This is a circular walk.

There a buses from Sheffield to Jordanthorpe.

Route Developer: RH

[1] Leave the Health Centre through the car park entrance and cross the road to Ormond Road. Continue along Dyche Road towards Dyche Lane and turn right, following the main road past the playing fields ofNorton College to reach Bochum Parkway.

[2] Bear right, descend and cross the busy main road via the underpass. Turn left and cross Norton Lane into Little Norton Lane. Take the first right along Norton Park Road and third left along Norton Park Avenue. Cross Norton Park View and enter Graves Park (A).

(A) Graves Park is Sheffield’s largest park. The park was gifted to the city by Alderman J.G. Graves. The park offers something for everyone, including formal gardens, a rare breed farm, ancient woodland, plagrounds, sports fields, a cafe, bowling greens, tennis courts, small lakes, a golf course and a cricket oval. The park also hosts several large events every year, including Sheffields’s annual Highland Fling!

[3] Go straight on and bear right at the signpost. This track does not have a tarmac surface, but is suitable for pushchairs. It runs between fences to the farm.

You should see Highland cattle grazing in the fields on your right.  At the junction by the seat, take the path signed Animal Farm/Lakes, following a colourful holly hedge. Due to vehicle usage during recent footpath improvements, this wide downhill track may be a little slippery, so take care. Pass between the lakes and turn right along the path, signed “Animal Farm”. You pass two more lakes teeming with birdlife. The upper lake has a small island reached by rowing boat. When you enter the farm, stay on the tarmac path to reach the centre of the farm. The entrance to the animal display sheds is on the right.

There are numerous varieties of chickens, as well as rabbits, sheep, goats, donkeys, pigs and a red deer. The hut in the centre serves as an information centre, containing posters about all the different breeds of farm creatures found in Britain.

[4] Leave by the way you came in and turn right to reach the car park. Cross to the barrier by the information board and turn left towards the Rose Garden Café, where there are toilets with baby changing facilities. Below the rose garden is a large children’s playground.

[5] Leave the rose garden or the playground at the far end and follow the tarmac path down through open woodland back to the lakes. Branch left, cross the head of the lake and keep straight on over the rise to leave the park the way you came in. Cross into Norton Park Avenue and turn right along Norton Park Road.

[6] Opposite Norton Park Drive, take the alleyway between hedges to Norton Lane and turn right. Cross over at the subway sign and pass beneath Bochum Parkway. Turn right and left back along Dyche Lane.

[7] Fork left along the walkway to Ormond Road and bear right back to Dyche Road and the Health Centre.

This is the longest walk, but an absolute must for the children, as we visit Graves Park Animal Farm, a rare breeds farm, and a playground. Don’t worry, parents; there is also a nice café where you can get very reasonably priced refreshments. The farm and timber framed café are open 10 – 4pm and there are toilets at the café with baby changing facilities.