Our drawing of the route — the shape of the walk, not a navigation aid. Carry OS Explorer on the hill. Off-lead information here is what walkers reported or what signage allows — never our advice. Whether and when a dog is off the lead is the owner’s decision and legal responsibility; keep dogs under control near livestock and follow signs on the day.
Silkstone's village park off Manor Road, a small green with a refurbished play area, a path round the edge and open views west up the Silkstone valley. It takes ten minutes to walk round, so it is the local dog walk rather than a destination, but it sits a few hundred yards from the start of the Silkstone Waggonway and works as the parking end of that route when the Cross is full. Barnsley Council refurbished the play equipment here under its Love Where You Live programme.
A detached nineteenth century stone cottage at The Cross in the middle of Silkstone village, sleeping five over three bedrooms, with exposed beams, wooden floors and a wood burner. The important part for a dog is the secure walled garden, which is a rare thing in a village let, and the owners keep a dog toy box in the house. The Silkstone Waggonway path and Pot House Hamlet are within walking distance, with the Trans Pennine Trail at Silkstone Common a mile and a half south. The owners' own website says the cottage takes up to four dogs; no dog charge is published.
The cafe at the heart of Pot House Hamlet, the cluster of small independent shops, nursery and petting farm on the site of the old Silkstone glassworks just below the church. There is an open fire indoors and a cosy walled courtyard outside, and the hamlet's own Silkstone Waggonway path and picnic field start at the gate, which is why so many people arrive here with a dog and a muddy pair of boots. Parking is free and level. Pot House Hamlet's own website says the site is dog friendly and points you at the dog boutique for a treat, but it does not say dogs may come inside the cafe itself, so treat the courtyard as the safe bet.
The line of a horse-drawn waggonway begun in 1809 by the Barnsley Canal Navigation Company to carry Silkstone coal down to Barnby Basin at Cawthorne, now a walking and cycling route of about two and a half miles. Many of the original stone block sleepers are still in the ground along it. The route passes Nabs Wood and the Huskar memorial to the twenty-six children drowned in the pit there in 1838, crosses the A628 and runs on through Silkstone Fall woodland past the scout camp. It starts at Silkstone Cross in the village and finishes at Pot House Hamlet on the Cawthorne road, which has a cafe.
Real dog-welcoming cottages from our booking partner holidaycottages.co.uk — live prices, booked on their site. Booking through these links supports Wagfinder and never changes the price you pay.
Birchwood Stable Cottage
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £428
Hawthorn Cottage Yorkshire
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £447
Prospect Lodge Halifax
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £453
Clover Cottage Osmotherley
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £479
Number 2 Bank Top
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £484
Havercroft
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £485
Whisper Cottage
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £520
Lavender Cottage Helmsley
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £521
Dove Cottage Old Malton
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £649
Farmstead Cottage At Bland Close Farm
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £671
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