The starting point for this trail is the gate at the eastern corner of Falconer Wood. This leads off Smallage Lane, which can be approached from either Fence or Aughton (via West Lane). For groups approaching the woodland from other directions, the trail could be picked up at a number of other points, including from Treeton (points 12 and 13 on the trail).

The trail is 2.75 kilometres (just over 1.6 miles) long. The majority is surfaced and easily accessible, following the bridle route through the woods. The section leading up to the viewpoint on Hail Mary Hill is steeper and has steps. An alternative would be to follow the bridle route below Hail Mary Hill.

The trail route is illustrated on the map below.

Enter Falconer Wood through the gate off Smallage Lane

1. There are two different types of 'gate' here, designed to let through different users of the woodland. A gate here has to be able to let through horses but not cars.

Turn immediately left along the lower bridlepath noticing the large Oak tree at the path junction.

2. This area, under a line of pylons, shows what happens when an area of woodland is felled and then allowed to grow back. The trees have been felled so as not to touch the electricity wires. Just because trees are cut back, even to their base, does not necessarily mean that they are killed. This was the principle behind coppicing, an ancient and once widespread method of woodland management.

Continue down the bridlepath for a short distance.

3. Emerge from the dense area of young trees under the power lines into an area of more open woodland and compare to the area under the power lines that you have just left. Birch and Oak are the dominant trees in both areas but this area is much more open with the trees being generally older, taller and further apart and with the woodland floor dominated by grass with Bracken, Brambles and Bluebells.

Falconer Farm is visible through the trees to the left. This ancient farm is thought to derive its name from Robert de Faulkener, a fourteenth century Norman lord and landowner in the parish of Aston-cum-Aughton.

Carry on down the bridlepath, ignoring the footpath off to the right. At the 'T-junction' near the lower woodland edge turn right.

4. You have now reached the lower woodland edge. Notice the way in which, because more light is able to penetrate at the woodland edge, the woodland floor supports a wide range of flower species, including Bluebell, Red Campion, Greater Stitchwort and Buttercup.

5. This area of bare soil is the result of bicycle and motorbike riding. To what extent is the damage to this small area of woodland acceptable or unacceptable. What could be done to prevent it?

6. Here the Oak and Birch trees are relatively young, with straight, narrow trunks. This is because this area of woodland has been felled and then grown back in the relatively recent past.

7. At this point you pass from Falconer Wood into Hail Mary Hill Wood and the path cuts through a small open area on the edge of the woodland. On a sunny day in spring or summer, this is an excellent place to see butterflies which live both in the fields and on the woodland edge. Listen also to the variety of birds which favour this 'edge habitat' more than they do the centre of the woods.

Along the edge of Hail Mary Hill Wood, leading down to Treeton Dyke is an old overgrown Hawthorn hedge.

8. Just inside the woodland is a strip of damper, nutrient enriched ground. This, in association with the increased light coming from the woodland edge, has resulted in a wide range of ground flora plants including abundant Bluebells and Ramsons (wild garlic) which should smell strongly in late spring.

Follow the bridlepath down through the woodland to the edge of Treeton Dyke.

9. Treeton Dyke is artificial, resulting from the diversion of the River Rother in order to stabilise land for the building of the Midland Railway. The lake was then used to provide water for Orgreave Colliery. Now that this use has ceased, the water is used for variety of uses including fishing, water skiing, and as a nature reserve.

Look across Treeton Dyke to the opencast coal workings beyond on the former Orgreave Colliery Tip. Following opencasting, this area will be restored. Notice how less disturbed areas of the old tip are already being colonised by trees.

Turn right along the path parallel to the water's edge.

10. The path follows an electricity line where again the trees have been felled to avoid them touching the wires. Notice how the shrubs and trees have grown back vigorously along the edge of the path. This previously cleared area is now attractive to birds, butterflies and other insects, again showing that the felling of trees is not always a bad thing for wildlife.

At the path junction, follow the concrete path onto the bridge across Treeton Marsh.

11. Notice how as you move into and across Treeton Marsh, the woodland gives way to Willow 'carr' and then to Reeds and other wetland vegetation surrounding pools of open water. In late spring and summer, listen for the chattering sound of Warblers in the reeds.

Treeton Marsh is a good example of the natural process known as 'succession'. It was once much more open with large pools of water. As Reeds and other wetland vegetation colonised the open water, the area of this was reduced. These plants trapped silt brought down by the stream flowing into the area and this, together with the remains of the plants as they died, gradually filled in the areas of water. After this process had continued for some time, the ground became sufficiently dry for Willow to spread in and form 'carr' woodland. If this process is allowed to continue, Treeton Marsh will eventually dry out and become woodland.

Return to the path junction and turn left, again following the bridlepath. Continue straight on where the bridlepath turns back on itself and goes uphill (unless following the alternative route). Where the paths cross, turn left and walk to the dead tree by Treeton Brook.

12. Associated with Treeton Brook is wet woodland containing a wide variety of trees and shrubs, including Ash, Hazel, Guelder Rose, Alder, Willow, Elm, Sycamore, Oak, Dog Rose, Field Maple, Crab Apple and Rowan. The ground flora of this area is also rich, with Lesser Celandine, Meadowsweet, Red Campion and Angelica, and the ancient woodland indicator species, Yellow Archangel, Dog's Mercury, Wood Sorrel, Moschatel, Ramsons, Yellow Pimpernel, Wood Anemone, Greater Stitchwort and Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage.

The dead tree near the stream shows evidence of 'attack' by a variety of creatures. The small holes are caused by Woodworm and the larger ones by Woodpeckers searching for insects and their larvae. All over the trunk are patterns carved by beetle larvae at a time when the tree still had bark. The tree is almost certainly the remains of an elm killed by Dutch Elm Disease.

Retrace your steps to the path junction and continue straight on up the wooden steps. Keep straight on up the path to the top of Hail Mary Hill.

13. The top of Hail Mary Hill has a small area of acid grassland. Look at how the edges of the area are being colonised by Bracken and then by young Oak and Birch trees. This is another example of the process of 'succession'. If the process is allowed to continue, the top of Hail Mary Hill will ultimately become woodland.

The top of Hail Mary Hill provides extensive views northwards along the Rother Valley, past the top of Treeton church tower, to the edge of Rotherham. Canklow Wood, another Heritage Woodland, can be clearly seen, about two miles to the north. To the west can be seen Treeton Dyke and the opencast coal workings, and beyond these, the edge of Sheffield. To the east, across fields, is Treeton Wood, another Heritage Woodland. Note the way in which this too is intersected by electricity lines.

Just below the crest of Hail Mary Hill is an archaeological site dating from the Middle Stone Age. Here hard stones such as flint, were fashioned into tools used for a variety of purposes. A pottery fragment of Roman age has also been found on the highest point of the hill.

From Hail Mary Hill continue southwards along the path, with a fence to your left

14. Look down the slope into the centre of the woodland. Again, this is dry, acid woodland dominated by Oak and Birch. Use the viewpoint to imagine what it would be like to live in the treetops.

Continue southwards along the path and down the steps and turn left to rejoin the bridleway.

15. Look at the pylon. Notice the way in which it is constructed out of triangles because these are a particularly strong shape.

16. The field above the wood at this point usually contains horses. The grazing of horses, sometimes known as 'horsiculture' is a common land use on farmland close to urban areas. This is because there is much demand for horse grazing from people living in the towns and also because conventional agriculture is often uneconomic in such areas.

Leave Falconer Wood through the gate onto the lane.