Rotherham is Wonderful: Green Spaces for Winter Walking

There are currently 1,532 accessible public open spaces identified across South Yorkshire which is brilliant news for local communities. 

Even more so this season, when the season’s main celebrations are complete, it is traditional for families to enjoy a walk together to shake off the amount of food eaten and a chance to break away from the season’s TV for a bit.

So where to go is the question?

Well, our roving reporter will be alighting on  a few beautiful and most importantly free spots in the Rotherham area and little further afield too, depending on what you want to see and enjoy for a few hours or a day even. 

Clifton Park

This article cannot be written without including our beautiful Clifton Park in the centre of Rotherham. It houses lots of activities, sports, beautiful gardens and it even houses Yorkshire’s largest free play area. Clifton Park’s gardens include the Memorial Garden and Fountain, the Carpet Bed, and The Rock Garden.

Each of these unique areas celebrate different types, styles and colours of plants, complemented by natural features such as hedges, rockeries, waterfalls and pools.

The Gardening Team at Clifton Park usually plant up to 7,000 plants each season, to keep the gardens looking their best all year round.

Thrybergh Country Park

Thrybergh Country Park is open space can be found between Rotherham and Conisbrough. It has a lovely lake to walk around with a play area, walking and lots of wildlife. Reasonable parking is available too. 

Rother Valley Country Park

Rother Valley Country Park consists of 750 acres of parkland. It includes areas of open water, grassland, woodland as well as footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes. A haven for wildlife, as well as a centre of excellence for education, water sports and other outdoor pursuits.

Centenary Riverside and Kilnhurst Ings Nature Reserve

Looked after by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust thanks to support from members and volunteers, Centenary Riverside and Kilnhurst Ings are both post-industrial wetland nature reserves nestled alongside the River Don.

Centenary Riverside site consists of a beautiful wildflower meadow bank brimming with butterflies and insects, and a series of ponds and wetlands that attract a huge variety of birds, mammals and insects. This site is excellent for butterflies with 23 different species having been recorded, and is also home to a variety of damsel and dragonflies. Sand martins can be seen darting around in the summer and moorhens and reed warblers nest amongst the reeds. 

Kilnhurst Ings offers a mosaic of habitats including grassland, scrub, hedgerows and mature trees. The drains and ditches support a variety of wildlife including dragonflies such as the black tailed skimmer and brown hawker and birds such as moorhen, reed bunting and reed warbler. The scrapes created as part of a re-wetting scheme now provide excellent habitat for good numbers of over wintering snipe, teal, shoveler and lapwing.

Manvers Lake

Manvers Lake, Dearne Valley is a hidden gem which offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, providing a perfect spot for relaxation, leisure, and outdoor activities.

The surrounding parkland makes it an ideal spot for picnics and paths around the lake provide the perfect opportunity for leisurely strolls, and enjoying nature whilst taking in the scenic views. There is a great little takeaway café on-site which offers a selection of drinks and snacks. 

And finally the Peak District National Park…

It wouldn’t  be right to have an article on green spaces without mentioning the UKs most popular and most visited National Park, Peak District National Park, accessible to a third of England’s population within an hours drive. It is around 30-45 minutes from Rotherham, depending on where you are headed.

As the catalyst for the right to roam following the Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout in 1933, the Peak District offers plenty of walking and cafes throughout. Mam Tor is a favourite as is its nearby village of Castleton. 

So enjoy some fresh air and family time this season for free!