Locke Park

Location - Locke Park, Park Road, Barnsley, S70 1YG - (what3words location)

Distance (around) - variable distances, depending on your choice (17 acres of land)

Accessibility at a glance:

• Access: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Dog friendliness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Facilities: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

More in depth:

Parking and entrance:

• Tarmac, flat surface.

• Limited Blue Badge spaces.

• Additional gate sometimes opened on “fun run” days may affect where you can park.

• Entrance to walk is accessible

• No payment

Paths and distance:

• Tarmac and suitable for mobility scooters and wheelchairs.

• Mostly wide

• Some uneven flagged areas in the mural and fountain section.

• Multiple route options with varying inclines; some steep paths towards the watchtower

Facilities

• Accessible café with flat entrance.

• Outdoor kiosk for ice cream.

• Toilets include RADAR-key accessible disabled toilet

• Benches available throughout the park, especially near the watchtower.

• Dogs welcome at the café; ample grassy areas alongside paths.

Located just outside Barnsley’s town centre, Locke Park is a historic green space founded in 1861 and opened to the public in June 1862 after Phoebe Locke gifted the land to the people of Barnsley. The impressive watchtower was built in 1866, following her death, on the park’s highest point. A traditional bandstand was later added in 1908.

We arrived via the Keresforth Hall Road entrance and headed into the car park. It was busy, likely because it was a warm summer day, but we managed to park in front of a locked gate. According to a sign, the gate is opened on “fun run” days, so it’s worth double-checking before parking there.

The car park is tarmac and level, making it easy for me to transfer onto my mobility scooter. From the car park, the entrance to the park is straightforward, step-free, and without barriers. As it was our first visit, we simply started exploring. The main paths are wide, smooth tarmac, allowing room for my scooter alongside walkers. Betty, on her long lead, could happily run on the grassy verge beside us.

Our main aim was to reach the historic watchtower, which meant heading uphill. The park offers various route choices, with a mix of gentle and steeper inclines. Our chosen path took us up a fairly steep hill past the bandstand, before levelling out nicely for a while.

We soon realised we were approaching the café, so we decided to stop for food and take it up to the watchtower area, having seen online that there were benches there. The café itself is accessible with a flat entrance, and the doors were open on our visit. Dogs are welcome, which guarantees Betty a return trip in future.

Nearby is an outdoor kiosk selling ice cream, and the toilet facilities includes a RADAR accessible disabled toilet, which is brilliant to see in a public park. The café offers a good selection of light meals and hot and cold drinks.

With our food, we retraced our steps and followed a path up to the watchtower. The views over the park are lovely, and there are plenty of benches for resting and taking in the scenery. We spent some time there enjoying the warm weather while Betty soaked up the sunshine, though she still found time to bark at passers-by between sips from her water bowl. There are bins nearby for both general waste and dog waste.

On our journey back to the car, we circled back past the café for ice cream and continued along a flatter path. We soon discovered a few murals, one themed around the film Leprechaun and another referencing The NeverEnding Story. Even Betty seemed interested in the artwork.

This area is paved with flags, so the surface is a little uneven in places, but still manageable on the scooter. A little further along, we reached a charming ornamental fountain and garden area. The ground here is slightly uneven but not overly problematic, and it provided another opportunity for Betty to explore new scents and surroundings. From there, we re-joined our original path and made our way back out to the car park.

Locke Park offers a genuinely enjoyable and flexible accessible walk, with the option for both gentle routes and steeper paths depending on your preference. There are great facilities, plenty of places to rest, and lots of little discoveries along the way.

We’ll definitely be returning, perhaps even in the winter months, when the solid tarmac paths will make it a great choice for an accessible outdoor walk.

Tip: plan to go on warm day, you could happily spend a calm peaceful day there with food and space available