Located to the North West of Sheffield, the Rivelin Valley Trail is a nature and heritage trail that stretches two and a half miles, linking Sheffield to the Peak District National Park.
The path of the trail hugs the River Rivelin, which rises on the eastern border of the Peak District and flows north-eastwards towards 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.
Along the way, the trail 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.
Nowadays, the valley has slowly been reclaimed by nature and is home to many types of plants, trees, birds and animals, while the archaeological remains create an array of water features along the trail.
The paths mainly pass through woodland, with trees such as Alder, Ash, Beech, Holly and Oak. From the lush greenery in spring and summer, to an array of reds, oranges and yellows in autumn, this trail can be enjoyed at any time of the year. It's a real treasure of a walking trail in Sheffield, which is both beautiful and fascinating in equal measure.
The Rivelin Park Cafe provides refreshments at the valley park end of the trail and in addition to a playground, there's also a water park where children can splash about and paddle to their heart’s content during summer months.
FREE to visit
To find out more about the heritage of individual sites along the trail, look out the QR Codes and NFC tags located on a series of interpretation posts found along the valley or visit the Rivelin Valley Conservation Group website: rivelinvalley.org.uk
Public transport to the trail:
Tram – Blue route to Malin Bridge
Bus – 62/61 or 82/81 to Malin Bridge or Stannington
Bus – 273, 274 or 275 take you to the far end of Rivelin Valley
Parking:
Walkley Bank Tilt Car Park, S6 5FY
Rivelin Park Cafe (roadside) S6 5GL
Rails Road Car Park, S6 6GF
Rivelin Dams Car Park, S10 4LJ
Take care in wet conditions as the paths can be muddy and slippery.
Please note that the trail is not suitable for mobility scooters.
Bicycles and horses are not permitted on the footpaths, but alternative routes are available- see map on this page.
