcliffe: Riverside path was closed in 2007. We hope to return to the original route in 2008, albeit landscaped
Stage 7: A significant change was implemented in 2007 (Maltby to Old Denaby)
More details below
printable summary of changes
Resolution of all known problems have been made to the map and written description
Three starts: 6:00 for walkers and slower runners, 7:00 for runners, 8:00 for relay teams.
Stage 2: Minor adjustment following local redevelopment: Approaching Tinsley, after crossing canal take new FP through stile to L and then R to RD - cross where safe, turn R
There will be three starts: 6:00 for walkers, 7:00 for runners, 8:00 for relay teams.
Stage 1
Grange Park Checkpoint is (probably) to be moved from
the access road to the track between the Golf Driving Range and the fenced-off
football pitches, i.e. about 500 m further on. Confirmed.
Stage 2
From Hilltop. SA on fenced path at L of CP (behind houses). SA and slightly R
alongside fence to pylon at bottom of hill. Cross stile by pylon, drop to RD,
cross to track, through steel gates, for 20 m, R down small path to R of
wooden gateposts, cross rough land/stile to RD. If you see new house at
end of track, you have gone too far.
Near Sheffield Airport - Turn R down Wood Lane (road works, no road sign). L at end, at new
roundabout ('The Car People' on L, airport on R), follow RD to roundabout after
bus shelter. L on site RD, follow line of landing lights to field/site corner
adjacent to main RD, down steps and follow fence below main RD and R after
bridge. Then L at end of fence on path across rough land, fork R twice, emerge
onto open land then L alongside hedge to FP to L of wooden fence in front of
houses. Follow FP, cross RD, FP between fences. Follow RD to Catcliffe.
L at main RD, R at mini roundabout, follow RD to L bend, past track (to Wilf
Jay's), R at FP sign, through gate up bank, follow path to fence, turn L.
Follow fence, R at corner, then L to cross FB
over RWY to TREETON checkpoint
Stage 5
(from FP along edge of housing estate – Carlton-in-Lindrick) to RD. Turn L, 200 m, turn acute R on FP. Warning – this FP is reported to be overgrown and flooded at the corner. Instead, continue along the road for 15 m, turn right back on yourself and regain FP when possible.
Stage 6
On the approach to Maltby Church, a footbridge was closed for repair (as of
July) for 6 months. This has now been repaired - no change needed
Stage 7
A significant change is being introduced for Stage 7 (Maltby to Old Denaby) for
safety, to avoid a long run on a dangerous road, AS BELOW:
From MALTBY checkpoint (6) LOCATION
TO BE CONFIRMED
Change from here: Turn R follow RD 200 m then L to Micklebring. Follow RD through village to 4-way junction. Turn ½R, (L of small village green) to FP (signed) after barn after last house on L. Follow path on L of field to stile at L corner (below M18 motorway). Take path alongside fence (below M18) over 3 stiles to surfaced track. Turn R, under motorway, then L on track parallel to M18. After 100 m, R at stile, indistinct path (field edge) to FB (planks) over stream and R round end of hedge. Defined FP across field to gap in hedge, cross railway cutting on bridge. Cross stile to left of gate after bridge. Follow track to L of fence (small trees on left), to end of fence. Cross track. Cross small field, to L end of hedge at opening. Don’t go through opening but take track to L of hedge to left of opening, to R of a field. Follow track above reservoir (on left) and L of fenced area to hamlet. Turn R at track (beware of stone blocks blocking end of track)
You are now on the old route at Firsby Hall Farm.
