SHEFFIELD ROUND WALK
Sheffield Round Walk is a 15-mile loop from the urban to the rural at the southwestern edges of the city – taking in leafy parkland, woodland streams, and pretty suburbs. The walk connects central Sheffield with its surrounding countryside, showcasing the natural beauty, greenery and wildlife that the city is lucky to have within its boundaries. It starts and ends at Endcliffe Park, a popular spot near the bustling independent cafes, pubs and shops of Ecclesall and Sharrow Vale Roads. From here the route continues alongside rivers – the Porter Brook and the Limb Brook; between trees at Ecclesall, Ladies Spring, Chancet and Brincliffe Edge Woods; past sights like 16th century Shepherd Wheel, Mayfield Alpacas, medieval Beauchief Abbey and Bishops’ House; and across Graves, Meersbrook and Chelsea Parks. This guide splits the Round Walk into four linear sections, each with its own character – from the picturesque Porter Valley, well trodden by families and dog walkers, to the more urban vantage points of Gleadless Valley. If you’re completing the walk in one go, be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes.
Distance: Approximately 15 miles Duration: 6–7 hours Terrain: public footpaths, bridleways and roads, can be muddy in parts during winter The Sheffield Round Walk All public transport routes are from central Sheffield to the start point of each section. Routes may change – for up to date information, check: travelsouthyorkshire.com.
For a more detailed guide, with step-by-step directions, buy the Sheffield Round Walk booklet for £4.95. You can purchase this by calling Sheffield City Council Parks and Countryside team on Look out for the Sheffield Round 0114 2500500 Mon–Fri 8:45am to 4:45pm. Walk acorn signs along the route. u
Porter Park Shepherd Cafe BOTANICAL Valley Wheel GARDENS
ENDCLIFFE city centre To Ru PARK stli ngs Road Road Oakbrook Hangin
gwater Gleadless
M a yfiel
Ro
d ValleyL
Ro BINGHAM on a Ly ad d n
dhurst d d
a PARK on C h Ro e Ro
lsea ad Co d R m o Antiques o
mo Wo Ro a
Fu n Lane y CHELSEA a Quarter d
Quiet Lane d
e
lwood Lane B
P ARK rincliff
ad
Forge
Ro
Whitel WHITELEY
l B e Ed
Dam l
anne
a
s
PORTER g WOODS
e e
l r Ro ad c d M CLOUGH c ale e Bishops ne er a E R s House oa br h L
g oo d ou k
Pa
MEERSBROOK rkR LEES HALL
Cl o
Lane a PARK d WOOD am D r e r b oad BRINCLIFFE y R s Lees Hall Av Hang ginglow h Rin ad EDGE WOODS ir enue e l Ro Mayfield al La
Alpacas esl n
c e
c
E
WHIRLOW
MILLHOUSES
BROOK
PARK CONEYGREE Houn PARK
WOOD
dk Limb Sheaf
irk irk
Ro
Sheephill Sheephill
ad Lo Valley ng uth Industrial Valley L Hamlet ine Whirlow ad So Ro Whirlowd Ro Brook Hall ll ale Road HUTCLIFFE Co a bnar sworth Road
ad es Roa em cl WOOD d H Ec
Beauchief Li h
Abbey mb La mb
Abbey Lane d Sout
WHIRLOW Animal
Roa
n Farm
PLAYING Be e
GRAVES
FIELDS au Me c PARK
ad
h Abbeydale i CHANCET
ECCLESALL e o
f wh
WOOD
WOODS
D e
ad r v e i D The ore R oa B Sheffield d o
Round LADIES ckin Walk Model SPRING Railway g
L
WOOD an
Tw e en N ty w ell Lane Look out for the Sheffield Round WE Walk acorn signs along the route.
t To Peak District S
1 The start of this section, from 2 The rural Limb Valley marks Endcliffe Park to Forge Dam, is the furthest point in the Round the Round Walk’s most popular Walk from the city centre. From Porter stretch. Flat and easygoing, it’s Limb Ringinglow, the route descends suitable for children and people alongside the Limb Brook, Valley with limited mobility. It also Valley across quiet open country Start: starts and ends with cafes and Start: and through the ornamental playgrounds. Stop off on the grounds of Whirlowbrook Endcliffe Park, way at 16th-century water- Ringinglow Road, Hall – a perfect spot for a Rustlings Road, S11 powered grinding workshop S11 7TS picnic. It continues through 7AB Shepherd Wheel in Whiteley Public transport: Whirlow Playing Fields and on Woods or Forge Dam Cafe for to Ecclesall Woods, Sheffield’s Public transport: a cup of tea and a slab of cake. bus 4 to Ringinglow, largest ancient woodland, bus 81/82/83a/88 After Forge Dam the route Norfolk Arms where bluebells bloom in spring to Rustlings Road gently ascends to the village (infrequent) and, if you explore off the route, of Ringinglow on the edge you’ll find the Woodland Coffee Distance: of the Peak District National Distance: Stop and Abbeydale Miniature approx 3.5 miles Park – home to the Mayfield approx 3.3 miles Railway (open occasional Alpacas farm and visitor Sundays in spring-summer). centre and the Norfolk Arms.
3 Perhaps the toughest part of 4 This section of the walk begins the Round Walk, this section with heritage woodlands, begins with a steep climb in hidden away behind houses. Sheaf Ladies Spring Wood. The route Gleadless After Carr Wood, it passes then takes a country lane in Meersbrook Allotments and Valley the direction of 12th-century Valley continues into Meersbrook Park. Start: Beauchief Abbey. Only the Start: Enjoy the panorama of Sheffield abbey’s western tower – and visit the small museum at Abbeydale Road connected to a more modern Hemsworth Road, 16th-century timber-framed South, S17 3LA church – remains, alongside S8 8LL Bishops House. The landscape Public transport: some ruins. The route continues Public transport: becomes more urban from through Chancet Wood, crosses here on. The Broadfield pub is bus 97/98/218 or Meadowhead and heads bus 20 to Backmoor a good place to stop for a pie, train to Dore & Totley towards Graves Park. Spend Crescent while the shops of the Antiques station some time in the playground, Distance: Quarter are also nearby. Follow Rose Garden Cafe and animal footpaths through the pretty Distance: farm in the park. approx 4.3 miles residential areas of Nether Edge approx 3.7 miles and Hunter’s Bar, with final stretches of green at Brincliffe Edge Woods and Chelsea Park along the way.