Walking in South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire reaches from the reservoirs and moors on the edge of the Peak District, west of Sheffield and Penistone, to the parks, woods and river valleys around Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster.
Every walk on this page is plotted on the map above. Zoom, drag or click a pin to explore, or search a town to list its walks.
Choose a starting town
Sheffield & the Peak District edge
Barnsley & Penistone
Rotherham & Doncaster
Top walks by area
A starting point for each part of South Yorkshire: well-documented routes that finish back where they start, between 1 and 12 miles.
Sheffield & the Peak District edge
- Low Bradfield via Agden and Dale Dyke LoopSheffield · 3.9 mi
- Hollow Meadows – Strines Circular (Shorter)Hollow Meadows · 9.5 mi
- Wharncliffe Side via High BradfieldWharncliffe Side · 8.1 mi
Barnsley & Penistone
- Elsecar LoopElsecar · 2.9 mi
- Thurgleland via Green MoorThurgoland · 4.4 mi
- Flouch via Langsett Reservoir and LangsettBarnsley · 6.9 mi
- Birdwell To Elsecar Round WalkHoyland · 8.5 mi
- Margery Hill LoopLangsett · 8.6 mi
- Cawthorne Park LoopBarugh · 9.5 mi
Rotherham & Doncaster
- Bentley Short LoopDoncaster · 7.0 mi
- Clifton Park LoopRotherham · 1.4 mi
- Thurcroft via CarrThurcroft · 3.9 mi
- Firbeck via LangoldFirbeck · 5.2 mi
- Thorpe Hesley via WentworthThorpe Hesley · 10.3 mi
Popular in South Yorkshire
Know before you go
Practical points for walking in South Yorkshire. Rules and timetables change, so check the linked sources before you set off.
Peak District National Park
Britain’s first national park, designated in 1951. The rural west of the City of Sheffield lies inside it, so many of our Sheffield walks head out onto Peak District moors.
Langsett Reservoir
Built between 1898 and 1904 and now run by Yorkshire Water, the reservoir sits on the edge of the Peak District near Penistone. The Peak District Boundary Walk crosses the dam.
Trans Pennine Trail
The main route runs 207 miles from Southport to Hornsea, passing Penistone and Doncaster, and a north to south branch links Leeds, Barnsley and Sheffield with Chesterfield. Mostly easy surfaces suit pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Walking in South Yorkshire: questions
How many walks are there in South Yorkshire?
We list 148 walking routes in South Yorkshire, starting from 52 towns and villages. The typical route is about 7 miles; 28 are under 4 miles and 45 are 10 miles or more. Every route is free to view.
Which towns have the most walks?
Sheffield (57), Doncaster (7), New Totley (7), Birdwell (6), Dodworth (4) and Wortley (3). Use the town search or the town list on this page to see every walk from a particular place.
Are there short circular walks in South Yorkshire?
Yes. 8 routes under 4 miles finish where they start, including Clifton Park Loop (1.4 mi), Agden Reservoir via Rocher End Brook (1.6 mi), Brodsworth Community Woodland Circular Walk (2.7 mi) and Elsecar Loop (2.9 mi). Choose Under 4 mi and Back to start in the filters above to see them all.
Can I take my dog on South Yorkshire walks?
Yes, on most routes. Keep dogs on a lead near livestock and on the moors in spring, when ground-nesting birds are breeding. See Know before you go for more.
Can I walk into the Peak District from Sheffield?
Yes. The rural west of the city lies inside the Peak District National Park, and many of our Sheffield walks head that way, towards Redmires, Ringinglow and Low Bradfield.
Are there walks at Langsett Reservoir?
Yes. Several of our walks start at Langsett, beside the reservoir on the edge of the Peak District near Penistone. The Peak District Boundary Walk crosses the dam.
Which long-distance trails pass through South Yorkshire?
The Trans Pennine Trail passes through South Yorkshire, and has its own guide on Walking Rambler.