Follow track between buildings first L
and then R down over stream. Turn L on signed FP across field (uphill) to
escarpment, ½ R to woods, immediately turn L down FP (½ L, following L edge of
wood). Becomes track, then lane. At main RD (Hooton Roberts) go SA down
lane, ½ R. Lane
becomes track. Follow to L at end in field to gate, go down field to OLD
DENABY checkpoint (7) at RD Grid
Wainwright
map of changes (you may need to right click, Save Target As... and open the
Acrobat - .pdf - file),
printable summary of changes and Route
in Pictures (stage 7) updated
5 Dec 2006: GPS files have been updated to include route changes
Organisational changes for 2006:
(a) Brampton Leisure Centre is closing, and we have negotiated a new venue, the DVC Sports Centre at the Dearne Valley College, which was passed 3 km from the finish in previous years. It is signed from the Manvers roundabout (SE 454008) on the A6023, 8km north of Rotherham. Grid Ref SE 455003. Directions in Final Details and our web site. Optional basic Friday Night accommodation (£4 pp, bring sleeping bag – see Final Details). This route is shown in pictures
(b) there will be one start for runners
Route Changes 2006
Stage 1: Start to Grange
Significant change. Leave Event Centre, follow College
road to roundabout, cross it to Manvers roundabout. Take 3rd exit Barnsley
A6023 (to right of MANVERS sign) on FP/cycle track. Pass 4 roundabouts.
Continue on FP to fork. Bear L, then R, up slope to Blue Bridge.
Cross BR, L, then fork R across grass to lakeside path. At end of lake,
bear L (do not cross bridge) to path junction. L along main (level)
hard-surfaced FP, signed TPT. Keep on this hard-surfaced FP, under
bridges, and follow it right across a BR to a RD. Cross RD, under metal
arch, after 200 m bear L, signed Elsecar, on narrow path, cross RD (under
another arch). Surfaced path, parallel to dual carriageway, to access RD to
Retail Park. Cross Rd, R of Morrisons, down slope, following surfaced
path, bear R after clear area, eventually joining canal towpath. Next
landmark: Elsecar This section is shown in
pictures There is also a printable
description with map (for best results, Save target as... and then
print with Adobe Acrobat).
Stage 2
( Brinsworth to Catcliffe):
Site work on
Europa Way obstructs route past the airport landing lights.
This section is shown in
pictures
Stage 3
In Rother
Valley Park.
Do not turn right off park access road as in previous years. Instead, follow
park access RD to main RD. Cross
RD, turn R (downhill). L along
tarmac track just before stream (bridge). Follow
track to canal, merge to towpath, uphill (Norwood). Follow canal bank.
Stage 8: Old Denaby to Finish
From Swinton, follow illuminated cycle path to Dearne Valley College and where
path emerges to college grounds (and road) turn L
up and to the Sports Centre to finish. This
section is shown in pictures
§Stage 2 ( Brinsworth to Catcliffe):
We have reverted to the original route, modified by landscaping, but at least at
present open, without last year's obstructing fences : go down Wood Lane to
Europa Way, turn left on pavement and
continue to the roundabout just after the airport landing lights. Turn L
along the road and then along the line of the lights. Continue to the
field/site corner. Down slope and then
steps, under main road. R after 40 m, 50 m then 150°L (very
sharp) on path/track, on FP cross first RD, FP (between fences) then follow RD to
Catcliffe. R at main RD, (short
cut in front of houses), then L on signed path at RD junction.
§Stage 7 (Ravenfield Common)
Turn Right after barn on slight Road bend
after 40 sign. Follow path ½ Left over stiles across 3 fields.
Note:
the power line that used to be followed has been removed. The line of the
path can be followed - with care - to the stiles at each fence. Bare ½
Right after the third stile, cross plank bridge to stile at corner of field
leading to track.
(Stage 8 changes obsolete)
§ indicates changes incorporated into map and description (later on this page)
Stage 2:
Within Grange Park, there are now even more fences. Follow park road
for 100 m, turn L and follow to road bend and gates in
security fence. Turn right following path/surfaced path between fences and
hedge, (New bit) Keep going in same general direction, down, across park road
and up following fence round football pitches, Left at corner. At
end of low wooden pole fence, turn Right along edge of rough ground to SMALL path.
