Sheffield Sports & Outdoors Tips by suvanki Top 5 Page for this destination

Walks Around Sheffield - Shire Brook Valley

Located in South East Sheffield is this nature reserve and conservation area of over 100 hectares. It contains ancient woodlands and meadows, a brook and five ponds along with some industrial relics. There are brochures with suggested walks and things to see and do

We started our walk near to the Alan Bailey visitors centre (pic 2) on Stone Lane, Woodhouse. Although the centre was closed, the outside of the building had some interesting features. This was originally the managers office of the Coisley Hill Sewage Works, which closed in the early 1990's.
'Shire Brook Valley through the Ages' is depicted on plaques around the building dating from pre-historic times, commemorating the coal and rail industries that operated in the valley

Notice boards gave information about the conservation work, maps and Things to See and Do.

The hi-light of our walk was discovering the herd of Highland Cattle at Sally Clarkes Meadow, especially as there was a very cute calf (pic 3). Other items of interest were Rainbow Dam (pic 4), the old mine workings and railway line and the woodlands.

Birley East Colliery operated here from 1888-1943 (pic 5) Apparently there are air raid shelters used by the miners, but are difficult to find.

Equipment: There are easy to follow paths, but it can be muddy in parts, so sturdy waterproof footwear, layers and waterproof clothing.

A drink and a snack

I usually carry a plastic bag or box for foraging opportunities!

Binoculars for spotting birds and other wildlife

Address: Shire Brook Valley S13

Directions: A57 Mosborough Parkway.
At Coisley Hill roundabout follow Woodhouse (Coisley Hill) after about 200m take the first R. turn into Stone Lane ( Trans-Pennine Trail Visitor Centre and Car Park) After about 400m turn R. into car park.

Other Contact: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi

Phone: 0114 250 0500

Theme: Hiking

Website: http://https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/parks-woodlands--countryside/trees--woodlands/woodland-sites-and-projects/south-east-sheffield-woodlands-proje

Sporty Sheffield 2

Swimming- Ponds Forge hosts international swimming and diving competitions. Besides its Olympic size Pool, there is a leisure pool with slides, wave machine and river flume. Adult and child sections. Some hotels, leisure centres (Hilsborough and Concorde) and gyms have swimming, plus old fashioned baths such as Upperthorpe.

Snooker- The Crucible Theatre is well known as the venue for the annual World Snooker championships. Around the city are some snooker halls with numerous tables. Pubs offer pool, a few have snooker tables.

Rock climbing- Indoor centres offer climbing walls and bouldering- The Forge, and The Wall. Also the nearby Peak District for the real thing.

Walking- inner city walks, such as The 5 Weirs. The Round Walk, Trans Pennine route, plus many more. Further afield are the peaks and valleys of the Peak District. Local walking groups- look in The Sheffield Star or Morning Telegraph for details.

Skiing- Sheffield Ski Village offers dry slope skiing. - Though this keeps closing down, due to 'arson attacks'

Ice Skating- The newly opened Ice Centre next to Don Valley Stadium, or Queens Road near(ish) the train station.

Address: Again, all over Sheffield and surrounding areas

Directions: I'm hoping to give each sport a seperate page, with more detailed info and addresses prices etc

Theme: Other

Sporty Sheffield

Sheffield has a wide variety of sporting opportunities for both participating and watching.
Football- Home of the first football (soccer) club- Sheffield FC. Sandygate Road is the worlds oldest football ground!
Sheffield United FC's home ground is at Bramall Lane, near the city centre , while their rivals Sheffield Wednesday's Home Ground is at Hillsborough

At weekends through the season, you can find local teams of all ages (and abilities) playing in the parks and recreation grounds. 5 a side outside at The Pitz in Attercliffe, plus indoor at sports centres.
For four years, Rotherham United FC have played in Sheffield at the Don Valley Stadium, when their ground at Millmoor was demolished, and while waiting for their new ground, The New York Stadium to be constructed. It is now ready for the start of the 2012 season.

Cricket - Local hero Michael Vaughan, has ensured a rise in popularity. One of the nicest places to watch a match in Sheffield is at Low Bradfield -a typical English village green pitch.

