Sunday 30 March 2014

The Porter Valley

You know that one of my favourite city walks in Sheffield looks and feels nothing like a city walk at all.  A walk from busy Hunters Bar at the edge of Sheffield City Centre through Endcliffe Park and beyond to the edge of the Peak District through the Porter Valley - birthplace of Sheffield's Industry, has something for everybody.

 The string of linked parks that you walk through contain (gorgeous) cafes, a brilliantly restored Industrial museum, wildlife, parklife etc etc
 The Shepherds Wheel museum is restored to exactly to how it would have been with it's huge Water wheel fixed and all the grindstones working again.
 Here is the latest apprentice grinder, I don't think she'll last long!!

 The museum is manned by volunteers and there are boards with stories from the past which are worth reading.
 I loved this bank of daffodils....
 ... and it was great to see the allotments by the park bursting into life again.
 A bit of Moss on a dry stone wall for Lisa!
 Whilst there are many clues to it's industrial past (if you look closely), it is hard to imagine that this was the birthplace for all that Industry.  It is packed with gorgeous flora and fauna these days.
 The river Porter that runs through the valley is nothing more than a large stream..
 You can see from this information board how many times they dammed it to help power various mills along its path.



 It is a magical walk - especially the higher up the valley you climb,

 At the top there is a vantage point where you can usually see up to around 40 miles away, but it was hazy and whilst it was lovely and warm, we couldn't even see the city where we had started from!
 But look what I found on our way back in Wire Mill Dam - my ultimate sign that Spring is here - Frogspawn (although I am reliably informed that this is a toad).  A very welcome sign.

11 comments:

Curtise said...

It's such a great walk, isn't it? I have done it many times, with kids and without, and always enjoy the feeling of no longer being in the city (though of course you are really!)
And I love mossy dry stone walls too! xxx

Amy at love made my home said...

It looks as though you had a really great day out!! xx

Louise said...

I think that's a walk I'd enjoy. Must remember it for 'one day'! I think that's frog spawn now toad - frogs lay in clumps, toads lay in strings.

greenthumb said...

Such a lovely walk you had, great photos.

Patricia said...

I really enjoyed your walk Diane, feeling that I was there with you. Stunning photos.

Rosie said...

What a lovely walk with, as you say, a bit of something for everyone:)

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WinnibriggsHouse said...

What a brilliant area Diane. You do seem to find the best walks. And I agree wherever you go at the moment it is so lovely to see spring really bursting through now. Though after a day with a temperature a balmy 18 degrees yesterday and glorious sunshine we have woken to quite thick fog and it has obviously poured through the night. So perhaps we won't be rambling far today.

Gilly said...

That looks like the sort of walk I would loved to have done . As usual, your great photos have made me feel I was there.

Toad, I think, they are in strings only all bunched up!

Lisa said...

Thanks for the dry stone wall, loving that!
What a wonderful walk. Would your employer write you a note so you could buy a pint in the pub?!
Lisa x

CATHY DANIEL said...

Enjoyed getting back 'up North' with you again! I too love a mossy wall, and have the photos to prove it - much to the bewilderment of those around me! xCathy