Meet: Tuesday afternoons outside Endcliffe Park Café, off Rustlings Road in time to start walking at 1.30pm.

Day: Tuesdays 

Time: 1.20 in time to start walking at 1.30pm

Meet: Outside Endcliffe Park cafe, off Rustlings Road, Sheffield  S11 7AB

 

  

Weekly Health Walks have been running from Endcliffe Park café every Tuesday afternoon since September 2004. The picture above was taken outside the cafe in 2021 as the walkers began to gather outside the cafe before the walk. This walk, up the Porter Valley through Endcliffe Park and Bingham Park, is wheels-friendly and on paths with an even surface. This is a linear walk. Everyone walks for up to 30 minutes and then heads back to the cafe. This allows every participant to walk at a comfortable pace. There are plenty of benches for those who need to rest at intervals, and lots of wildlife to watch. The Porter valley provides an attractive and sheltered environment for walks with the added bonus of the occasional glimpse of a king fisher or heron.   

In Endcliffe Park, and also across the road in Bingham Park, the path surface is tarmac and in good condition. Beyond Hangingwater Road the paths become muddier and sturdy footwear is recommended. Also, the path beyond Hangingwater isn't very wheels-friendly.

This walking group  does not offer a separate short walk. Rather, people are encouraged to walk at a speed to suit themselves for up to half an hour before turning round to retrace their steps. This enables the majority of the walkers to reach Hangingwater Road. A few walkers make it to Wire Mill dam in Whitely woods and some prefer to spend the whole walk in Endcliffe park strolling beside the lakes.

The facilities in this 15 hectare park include a children’s play area and climbing wall, an outdoor gym, two ornamental lakes and a café. Walkers return to the café after the walk to socialise. The south-west facing café is built in a particularly sheltered spot and it isn’t unusual for walkers to be able to sit outside in the sunshine for their tea, even in December and January!

Walkers, supported by local residents, successfully campaigned for a zebra crossing to link Endcliffe Park with Bingham Park across the busy Rustlings Road. Unfortunately, their appeal for speed bumps or a pedestrian crossing linking Bingham Park to Whitely Woods across Hanging Water Road has not yet been successful, but since they appealed a 20mph speed restriction has been introduced which is a step in the right direction.

The route through Endcliffe and Bingham Park is suitable for wheel chairs. The paths in Whitely woods are well surfaced but only really suitable for robust motorised scooters.

 

   

Buses:   Various. Visit the Travel S Yorkshire website and use the Journey planner and Timetable finder Apps for up-to-date details. Alternatively, phone the Traveline on 08009520002  

Parking: On-street parking is usually available on Rustlings Road but in school holidays be prepared to walk further from your car to reach the cafe. 

Toilets:   There are public toilets next to the cafe. Unfortunately there is a single ladies toilet and only one disabled toilet so at busy times toilet access is competitive!