Sheswa one

Verified Slow Way

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Walked from Sheffield to Swallownest. An enjoyable route, as Ken says surprisingly green for an urban industrial area.

I do have a couple of niggles with the GPX and one other point where it is easy to go wrong:
i) after crossing Shrewsbury Road just above Sheffield station, by far the best route to the Cholera Monument is the step-free ramped zigzag path slightly further down - the old steps just up the road are now bricked up;
ii) the plotting between Raynald Road and Archdale Road is lazy, and the actual route cuts back sharply:
iii) the paths leave the surfaced cycle track through Smelter Wood earlier (further north) than the right of way line, and the right of way line has no path or signpost.

I am not sure whether any of these are significant enough to justify a flag, so for now I'll give it a slightly reluctant snail. I have also drawn and submitted a new version of the route (SHESWA two) that addresses these concerns and tweaks the route slightly to make it easier to follow.

Our route starts by using the public footbridge through Sheffield station to reach the tram stop and the park beyond. Our route takes us up a number of steps past an amphitheatre - there is a step-free alternative lower down. At Shrewsbury Road the best route starts slightly down to the right, a newish looking tarmac path, steep in places but surfaced and step-free. There is evidence of an old route up a staircase to the right that is now bricked up - I investigated further up and eventually found a route that I wouldn't recommend.

Once we reach the cholera monument, which has a fine view over the city, the way forward is obvious. When we reach Granville Road we follow the pavement steeply uphill to a T junction where we turn right onto City Road, then left up Manor Lane. We turn right down Manor Park Crescent (where there is house building in progress which impedes the pavements) and enter Manor Fields. On the Saturday morning when I walked, there was a Park Run in progress which looked hard work. We follow the tarmac paths uphill, turning left below the steps then right along Raynald Road. The sharp left turn down to Archdale Road starts further south than the GPX file (which may show a path that used to exist but was blocked by new houses) suggests. The bottom part of this path still exists and can be used as a shortcut.

We turn left down Fretson Road then right round The Circle and Circlc Close to a small park, which we cross to reach Prince of Wales Road, the A6102 dual carriageway, which can be safely crossed using pelican crossings to the left. We continue down Ravencarr Road and turn right past the Alison Business Centre on a tarmac path which leads us into a park and across Castlebeck Avenue. The path onwards is across the grass opposite, and becomes clearer once we are in the wood. We cross the stream and take the diagonal path across a field (take the right fork where it splits) and past houses to join another tarmac path which ends when it reaches the wood above Mosborough Parkway (the A57) where we turn right along a fairly well defined unsurfaced path.

We cross Richmond Road and turn left over the A57, then take the TransPennine Trail cycle path right, which follows the A57 down into Smelter Wood. About 100 meters north of the right of way line, you should see a little path down steps to the left - this is the easiest way down to the brook, which we follow for some distance, initially on a narrow path and then on a wider track, both of which can be wet and muddy.

Eventually we reach and cross Beaver Hill Road and continue into Flockton Park, eventually bearing right to cross the brook. Ignore the bridleway to the right and take the left fork that leads to Woodhouse station, where we cross the railway on the station footbridge (steps on both sides).

At the far side we follow steps down to the right then double back left to find the alleyway, which we follow across a couple of residential streets then right along Watch Street then left on Furnace Lane then right when we get to Retford Road, a busy road with a good pavement. At the roundabout we need to cross the Swallownest bypass (take care when busy) then continue up Sheffield Road which eventually takes us over the hill to the Swallownest meeting point at the bus stop below the Co-Op.

A surprise country walk in an unexpected location. A walk that finds lots of green spaces in an otherwise urban landscape. No stiles, fields or cattle but there is light mud along paths that have in most places had surface improvements. The green corridor does have the disadvantage of very few facilities to eat, drink and restock but there are train and bus options to bail out if required.

I walked into Sheffield from Swallownest starting with a long roadside walk into the valley of the River Rother. Frustrated at times with attractive open countryside alongside the road but inspection of the map shows it devoid of footpaths.

Woodhouse Mill offers a pub, shop and Woodhouse station but little else. After the station take the path that drops down the valley not the wide track alongside the rail line.

The next 3 miles are very green following a stream which may well flood if standing water alongside and damage to the path surface in places is an indication. Otherwise this is a very pleasant walk with houses hidden behind mature trees.

At Smelter Wood the green corridor narrows and is joined by a busy road but here we join a tarmac path before meeting a minor road which allows a safe crossing of the main road. It's then back into woodland first on an earth path then again tarmac. There is even a narrow band of access land, managed by the Wildlife Trust, where we cross the Car Brook.

There is a light controlled crossing of the wide dual carriageway where I spotted shops just off route. Some estate road walking and a climb then a dip across another large green patch with a view of the vast cemetery and a final climb to the remains of The Manor after which the area is named.

From here it's roadside but downhill passing close to Norfolk Park a reminder of past ownership of a large part of the city. Just when we think it's all over, Sheffield offers another green surprise with Clay Wood and an excellent surfaced path to a terrific view point at the monument before the final descent through trees covered in blossom which attracts young people to pose for pictures.

I'm assured the bridge over the station platforms is forever open and public which makes this meeting place ideal for the tram, trains and close by the bus interchange.

Really enjoyed this walk. I didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. Great views, great places to eat and a real mix of urban and green sections on this route. Definitely bring waterproof footwear if it has been raining.

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