Sheffield to Hillsborough, Worrall and Oughtibridge
From Pedalpushers
(Note this route is subject to rapid change at the moment due to the Northern Relief Road and the benefits that is bringing for cyclists.)
Until recently the North-West of Sheffield was not well served with Cycle Routes. The "double whammy" of the tramlines along Langsett Rd and the dualling of Penistone Rd left us with some serious obstacles. The Council has however finally recognised this situation, and the first section of the North Don Cycle Route along Penistone Rd has emerged out of Kelham Island and made it possible to access the "Old Penistone Rd" -this will get you most of the way out to Hillsborough. At the time of writing not all the toucan crossings have been commissioned so take care on the crossings.
Start from the Cathedral. If you're in need of refreshment drop in at the Blue Moon veggie cafe in St Peters St. There are cycle stands in Cathedral Sq, or outside the Quaker Meeting House. At the end of St Peters St is Vicar Lane leading across Campo Lane in the heart of the Legal District (so mind who you knock over) to Silver St, where you turn left onto the northern end of Queen St. Use the cycle crossing over West Bar.
If coming into town, you need to follow a slightly different route. For the sake of simplicity we shall describe this as "follow Queen St to the last right turn before Angel St traffic lights" - this could be called Hartshead but I couldn't swear to it. It does have a cycle route sign though. Before you turn right, however, stop a moment. This was the original planned route of the Trans-Pennine Trail through Sheffield and if you look ahead you can see a clear route through the markets and heading up the side of the Parkway. One day...anyway, up the hill to Campo Lane, turn right and you will soon find yourself at the rear of the Cathedral.
If coming to or from the southern end of the city centre, join this route via Fitzwillam St, taking the cycle lane acros r. Devonshire Green to West St, cross with care (tramlines) then Mappin St to Upper Allen St. For the University Arts Tower/Concourse use St Philips Rd.
Back on the outward route, somehow or other you will find yourself on Scotland St. where there is a little lump in the ground to be traversed before you swoop down on Meadow St to the Netherthorpe Rd crossing, recognisable by being a big road with a tramway in between the carriageways. Follow through to Upperthorpe Rd, turning left at the junction with Netherthorpe Rd -it's all signposted. (although some people use the supermarket car park instead) At Albert Terrace Road turn left and prepare to join the off-road cycleway that starts half-way down on the left. Follow this to the junction with Whitehouse Lane (Langsett cycles is on your right) ignoring the "All Cyclists" sign that the council has placed there to presumably ensure that you reach a sudden death when your front wheel engages with the tramline, and therefore no longer pester them to provide decent cycling facilities.
Here ends the Pedal Pushers recommended safe route to Hillsborough - we're about a mile short of Hillsborough itself, but unless you are an experienced cyclist we cannot recommend that you proceed any further along Langsett Rd.
If you are continuing beyond Hillsborough use Albert Terrace Rd to access Penistone Rd. (Near the Sheffield Comumnity Transport depot)
Cross at the cycle crossing nr the junction with Rutland Rd and you will find an off-road cycle route of good quality that will take you as far as Livesey St, although the quality diminishes as you get further away from town. If you wish to visit Hillsborough shopping centre from this direction turn left at Bradfield Rd. There is good cycle parking in the mini-interchange at Hillsborough but take extreme care on the complex trackwork at Hillsborough Corner - walking might be a good plan.
Continue to the junction with Parkside Rd l. leading to Catchbar Lane (Butterworths cycle shop) merging with Middlewood Rd. Here you rejoin the tramway and there is a "Cycle Slip" which allows you to cross the tracks at a safe angle (although wheel slip is still a possibility so take care.) There are no further tramstops on the left side of the road so you should be reasonably safe to reach the new housing development on the site of the former Middlewood Hospital. If you are using this route inbound to city, take care where tramlines join the road from the terminus at Middlewood. A cycle route to Worrall has been designated through the new estate but was not signed at the time of writing. This connects with the route from Hunters Bar to Oughtibridge.
You are now clear for a run up to Oughtibridge on the A6102. At the time of writing this is closed for flood repairs, so makes excellent cycling. When it is reopened we are hoping for improvements for cyclists as it was previously narrow in parts, poorly lit, badly surfaced and blighted by speeding motorists.
From Oughtibridge to join the Trans-Pennine Trail, at the traffic lights turn right, and climb up Station Lane and Oughtibridge Lane, over the railway bridge to a small industrial estate on the left which could be called Platts Lane. There is an access point at the end of this - however this is a footpath so you should walk along here until you get onto the Trail itself.
From Oughtibridge you can continue along the A6102 towards through Wharncliffe Side towards Deepcar & Stocksbridge. If you are into Camper Vans there is a outlet at Deepcar. The Trans Pennine Trail can also be accessed by turning right at Deepcar, then avoiding the turnings under the A616 Stocksbridge bypass and coming up to Finkle St. This is the start of the railway section but when last checked the surface is very poor. Until it is repaired we recommend continuing on the minor roads to Thurgoland.
From Stocksbridge you can continue to Huddersfield.
