The city of Sheffield is famous for its green space and close links to the Peak District – but with so many parks and hiking trails, it can sometimes feel like you’re spoilt for choice.
And aside from the abundance of options – it can be hard to find somewhere that doesn’t include a steep uphill walk that will leave you feeling breathless. But that’s where the Rivelin Valley Trail comes in. Located to the North West of Sheffield, the nature and heritage trail stretches two and a half miles, linking the steel city to the Peak District National Park.
The trail follows the route of the River Rivelin and according to AllTrails, is one of the city’s “easy” walking routes which is perfect for “all abilities”. YorkshireLive took a walk around the trail to find out what it was like.
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There’s a number of free car parks located at various points along the trail – depending on where you choose to start and end your route – but I set off from the Walkley Bank Tilt Car Park. The path of the trail hugs the side of the River Rivelin from the eastern border of the Peak District and to Malin Bridge at Hillsborough. You can start from either end and there are lots of short circuit options if you don’t want to walk the entire length.
Unlike most of Sheffield, the route was fairly flat and other than being a little muddy in places, I encountered no problems getting a round – as long as you’ve got your wellies or walking boots on, you’ll be fine.
One thing which was hard to ignore about the trail was how peaceful it felt. The walk was narrated by the sound of birdsong and running water, and with few other people around the trail offered a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life – despite being just a 10 minute drive away from the city centre.
(Image: Yasmin Wakefield)
The walk was also filled with wildlife – from the sound of birds chirping, to squirrels scurrying around and an array of ducks. Along with waterfalls, the Roscoe stepping stones and Rivelin Chair Sculpture to look at along the way, I certainly wasn’t spoilt for things to look at.
Not only was the trail beautiful – the walk was also quite fascinating. Along the way, the walk is punctuated with intriguing reminders of the city’s industrial past including the remains of 20 watermills and 21 mill dams. From the 16th to 20th centuries, these watermills supported industries ranging from cutlery grinding workshops and metal forges to paper mills and corn mills.
The historic sites were clearly marked out by name posts alongside information plaques which also contained QR codes you could scan in order to learn more about the history of what was once the heart of Sheffield’s industrial landscape. At Mousehold Forge, I learnt that the site, which dates back to 1628, had previously been a small cutlery workshop before being converted to a famous iron forge in 1663.
According to AllTrails, the circular route takes an average of 54 minutes to complete but I managed to make it round in just 45 (although I have been told that I’m a fast walker). I imagine that most people would be able to make it round in a sub-hour time – although it might take a little longer if you’ve got little ones with you.
(Image: Yasmin Wakefield)
The route is closed to cyclists but dogs are welcome as long as they’re kept on a lead – and I encountered a number of dog walkers on my travels. At the halfway point, you’ll find the Rivel Park Cafe, along with a set of public toilets, children’s playground area and water park which is open in the warmer months.
There’s also plenty of benches dotted around the walk, which make it a great option for anyone who may need frequent breaks and would also make it a great place to visit in the sunny months and take a picnic.
The walk was fairly easy to navigate and as it lacked the steep inclines which are normally found in abundance across Sheffield, I would definitely say that it was beginner friendly. Where the trail did let itself down however was the sign posting. At points, the paths branched off into two and with no signs indicating which path to take, it was hard to know whether you were heading in the right direction or not – but I guess that’s just part of the adventure.
(Image: Yasmin Wakefield)
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