You are now back on route.
Stage 2:
The field with the landing lights of
Sheffield Airport is now fenced off (Stage 2, Brinsworth to Catcliffe). Unless
the path is re-opened, follow airport access
road to roundabout, under bridge (following signs for Catcliffe), past Morrisons and 2 roundabouts, continue
to left turn on road towards Catcliffe - go straight ahead in line with Left kerb of
Poplar Way over earthbank signed as a footpath
Details will be confirmed on the day.
Thanks to Les Hill and Ian Wallis for bringing some of these changes to our attention..
Grange Park (map strip 3) - Revised again: see 2004
Meadow Hall Road A6109
(map strip 4)
New security fencing around warehouses and alongside the railways can hide
the path (on approach to river path)
at Dearne Valley College Sports. THIS IS A CHANGE FROM 2005. Start and Finish, showers & food at finish. DVC Sports, 4 km from the finish in previous years, is signed from the Manvers roundabout (SE 454008) on the A6023. Grid Ref SE 455003, Postcode (for Sat Nav systems) S63 7EW - Manvers Park, Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham. Link to Google Map (Note: this is NOT the Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, east of Mexborough). Click here for .pdf version to save and print
Accommodation (possible lift from Rotherham and public transport)
a) Go to the Google Earth website, download and install Google Earth (requires broadband internet access to operate)
b) Click on this link to the route file (or right click on this link, select 'Save Target As...' and save the file 06DEC09_RRR_GE_CP.kml to a suitable folder, e.g. My Places in My Documents, the default folder for Google Earth). NOTE: Save Target As... seems to think you want to save the file as type .XML - instead change type to 'All Files' at the bottom of the dialogue box. This is still an old route, for illustration.
c) Open Google Earth and File Open the file you saved. You will see the route with start, checkpoints and finish. (start and finish are very close together to the north of the route; route is anti-clockwise) For clarity, it is best to switch roads OFF (untick box).
d) When you exit Google Earth, decline the offer to save unsaved data, or you will get it in duplicate next time.The 2007 route file is available for preview (obviously not perfect real time) - also with 160+ waypoints (you may want to hide them). The route has been split into stages, so that you can 'tour' them at will rather than following the full route right through. Again, either click on the link or right-click and Save Target As... Again, the system seems to think you want to save the file as type .XML - instead change type to 'All Files' at the bottom of the dialogue box. The display shows the GPS waypoints linked by straight lines and the actual / theoretical route as a bendy line. From Places on Sidebar (on left) and under Temporary places, and the name of the file, select Paths - Track (one for each of the 8 stages, in order). Sometimes the waypoints and path are not on the correct line, e.g. in a lake or, in one case, down the centre of a motorway - THIS IS NOT CORRECT!
We try to specify the route in advance, but late changes may have to be made, even on the day, if dictated by circumstances.
1. Written description, in the LDWA tradition, or right click here and Save Target as ... or Print target (to print it properly)
2. The "Wainwright-style"
diagrammatic map, or right
click here and Save Target as ... in which the route works UP each sheet. Note: the
new start is now on Strip 1, as previously except 2006
The map is in .pdf format Warning: 500 k bytes
This schematic will be available in full (B&W) as hard copies on the day.
This
version may not be fully updated, but it has been updated for the change of
event centre to DVC Sports and Stage 7
There is also a printable description of the changes
caused by moving the Event Centre, with map
(for best results, for either map, Save target as... and then print with Adobe
Acrobat)
2-strips for clarity, compared with the usual 4
strips on A4 sheets (4 sheets each with
4 strips)
The following are being progressively updated for 2008:
3. A schematic map (1 Megabyte) provides an overview of the route and is provided to show the checkpoints, to aid relocation (in the unlikely event of you going astray). Some checkpoint information may be revised, and there could be other enforced changes. NEW: a detailed 1:25000 map plus written description (total 6×A4 pages) showing the route, based on GPS data. There are also 1 sheet versions, on an A3 sheet (printable on some graphics printers) or an A2 sheet (for specialist printers) (it is best to right click on the link and Save As Target.. , especially if you want to print it)
The maps are reproduced from Landranger® Map 111, 1:50000 scale and Explorer® Maps 278 and 279 1:25000 scale by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. ©Crown copyright 1974-2002. All rights reserved. Licence number 100047659.
