In this week’s Summer Series we will be taking in the Eastern side of Sheffield. This isn’t an area I know a great deal about as I normally just end up on a pub crawl in Mosborough Village finished off with a curry at The Vine.
However, for the rest of you it includes places like Ulley , Roche Abbey, Clumber Park, the Tropical Butterfly House and Rother Valley to name a select few (also Crystal Peaks if you like shopping but can’t bear the thought of Meadowhell). It is also the Bank Holiday (don’t forget – don’t come in on SHUsday) this means you have more time to get yourselves out and about.
First up then Rother Valley County Park. It opens from 8:30am – 8pm until the 5th September then opening times are 8:30 – 7pm, easily accessible with onsite parking (£5) or just as easy to park up on the road and walk just that little bit further (but for free).
What “real” British Summer looks like
This is a great place to visit with lots of things to do on offer, from simply walking your dog/s or yourself round the lake (or running for those of you that way inclined), to cycling (must provide own bike, or hire one), boating on the lake (boat provided), visiting the animal farm (chickens included) or water zorbing (hmmm idea for next Away Day?). They also do some charity events the next of which is the Onesie Walk for PACES on the 9th September starting at 12pm.
“Zorbing” – other water sports are also available
Set in luscious countryside just a 20 minute drive from the city centre it’s a great place to chill out, relax and get away from it all; or potentially even somewhere to get rid of the kids for a while as they also have a Holiday Activity Club, so the kids can be entertained while you enjoy a well deserved rest.
Next up is the Tropical Butterfly House, located in North Anston. Here you can meet the mini beasts and meerkats (who doesn’t love a meerkat?), butterflies, birds and amazing wildlife from around the world…….
There are events throughout the summer that you and your families can get involved with; the centre is open from 10:30 – 17:30 until the 5th September. Take yourselves a picnic and then you can used the empty picnic basket to try and smuggle me out a meerkat (thanks in advance). The Sheffield Star is currently running a competition for free tickets.
Then there is Roche Abbey – the Cistercian Abbey built cr. 1147 to house the first monks in South Yorkshire, and where Robin Hood went to Mass. It fell into ruin due to the dissolution by King Henry VIII, where the local community felt they had the first right to claim it, and took all of the possessions remaining in the Abbey that were left by the monks (nice bit of history for you there).
How stunning does this place look! I know it’s a ruin, and I know the sky doesn’t normally look that blue – but just imagine all you budding photographers the pictures you could enter into the calendar competition at this place!
Lastly up on this round up of things to do East of the City is Ulley Reservoir.
For those of you who don’t know Ulley, it is probably most well known because of the great Sheffield Floods in 2007 (I’m still traumatised!) The council were concerned the dam might burst so evacuated the villages of Whiston, Treeton and Catcliffe. Luckily though this fear came to nothing and the dam stood strong.
Again a great, and cheap way to spend a few hours with family and friends (and pets); there is probably not as much to do here as Rother Valley, but it is a quieter option for those of you looking for a bit of peace and quiet. Again with an abundance of wildlife, going on a bear hunt (bears not provided) could be just the thing for you.
Once you have done all that walking though the other advantage of Ulley Reservoir is a public house which I’ve heard is very nice (and cheap) – the Royal Oak, so you can justify that chip butty and pint!
THE ROYAL OAK, ULLEY
So that’s about it from the East of Sheffield, however there are many other places you can visit such as Wentworth Garden Centre, Clumber Park, and Aston Spring Farm to name a few.
Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekends everyone!
