Dearne Valley Country Park

Location - Pontefract Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 1HS - (what3words location)

Distance (around) - variable distances, depending on your choice

Accessibility at a glance:

• Access: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Dog friendliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Facilities: ⭐

• Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

More in depth:

Parking and entrance:

• Car park can be busy on weekends, with unclear bay markings.

• Surface is mostly firm but a bit dusty with scattered stones/twigs.

• Be careful on entry to path as there are drop kerbs, that aren’t really dropped

Paths and distance:

• Majority of paths are wide, tarmacked, and firm, suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and prams.

• Main access to the riverside area is via a gentle ramp.

• There is a bridge which is a little wobbly but suitable for the scooter and Betty

Facilities

• Several rest points available along the grassy and riverside routes

• Area is popular with dog walkers and some dogs may be off-lead

This walk had been on our “must-do” list for a long time. We’ve driven past it countless times, always saying, “We’ll go around one day.” Recently, we finally made it happen, and discovered a little gem. It’s one we’ll happily return to, especially since there are so many paths still left to explore.

Set right in the middle of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, the area spans around 80 hectares and offers something for everyone: picnic spots, a children’s play area, cycling routes, dog-friendly paths, and peaceful corners for nature lovers. Within this compact region you’ll find woodland, wetland, and grassland, all connected by a network of well-maintained trails. The Cliffe Wood, Barnsley Canal, and River Dearne all sit within the same space.

The most challenging part of the visit, and it wasn’t particularly challenging, was the parking. The bays aren’t clearly marked, and being a Saturday, the car park was quite full. Still, we managed to find a space without much trouble. The surface was firm but dusty, with a few scattered twigs and stones, nothing problematic.

Some of the drop kerbs around the edge were questionable, so I simply used the car park road to access the main path, which felt safe due to the low level of traffic.

We headed toward the River Dearne section, taking the gentle ramp down past the play area onto a wide, solid tarmac path. Signage along the way helpfully lists the length of each route, red for around two hours, green for under an hour. Being our first visit, we followed the steady route beside the river, happily walking on without much planning.

At one point a wide grassy area opened up on our right, giving us easy access to the water’s edge. Betty (who avoids water at all cost) had her fun sniffing around without any risk of a splash.

The path continued straight, passing a woodland area and going beneath a lovely wooden bridge. Betty happily climbed the steps to investigate, though it wouldn’t be accessible for everyone.

We carried on until we reached a main road, then turned back. On the return journey we decided to try a different path, crossing an accessible, but slightly rumbly, bridge. Betty was far more concerned about the vibrations than we were! On the other side, the landscape opened into a large grassland area, ideal for a summer picnic. Several benches offered rest points along the way.

This path eventually looped us back to the car park, taking us once again past the play area. You could easily choose this route at the start if you prefer.

This walk has been one of our best recent discoveries, and we’re already planning a return trip.

The only mild downside was a few loose dogs, which of course meant Betty felt obliged to greet (or loudly acknowledge) every single one. Still, with such a large space, it never felt crowded.

The paths were excellent, firm, mostly flat, and easy for both a mobility scooter and Betty. Even the grassy areas were solid underfoot, likely thanks to recent dry weather, and neither scooter nor dog came away muddy.

Next time, we plan to explore the opposite direction, heading toward the wetland area for a bit of birdwatching.

Highly recommend a visit, this is a walk well worth adding to your list.

Tip - would be a good walk in winter as the tarmac paths will be solid and dirt free.