Both the Malin Bridge and Middlewood trams – which leave Sheffield centre (route – Cathedral/West Street) stop at the university.  Many buses also stop nearby.

Route Developer: HJ

[1] From the outbound platform of the tram stop, walk towards the tunnel and cross left at the pedestrian crossing towards the campus map. Go right, then immediately left on Leavygreave Road alongside the car park. At the top, cross over towards the Hicks Building and continue right and up a flight of steps. At the top of the steps turn left into the University concourse, and bear right under the flyover. Once beyond this, go left up another wide flight of steps to emerge by the impressive Firth Court building. Pass in front of this and soon after, enter Weston Park (A), by the gates on your right.

(A) Weston Park was the first municipal park in the city and was developed from the grounds of Weston Hall.  Sheffield Corporation purchased the Hall and grounds for £15,750. Robert Marnock was commissioned to design the park in 1873. The park was finally opened to the public on Monday 6 September 1875.

[2]  At the first path junction fork right. Follow this path down, towards the pond. At the path junction by the pond, take the path ahead (with the pond on your right) and continue with the tennis courts on your left  on the path indicated by the sign to Crookes Valley Park and the Ponderosa. This path swings left and brings you to the gated exit to the park. Leave Weston Park here and cross Mushroom Lane in front of you, entering Crookes Valley Park ahead (B).

[3]  From here, the route takes you on a circuit of the lake in an anticlockwise direction. The following directions are for guidance. The safety notes may inform your choice of path. Take the middle of the three paths in front of you, walking above the bowling green and the childrens playground.

[4] At the end, take the steps down to the left and continue along the path above the lakeside.

[5] At the end of this side of the lake, take the path on the left, down to the lakeside, pass in front of  the green shelter and continue alongside the remaining two sides of the lake.

If you prefer to avoid the proximity to the lake, you can continue ahead at  [5] and follow the lane which sweeps uphill and left though a gate round the back of Dam House, re-entering the park by another gate on the left  just before you reach the road. Be aware that the descent from here is quite steep and can be slippery in wet weather. This swings right after the descent to follow above the final side of the lake.

At the end of the this side of the lake, go up a small flight of steps and keep right to reach the gate by which  you originally entered Crookes Valley Park.

(B) Crookes Valley Park is a public park dominated by a large lake. The lake was originally a water supply reservoir called the Old Great Dam. It was part of a series of ten reservoirs built in the 18th Century to supply the quickly growing city of Sheffield with fresh water. When the reservoirs were no longer needed all except the Old Great Dam were filled in. The lake is now used for boating and fishing and is thought to be up to 60 feet deep in places.

Leaving Crookes Valley Park, cross the road ahead (Mushroom Lane) and re-enter Weston Park. Take the path to the right, that leads you towards Weston Park Museum (C).

(C) In 1882 the Weston Park weather station was erected privately by the curator of the adjacent Weston Park Museum. It is the official climatological station for Sheffield and since 1937 it has been run by the museum’s staff. It is one of the oldest weather stations in the country and all records are freely available via computer database or printed media.

[6] By the museum, turn left and continue on this path to head back to the entrance to Weston Park. At the double pedestrian crossing in front of the park gates, cross the road towards the Children’s Hospital and turn left, crossing Clarkson Street at the pedestrian crossing. Turn right down Clarkson Street, then first left into Durham Road.  This merges with Glossop Road. Continuing ahead will bring you back to the University Tram Stop.

This walk will guide you from the Supertram stop through two lovely parks. If you have time to spare and wish to linger, you can extend your walk by crossing over Crookes Valley Road at Waypoint [3] to explore the Ponderosa, or at Waypoint [6] you can have a coffee and explore Weston Park Museum http://www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/museums/weston-park/home There are also toilets and baby-changing facilites in the Museum, to which admission is free.

More information on Sheffield’s parks can be found at http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out–about/parks-woodlands–countryside/parks/a-z-city-district–local–parks