Hillsborough to Bradfield and Loxley Valley

The Hillsborough to Bradfield and Loxley Valley route is 20.34 km long with 308 m of elevation gain. It is graded easy, so the climbing is relatively modest for the distance, but it is still a full-day outing for most walkers because the route covers a large section of northwest Sheffield and the Bradfield area.

Most walkers should allow roughly 5 to 6.5 hours for Hillsborough to Bradfield and Loxley Valley, depending on pace and stops in places like Low Bradfield or around Damflask Reservoir. The route is 20.34 km long, so even with an easy rating it is better treated as a substantial day walk rather than a short local stroll.

Yes. Bradfield and the Loxley Valley section of the walk is closely associated with Low Bradfield and Damflask Reservoir, a well-known walking area northwest of Sheffield. Damflask sits in the Loxley Valley near Low Bradfield, and local walking routes and access points there connect with the same landscape this hike is named for.

Yes. Hillsborough is a major transport hub in Sheffield, and Low Bradfield is served by the 61 and 62 bus routes from Hillsborough, with stops on roads such as Fair House Lane, Smithy Bridge Road, and near Oaks Lane and New Road. That makes the Hillsborough to Bradfield and Loxley Valley walk practical without a car if the day is planned around bus times.

One of the best-known parking areas near the Bradfield side of this route is The Sands car park in Low Bradfield, which is also used for walks around Damflask Reservoir. Low Bradfield is a common access point for the surrounding reservoir and valley paths, so it is a sensible place to start or join the Hillsborough to Bradfield and Loxley Valley walk.

Hillsborough to Bradfield and Loxley Valley is one of the more approachable longer walks near Sheffield because it is rated easy and has 308 m of ascent over 20.34 km. The main challenge is endurance rather than steep climbing, so it suits beginners with decent walking fitness who are comfortable being on foot for several hours.