4. OS Grid references of around 160 key points to mark up the route on the OS Maps - use the route file, which splits the course into 8 stages, with abbreviated descriptions of what happens at each waypoint and provides 10-figure grid references (NOW updated to include route changes in 2007)
5. GPS waypoints in various formats for Garmin, Magellan and other GPS brands using inter alia GPS Utility updated for 2007
6. GPSU files: If you have GPSU (even if you don't have a GPS unit) you can download a map and display the route. Download one of the following set files into the same folder, open GPSU and select the first (.txt) file.
1:50000 scale: txt map
calibration
1:25000 scale: waypoints and route GPSU
waypoint file
(.txt), OS Explorer map file and calibration
file
1:25000 scale: track, waypoints and route
(.txt), GPSU track & waypoint file,
OS Explorer map file and calibration
file
Note, the map files are 0.13 and 8 Mbytes (1:50 and 1:25 respectively). Click on the 'map' icon and you should have the route displayed in front of you. The Start C-001 is the waypoint to the SE of the northmost waypoint L-002. Alternatively, the resulting map is (planned to be) available as an acrobat file. You can then transfer the information to your own copy of the map; these versions are probably inadequate for navigation. The map is reproduced from Landranger Map 110, 1:50000 scale ©Crown copyright 1974-2002. or Explorer® Maps 278 and 279, 1:25000 scale, by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. ©Crown copyright 2000. All rights reserved. Licence number WL10217.
7. GPS waypoints in .aef format for Anquet maps. The file, created by GPSU, is said to contains the waypoints and routes as Anquet paths. Or as a single Anquet route. Or as a series of paths derived from each stage (only stage 1 at present for test purposes). Unfortunately, I have not been able to check whether Anquet reads the files properly. Updated for 2007 route changes
8. Courses for Garmin Forerunner. Save As Target... and then import the course into Training Center (File - Import Course). Then Send To Device (obviously after plugging it in!) This file has the course, not the waypoints (you will have a breadcrumb to follow on your forerunner - I trust). I haven't been able to test it, but that's my belief.
9. Memory Map route files (provided by Mark Benton, with thanks), split in two parts Part 1 Part 2
To clear your GPS of Round Rotherham waypoints, use the Clear data set. Each year there are changes, so it is best to get a clean start. Also, you may want to load other waypoints, e.g. the Munros, before your next run. Download the file for the appropriate year 2004 2005 , upload to your GPS unit and then selectively delete all waypoints with the Wreck icon (code 7). This procedure has been tested with a Garmin GPS12 using GPS Utility, but does not work with the more sophisticated GPSMAP 60CSx - that creates new duplicates for the waypoints. Alternative is to save key waypoints to computer, delete all and reload the key ones together with those for the event.
If you require a different GPS data format, contact me, Henry Marston (include a Subject and Body text - unexplained attachments may be treated as spam), and I will try to generate it for you (using GPSU).
8.
The route in pictures. We are building up a set of pictures to show the
route as you will see it. So far, we have the new access route from
Rotherham, the new
part of Stage 1, change on Stage 2, part of Stage 6 and the finish. These
versions are not easily printed - I plan to create printable versions. Last update 31 May, 2008
by
Henry Marston
The
route in pictures: Access
The
route in pictures: Stage 1
The
route in pictures: Stage 2
The
route in pictures: Stage 6
The
route in pictures: Stage 7 - part showing changes to the route
The
route in pictures: Stage 8
