Crookes Valley Park

40 Minutes 1.5 Miles 2.4 Kilometres Easy

Starting: Sheffield Students Union, Western Bank
Bank Campus entrance, Broad Lane

(1) From the University of

Sheffield’s Union of Students on
Western Bank, turn right out of
the building and walk along.
After a short distance, take the
flight of steps downwards to the
left of the Hicks Building and into
Hounsfield Road. Turn left at the
T junction into Leavygreave
Road. Cross the head of Favell
Road and pass the front of the
Information Commons, a large
copper-clad building. This iconic
building is a popular destination
for students wanting to sleep,
socialise and of course work.

(2) Turn left past the building and cross over Brook Hill road. Caution: roads are busy,
cross with care and use the pedestrian crossings. You will now be on the same side of
the road as the Richard Rodgers Chemistry Building. The University Arms, Sheffield
University’s own pub, as well as a number of other University buildings are visible.
Diagonally opposite you on the other side of the roundabout is one of the newest buildings,
Jessop West, with its multi-coloured glass panels.

(3) With the Chemistry building on your left, follow the footpath round to Bolsover Street,
and walk left along this road past the back of the chemistry building and the foot of the
University Arts Tower. This is a grade II* listed building and is currently being refurbished.
It’s famous for its paternoster lift, one of the few remaining in the country.

(4) After crossing the University road between the Arts Tower and the Library, enter
Weston Park through the ornate iron gates and walk along the path towards the pond. Turn
right at the first path junction, then left over a footbridge over the pond. (Safety point: open
water). From here you can admire the façade of the University Library, also a listed building
from the same period as the Arts Tower. Carry on around the pond along the wide path, and
continue between a row of trees towards the War Memorial at the other side of the park.
Turn right at the junction in front of the Memorial towards the Mappin Art Gallery, an
impressive stone building, recently refurbished. Take the path in front of the gallery, and
descend the steps in front of the colonnaded entrance. Turn right on the lower path towards
an unusual terracotta column. There are two panels explaining the history of the column, and

FSSU1 RD: SC (adapted from FICS3) Date: 04/10

of the Bandstand on the grass to your right. Continue along the path between the park wall
and the tennis courts and leave the park through another set of wrought iron gates.

(5) Cross the small road in front of you (known as Mushroom Lane) and go through a set
of gates on the right into Crookes Valley Park. Take the left path at a fork, then descend the
flight of steps on your left towards the lake. Turn sharp left on to the service road, then right
again down a short flights of steps to the water’s edge. (Safety point: open water). This
lake, originally known as the Great Dam Lake, was constructed as a reservoir to supply
water to the city. Turn right to follow the path round three sides of the perimeter. At the end
of the third side, follow the steps that lead up out of the park, onto another service road.
Turn left and then right at the head of the service road and back on to Mushroom Lane
behind the Museum. Cross the road and follow the curve of the museum to a small gate in
the fence.

(6) Enter Weston Park via this gate if open (or via the main gates on the main road if it is
closed). There is a café in the Museum. Descend the stairs towards the main entrance and
retrace your steps past the War Memorial, then past the statue of Ebenezer Elliot, ‘The
Paupers’ Poet’. The path curves to the right and out of the park via wrought iron gates.
These gates replace the original ones which were stolen in broad daylight some years ago.

(7) Turn left on the pavement and walk in front of the original University building, Firth
Court, taking the steps at the end of the building down to the main concourse, which extends
under the dual carriageway. Walk under the bridge, and then turn right to retrace your steps
to the start building.

FSSU1 RD: SC (adapted from FICS3) Date: 04/10