Boxing- Sheffield has Prince Naseem, Johnny Nelson, Herol 'Bomber' Graham and Brendon Ingle as it's famous boxing names.

Athletics- Don Valley Stadium hosts international and local events. Kelly Holmes recently ran her last race here. Start and finish of the annual Race for Life (breast cancer charity run) and The Sheffield half Marathon (May)

Directions: All over Sheffield- I'll eventually post addresses, websites etc- in each sports individual tip. please bear with me!

Theme: Other

Beautiful Down Town Bramall Lane-

Bramall Lane is Home to Sheffield United Football Club, the team that I've followed since the early 70's, when they were promoted to the 1st division (before the Premier League was invented!) I had a season ticket for a few years, and saw many of the 70's legends such as George Best, Kevin Keegan etc, but my hero was Tony Currie! I was lucky that this was Uniteds 'Glory Days' - Their best post-war season being 1970/71, where they shook the First Division up, with 10 undefeated games - added to the end of their promotion run, a run of 22 without defeat!

Yes, there were dodgy haircuts and perms, but it was a time before multi millionaire divas and their agents/entourages, Sponsorship deals and all seater stadiums etc. Part of the fun was being pushed around by the crowd on the Kop, when United scored!

I remember watching Utd play, while a cricket match ran alongside!! The cricket pitch was replaced by the 'new' South Stand in 1975.

Besides watching Utd, I've also seen one of my heroes play twice on this ground- Bruce Springsteen!!! On the Saturday, I got to the front row! people still talk about how they sat in their gardens, and could hear the concert- even as far away as Brinsworth- (near Rotherham town)! I went back the next day, but paid for a seat this time!

My title 'Beautiful Down Town' etc etc reminds me of the 70's when the DJ at half time always used to refer to 'The Lane' as such, before playing 1 of his 3 records - Rose Garden by Lynne Anderson, Bridget The Midget, or The Streaker- I seem to remember these were the only records he ever played, Oooh I'm getting a flashback to those songs with the scent of meat pies and hot Bovril drink!!!

Well Altogether now - to the tune of Annies Song, by John Denver (and Thanks to Wikipaedia)

"You fill up my senses
Like a gallon of Magnet
Like a packet of Woodbines
Like a good pinch of snuff
Like a night out in Sheffield
Like a greasy chip butty
Like Sheffield United
Come fill me again....
Na Na Na Naa Naa Naaaaa, ooo!"


"To a native of Yorkshire the words are probably self explanatory; the words celebrate the many pleasures that can be had in Sheffield, culminating in the target of the fan's adoration, in this instance, Sheffield United.

Magnet refers to Magnet Bitter from John Smith's Brewery, widely available in Yorkshire. Some people claim that the second line is really Like a gallon of maggots. Maggots are obtained from fishing tackle outlets in denominations of imperial pints and hence this version would not be unreasonable, as fishing is popular in the region and hence a gallon of maggots would mean a good day out fishing.

Woodbines refers nostalgically to a once popular brand of strong cigarette.
Snuff is ground tobacco for sniffing up the nose. Snuff produced by Wilson's Snuff Mill is world famous, and produced only a mile away from Bramall Lane.

A Greasy chip butty can be purchased in any of the many local fish and chip shops. Butty is a slang word for a sandwich, and a chip butty is simply a sandwich where the filling is chips, ideally greasy and sometimes sprinkled with salt and vinegar. Generally, a white sandwich bap will be used for the bread. In Sheffield, these are simply known as Breadcakes."

Equipment: Hmmm, footie shirts, scarves etc can be purchased from the official souvenir shop, or local sports shops.

If you're prepared to fork out a small fortune, you can attire yourself in the latest club shirt, t - shirts, fleeces, coats, scarves, headgear, badges, underwear etc- all in home and away colours!!

If you're supporting the away team- well there's safety in numbers I suppose!

Programmes are sold by vendors outside the ground, plus an array of souvenirs.

How To Get To Bramall Lane

Address: S.U.F.C. Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S1

Directions: From the Train Station,- (Well, You'll probably be escorted by the cities police force!) Head left, and follow the crowd
or follow the link above

Other Contact: info@sufc.co.uk

Phone: 08719951899 fax 08716632430

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Home