Heritage Walks
Stainforth - Hatfield Colliery
This is an urban trail exploring the mining heritage of the village of Stainforth and its historical links to the River Don. It includes passing the pit head of Hatfield Colliery, the memorial wheel and finishes with a walk along the canal to the coal wharf.
Distance: 4.1 miles / 6.6 Kilometres
Barnby Dun - Glass Pass
This gentle waterside trail that follows the history of the local glass industry and the historic village of Barnby Dun. It includes a walk along the canal tow path, a scenic stroll across a couple of fields and a walk through the Glass Park.
Distance: 2.8 miles / 4.4 Kilometers
The Don Aqueduct
This gentle waterside trail explores the network of historic canals and waterways that helped shape the industrial landscape of South Yorkshire. It includes crossing the Don Aqueduct, a marvel of engineering where two waterways meet. Along the way, you’ll discover locks, working waterways, historic churches and peaceful landscapes.
Distance: 2.7 miles / 4.3 Kilometers
Hexthorpe - Riverside Retreat
This trail explores Hexthorpe's Industrial and Leisure heritage, following along the river Don, exploring Hexthorpe Flatts Park and concluding with a woodland loop around a historical wetland.
Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.2 Kilometers
Doncaster – Growth of a market town
A short, historical walk around the heritage of the market town of Doncaster. You will visit the river, canal and railway, all of which helped the town to grow and prosper.
Distance: 2.6 Miles / 4.2 Kilometers
Medieval Trail
Follow an ancient pilgrim's route between two churches, Saint Peter's Church in Conisbrough and St John the Baptist in Mexborough. Following tracks through the Crag's ancient woodlands, spot hidden heritage, and discover remarkable landmarks along the way. This is a linear route.
Distance: 3.3 miles / 5.4 Kilometers
Sprotborough – Tales of Knights & Heroes
A pleasant walk around the village taking in the River Don. This mainly flat walk traces the boyhood home of a World War Two flying ace, the footsteps of Sir Walter Scott and the places that inspired his novel, Ivanhoe.
Distance: 2.5 Miles / 3.9 Kilometers
Don Gorge – A Landscape Reclaimed by Nature
A longer walk taking in historical and natural features of the Don Gorge, including Sprotbrough weir and fish pass, the lost village of Levitt Hagg, stunning views from Conisbrough viaduct and the wildlife of Sprotbrough Flash.
Distance: approx. 4.5 miles / 7 Kilometers
Conisbrough – Castles & Crossings
A short walk around Conisbrough, taking in the myths and legends of the area. With excellent views of the castle, follow in the footsteps of the painter JMW Turner who painted and sketched local scenes including the Walker family’s canon boring works.
Distance: 1.5 Miles/ 2.4 Kilometers
Mexborough – Sappers, Poets & Pirates
A historical walk through Mexborough and along the River Don. The walk explores the evolution of Mexborough from its origins as a small iron-age settlement to an age of industry, the creation of the canals and building of the railways.
Distance: 3.4 miles / 5.4 Kilometers
Swinton – Traces of Industry
A walk around the town of Swinton taking in the remains of the pottery industry, historic buildings and canals and the memorial to a World War II Victoria Cross.
Distance: 4 miles / 6.4 Kilometers
Rotherham 1 – Cannons
A short, mostly flat historical walk through Rotherham town centre, passing some of the oldest buildings in the town including an original 15th century merchants house Find the musket ball marks left during the English Civil War and visit the river and canal, the source of Rotherham’s wealth.
Distance: 1.8 miles / 2.9 Kilometers
Rotherham 2 – A Meeting of Two Rivers
A flat walk through the town centre and up a steady incline to the highest point of Rotherham with substantial views of Rotherham and Sheffield. Find out what the Boston Tea Party has to do with the town and the connection to New York.
Distance: 2.7 miles / 4.3 Kilometers
Industrial Sheffield - Kelham Island
A short pavement walk around this once heavily industrialised area with grand buildings from the 18th & 19th centuries.
Distance: 1.6 miles / 2.6 Kilometres