South Yorkshire – made up of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and most famously, Sheffield - is well-known for its industrial heritage and artisan trades, but it has another more adventurous side that is often forgotten.

So, in the spirit of exploring close to home and unearthing hidden gems on our doorsteps, I’ve created a 72-hour adventure and wellbeing trail of South Yorkshire’s best bits.

This is my South Yorkshire story.

My whistle stop tour included everything from paddleboarding in Sheffield city centre, weaselling on the Sheffield side of the Peak District and wild swimming in the River Don, to meditation at the idyllic Gomde Buddhist retreat in Doncaster and cycling on the Trans Pennine Trail in Barnsley.

It’s a lot to squeeze in over a few days but it can be done with a bit of planning. So I’ve created an itinerary with all the details so you can head out and make the most of a long weekend micro adventure - including this handy map with all the start points for each activity. And if there’s time, there’s a few more ideas of things to do in the area at the end of this blog.

DAY ONE

I started the morning paddleboarding along the Sheffield and Tinsley canal in the heart of urban Sheffield. This route nods the industrial history of the city with large chimney stacks peppering its backdrop and beautiful derelict buildings – mostly from the Victorian era - entwined with flora and fauna along the canal as it leads towards the lush green of the Don valley into Rotherham. It’s hard not to miss the trail of street art along this route, turning traditionally unloved spaces into beautiful places, with the help of local artists and community groups. The canal towpath is also an idyllic pathway to walk along too, with its weeping willows shading parts of the way which is particularly welcome on sunny days.

A short drive - around 30 minutes - from Sheffield and you’ve reached the Peak District National Park. Famed for its steep limestone valleys and breath-taking views across the centre of England. But it’s got more to offer than scenery and hiking.

Have you heard of weaselling? Neither had I until recently but it’s just one of the many activities available there. Think of a combination of caving and parkour, but all the best bits and you don’t get wet. And turns out that the Peak District rock formations are the perfect playground to hone your ‘wiggling, jiggling and squiggling’ skills. I spent a couple of hours with my instructor, Dan from DC Outdoors, bear crawling my way through tiny tunnels, squeezing through gaps and and clambering over rocks all in the name of weaselling. Miraculously the only damage done was a slight graze on my thumb from grabbing the rocks - an adventure badge I wore with pride.

The Peak District’s rock formations aren’t just good for weaselling though, and it’s something of a mecca for the climbing community with many world class climbers still living in, and around, the area. Once I’d found my feet and got the adrenaline pumping through my veins, it was time to put my new found confidence to the test. At one time, a few years ago now, I was an avid climber. I spent quite a lot of time at the bouldering centre and out in the Peak District trying routes and problems.

Fast forward to now and even looking to the top of the climb Dan had prepped was enough to send me into a tailspin. But I put on my big girl pants and cautiously made my way to the top - hold by hold - with Dan belaying and directing me from the ground. As soon as I completed the first ascent and abseiled safely back to the ground, I was ready for more. I did the same route again but this time with a bit more speed and punch, before moving on to a couple of others without belay ground support and I felt my love for climbing, and the feeling of your hands and feet firmly pressed against the rock rooting you to nature, oozing back. I headed home that evening feeling pretty pleased with what I had achieved and really excited to see what day two was going to be filled with.

DAY TWO

Next morning, I headed further north to Barnsley to cycle along a section of the Trans Pennine trail. It’s a long-distance path that runns across the coast to coast of Northern England. As its entirely on surfaced paths with fairly gentle gradients it’s an ideal route for more sedate or family focused adventure cycles. I rented a bike from the helpful team at Penistone Cycles CIC, which sits adjacent to the trail, and once I was all kitted out I hit the trail. I didn’t expect that, within a matter of moments, I would be greeted with rolling countryside and farmland for as far as they eye could see.

The friendly faces of dog walkers, families and even horse riders passed me by as I cycled eastwards for around 10km. I didn’t expect the landscape to be so varied but within a couple of kilometres the open countryside views had transformed into what I can only describe as Amazonian looking jungle. There was almost horizontal carboniferous rocks poking through thick green moss, with old overhanging trees shading the path. If there was a way to experience the start of an adventure trail, this would be it. Although the route itself is around 200km and is often completed over a few days, I covered only a small part of south Yorkshire’s section but I was happy with the taster and turned round to make my way back to drop the bike back.

That afternoon I made my way up to Doncaster to paddleboard on the River Don. The river rises in the Pennines and flows for 70 miles eastwards, through the Don Valley. The section I visited, called Sprotbrough, is one of the prettiest parts of the navigation. It’s situated next to a quintessential 17th Century pub, The Boat Inn, within an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The towpath is bustling with dog walkers and people lining at the nearby artisan coffee van for a caffeine fix – which is exactly what was needed after a leisurely paddle and I can vouch for the quality.

Whilst there’s an urban undertone to this part of the River Don in Sprotbrough, with cars driving over the small road bridge nearby and working boats moored to the banks, it’s incredibly peaceful and teeming with wildlife. All I encountered on my paddle was a very territorial swan and its signets (I don’t say this lightly either, if you plan to paddle this route I recommend being overly cautious and giving a significant amount of distance) but other paddlers enjoying the route that day sighted of a terrapin basking and grass snake swimming – it’s amazing the perspective you can get from a paddle board.

Although I didn’t swim here I had been told by locals that this is a popular wild swimming spot, particularly with young people in the warmer weather. I certainly prefer it as a paddle boarding route - on the water rather than in it - but I have included below a few other recommended wild swimming spots in South Yorkshire that I haven’t made it to yet but are on the list.

DAY THREE

Closer to the centre of Doncaster, just 8 miles to be exact, and down a long and narrow winding road, sits a few unassuming buildings. This is Gomde Buddhist retreat. Set around 180 acres of peatland, it’s surrounded by water and is home to an entirely unique ecosystem of wildlife and plant life, not something that springs to mind when you think of Doncaster but I was intrigued to find out more.

The retreat now put on regular open days for visitors to tour the grounds, learn about Buddhism and experience a simple meditation in the temple. After an adventure fuelled couple of days, this was the perfect antidote to bring some calm. An hour-short tour of the grounds, through the kitchen garden full of all the fruits and vegetables you could imagine and which, quite frankly, put my own veggie patch to shame and through the wild meadows, into the oak tree forest and past the wood workshops… and there was still so much left to see.

I was shown the architectural plans for a new state of the art temple and was in awe. On completion, this authentic slice of Tibet will sit right in the heart of England. I entered the existing temple to learn more about symbolism in Buddhism and the importance of its virtues. To finish off I sat down, legs crossed, and eased into a wonderfully calm guided meditation delivered by the charming Paulette, who runs the site.