UP THE SKI SLOPE

A bit of off-piste posting, before I return you to closed John Smiths boozers tomorrow.

James and I ended up climbing the abandoned artificial slope at Parkwood Springs more in desperation than plan, having decided it’d be nightfall before we reached Rotherham.

The light industrial streets north of the Valley of Beer aren’t the obvious place for a Sunday Saunter, though we did see a few Kelham Kouples (sounds like a clothing brand) heading up from their swanky eco-flats to admire the layers of refuse that have flooded down from the landfill, leaving this little fella on the lamp post.

Vale Road used to be the route into the arson-friendly Ski Village, whose bar no doubt sold Bradfield and Abbeydale as prescibed by Sheffield law.

Now it’s a ruin, twisted metal and fly-tipping marking the ascent to the top. Nature has made a valiant attempt to reclaim it, but we were almost disappointed by the lack of muntjacs and mountain bears.

The ascent on foot, like Franz Klammer in reverse, takes about 20 minutes. We meet (inevitably) some Japanese students having a picnic at the top. It’s OK, we’re not in Derbyshire (yet).

The views are better than my camera suggests. Here’s James pointing out the Blind Monkey our house at the foot of one of Sheffield’s seven hills.

The descent to Rutland Road takes you along some mountain bike tracks interspersed with view points; it’s all scruffy but enriching. Just like this statue.

Art is a bit less fussy on industrial Rutland Road,

which feels a million miles away from the Sardinian bistros and microbreweries of Kelham.

There’s a fire engine outside Stanley Works, so we stop to be nosey.

Stanley

It’ll make brilliant students accommodation, we decide. You can never have too much student accommodation in Sheffield.

The Forest next door would be delighted.

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

30 thoughts on “UP THE SKI SLOPE”

      3. “Did your wife invent the toboggan ? I will send her 5p in the post (or a nickel, I have American coins. Can you use those ?)”

        Well, ‘culturally’ she did? But an American nickel would be great. They accept those at face value in Canada.
        (if I had a nickel for every time I said that) 😉

        Cheers

        PS – I didn’t reply to posts on February 2nd as it was Groundhog Day. Seeing as how that is a day now known for repeating the same day over and over, I thought it would be serendipitous to NOT repeat the same day over and over by replying to posts. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. “A bit of off-piste posting,”

    You had trouble writing your name in the snow?

    “though we did see a few Kelham Kouples (sounds like a clothing brand) ”

    Or something from the Kama Sutra. 😉

    “leaving this little fella on the lamp post.”

    Si’s new ‘companion’ after he’s forced to eat Colin.

    “but we were almost disappointed by the lack of muntjacs and mountain bears.”

    Give it time. My sister in Brampton (Ontario, not the UK one) has noticed an influx of foxes near the local homes; whilst my eldest – who just moved into a brand new home in Edmonton (Alberta, not the UK one) saw a coyote in the parkland behind their house on Sunday.*

    * mind you, we’ve had deer (and bear!) in our backyard since we moved to Vancouver Island over 13 years ago

    “Here’s James pointing out our house at the foot of one of Sheffield’s seven hills.”

    That could be anywhere!

    “Art is a bit less fussy on industrial Rutland Road,”

    That’s one word for it!

    “You can never have too much student accommodation in Sheffield.”

    So I’ve heard. 😉

    “The Forest next door would be delighted.”

    I have no idea what she’s putting in her mouth.

    Cheers!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. We have foxes ! When I left the window open the other night I heard their racket at 2 in the morning.

      It’s snowing again in Yorkshire; perhaps Simon WILL have to eat Colin. He seems to be eating quite well. Have you seen his WWSSI blog ?

      Like

      Reply

  4. Here’s another video made by the same Salt Street video company only this time rather than on the hills it is quite remarkably filmed beneath the streets of Sheffield – From skiing to surfing in the same city!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Best blog featuring an abandoned ski slope I have ever read. Fabulous stuff. Amazing videos – looking forward to your below ground exploration. Post-industrial places are more likely to have urban remains as they are less likely to be cleared for housing, shopping centres etc. Enjoying the Sheffield years, just hope you don’t exhaust it too quickly and have to move somewhere else soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It’s always good when a reader enhances your blog with reminiscences, videos, or plain vulgarity as in the case of Russ.

      I’m thinking of cashing in on the boom in Sheffield house prices since we moved in and looking for a flat in Port Glasgow.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. “or plain vulgarity as in the case of Russ.”

        I’ve also done some reminiscences I’ll have you know.
        (but no videos; may have to remedy that) 😉

        Cheers

        Liked by 1 person

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