Two versions of this trail can be followed, depending on the age and enthusiasm of those involved.

The shorter version of the trail, which is restricted to Wheata Wood and the flat upper parts of Prior Royd, is 2.5 kilometres ( 1.5 miles) long. Most of the paths on this section are broad, well-maintained and more or less flat.

For those wishing to follow a longer route, an extension to the trail taking in lower parts of Prior Royd is provided. The length of this full trail is 3.6 kilometres ( just over 2.25 miles). This longer version of the trail does include some narrower paths and a relatively steep uphill section in the lower part of Prior Royd.

The starting point for both versions of the trail is the car park in the northern end of Wheata Wood which is reached off Woodhead Road. The trail can also be joined at a number of other points where it comes close to or crosses the perimeter of the site, in particular at the 'wood-yard' (point 8 on the trail), which is close to the pedestrian access from Grenoside village.

The trail route is illustrated on the map below.

Leave the car park through the gap in the fence leading onto the bridleway.

1. This is part of the Trans-Pennine Trail, a coast-to-coast network of paths running from Liverpool to Hull and ultimately connecting with paths across Europe which lead all of the way to Istanbul. The Trail has been built to be suitable for a wide variety of users, including walkers, cyclists, horseriders and people with disabilities.

The west-facing bank to the right of the path has a number of different tree species including Beech, Oak, Birch and Holly.

Turn left and follow the Trans-Pennine Trail southwards.

2. This is at the northern end of a narrow strip of woodland with fields on either side. The field to the left shows clearly how areas have been cut out of the woodland in a piecemeal fashion for agricultural use.

Continue southwards along the Trans-Pennine Trail.

3. On the far side of a small stream is an area with a richer ground flora than previously encountered. This is because the soil here is wetter and richer in nutrients. Look out for Honeysuckle around the base of trees, as well as for clumps of ferns.

Continue southwards along the Trans-Pennine Trail.

4. This area is dominated by tall, straight Beech trees. Look at the way in which the heavy shade cast by the Beech suppresses the ground flora and makes it very sparse. Look for Beechnuts or their cases on the ground.

Continue southwards along the Trans-Pennine Trail.

5. As you continue to move southwards, look out for the knobbly trunks of Sweet Chestnut trees. This area also has many large Holly bushes. Look out too for the old tree stump on the right hand side of the path that has been colonised by Bilberry, showing that the soil here is acid.

Continue southwards along the Trans-Pennine Trail.

6. To the right of the path, just before the place where the paths cross, is an area of damp soil that supports the best area of ground flora in Wheata Wood. Take care not to trample this area but look for different flowers, which include Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone and Ramsons (also known as Wild Garlic), and also for the butterflies and bees that visit this area on a sunny day.

At the crossing of the paths, turn left towards the road.

7. The area to the right of this track has been thinned in the past few years. Some of the lower parts of tree trunks have been left standing and small branches have been left on the ground because they provide an important feeding and nesting habitat for birds and insects.

Do not continue along the track to the road but instead return to the crossing of the paths and turn southwards along the Trans-Pennine Trail.

8. This open area was once a wood-yard when Wheata Wood was managed for commercial forestry. This location was chosen because it is close to the village and easily accessible.

At the wood yard, turn right but instead of taking the bridlepath along the edge of the wood, take the smaller path through the gap in the fence.

9. In this area of woodland, find somewhere to sit quietly for a few minutes. How many different kinds of birds and animals can you see and hear?

Continue along the small path through the trees.

10. This large hole in the ground is a bomb crater formed by a stray bomb on the night of the Sheffield Blitz. The trees around the crater are Corsican and Lodgepole Pines - planted, non-native conifers.

From the bomb crater, cut diagonally left across to a small area of heath on the edge of the wood.

11. This small area of heathland between Wheata Wood and Prior Royd was once much more extensive. The main plant growing here is Heather, this being accompanied by smaller amounts of Bilberry. Both of these species are typical of heathlands on dry, acid soils.

Note the way in which this open area is continuing to be invaded by trees of Birch and, to a lesser extent, of Oak.

Go forward, ignoring the stiles into the adjacent field, and enter Prior Royd. Where the paths cross:

• continue down the hill along the path if following the full trail
• turn right, through the barrier, if taking the shorter route and pick up the trail descriptions at point 18.

A compromise would be to follow the full route to the viewpoint (point 13) and then retrace your steps back to this point.

12. As you walk downhill through Prior Royd, compare the woodland to that in the majority of Wheata Wood. The trees are generally much younger and closer together and the ground flora is more consistently heathy. Look out for 'bracket' fungi on old birch trunks.

Continue downhill along the broad path.

13. This area of heathland (which, like that seen previously, is becoming invaded by trees) is associated with an area of old quarries. It provides an excellent view south-westwards to Oughtibridge (in the valley bottom) and Worral (on the hill above this). The line of pylons in the valley bottom provides the power supply for the Stocksbridge steel works. The view to the north-west looks across to the mixed conifer plantations of Wharncliffe Woods.

Continue down the path. At its junction with another main path, turn left and take the path slightly uphill. Do not take the lower, wider path to Hunter House Farm.

14. The path passes just above an area dominated by Holly. These 'holly haggs' were used to provide winter fodder for cattle and may be associated with nearby Hunter House Farm.

Continue until you reach the wall and pause to look at the view from the woodland edge.

15. The view southwards from this edge of the wood takes in the tower blocks of Stannington, the suburb of Crosspool on the hill and looks towards the edge of the Peak District.

Do not go through the stile into the fields but instead, follow the narrow path uphill inside the wood.

16. After climbing steeply, the path heads through the middle of another area of Holly. At the top of the slope, look east across the fields towards Rotherham. Can you spot the M1 motorway and the two old cooling towers at Tinsley?

Do not go through the stile into the field but instead turn left and follow the path parallel to the wall.

17. This section of path is often churned up by mountain bikes and can be muddy providing an illustration of conflicts between the activities of different woodland users.

At the crossing of the paths, keep straight on through the barrier.

18. Watch out for a large multi-stemmed Oak tree to the left of the path. This could well be a relict of the time when these woods were intensively managed for charcoal production by coppicing.

Continue along the broad, flat path.

19. Just before you reach the fields, look for Witches' Brooms in the Birches. These are caused by a micro-organism which lives in the branches of the trees.

Go through the stile and take the path between two walls that links Prior Royd with Wheata Wood.

20. The path between the two woods provides another good viewpoint. To the south can be seen an area of agricultural land which must once have been part of the woodlands. A variety of different land uses can be seen to the north, including farmland, the commercial forestry area of Wharncliffe Wood, and the high, rocky area of Wharncliffe Heath. In the far distance are the moorlands which lie above and beyond Stocksbridge.

Turn left on entering Wheata Wood and take the path alongside the wall. Continue along the path roughly parallel to the wall. At the end of this, turn right and follow the wide track uphill towards the car park.

21. This is an important access track to the commercial forestry area of Wharncliffe Woods. The bank to the left of the track provides a cross section of the thin, stony acid soils underlying this part of Wheata Wood.

Continue up the track to the car park and the end of the trail.