Wharncliffe Woods is a distinctive region located on the northern fringes of Sheffield, characterized by its steep and diverse terrain. This area features significant natural landmarks such as Wharncliffe Crags, a gritstone escarpment, and is rich in post-industrial history with numerous quarry workings. Its varied landscape, including ancient woodland and meandering streams, provides a robust setting for several sports like mountain biking, hiking, jogging, touring cycling, and more.
Wharncliffe Woods offers several routes across…
152
Routes
4.6
(331)
Average rating
4419
People visited

3.5
(2)
17
riders
13.8km
01:15
230m
230m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(16)
356
riders
26.8km
02:43
560m
550m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.8
(21)
120
riders
44.7km
03:18
480m
480m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(4)
122
riders
15.7km
01:33
340m
340m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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3.5
(2)
7
riders
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(2)
57
riders
75.9km
04:23
690m
690m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
14
riders
28.4km
01:57
570m
570m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
33
riders
55.3km
03:19
660m
660m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.8
(44)
196
hikers
10.8km
02:52
110m
110m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(29)
115
hikers
7.83km
02:11
140m
140m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(13)
53
hikers
11.1km
03:04
190m
190m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(13)
47
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(3)
209
riders
50.1km
02:54
970m
970m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.4
(10)
205
riders
29.7km
01:34
470m
470m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(1)
51
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

36
riders
24.7km
01:22
390m
380m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.9
(18)
224
riders
38.5km
02:29
390m
390m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

159
riders
25.1km
02:24
490m
490m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(5)
121
riders
44.0km
03:25
500m
500m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

5.0
(1)
30
riders
13.3km
00:58
170m
170m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(3)
177
runners
10.7km
01:10
150m
150m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
129
runners
8.55km
00:56
180m
190m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

69
runners
9.24km
01:01
190m
190m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

50
runners
8.47km
00:54
120m
120m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Wharncliffe Woods offers opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, and touring cycling. The area is known for its steep terrain and diverse landscape, providing a robust setting for various outdoor sports.
Wharncliffe Woods features challenging natural mountain biking trails and technical singletracks. These trails attract experienced riders seeking downhill runs. Adjacent Grenoside Woods also offers maintained downhill trails. Explore options in the MTB Trails around Wharncliffe Woods guide.
Wharncliffe Woods is known for challenging natural trails. For easier cycling, the Trans Pennine Trail offers a wide, groomed gravel path suitable for touring cyclists and gravel biking. Explore options in the Gravel biking around Wharncliffe Woods guide.
Wharncliffe Woods offers various walking trails, including strenuous routes due to its steep terrain. The Trans Pennine Trail also runs through the woods, providing a wide, undulating gravel path. Find routes in the Hiking around Wharncliffe Woods guide.
The Trans Pennine Trail offers a wide, groomed gravel path suitable for less strenuous walks and touring cycling. This path is undulating but avoids very steep climbs. Specific family-friendly hiking options are available in the Family-friendly hikes around Wharncliffe Woods guide.
Wharncliffe Woods features Wharncliffe Crags, a gritstone escarpment and designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The woods are also characterized by steep terrain, numerous streams, and ancient woodland areas.
Wharncliffe Woods is generally dog-friendly, with many paths and trails suitable for walks with dogs. It is recommended to keep dogs under control, especially near wildlife or other users.
Wharncliffe Woods is a popular destination, with more than 197,000 visitors sharing their experiences on komoot. The routes in the region have an average rating of 4.57 out of 5 stars from over 15,500 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for Wharncliffe Woods, including MTB Trails around Wharncliffe Woods, Hiking around Wharncliffe Woods, and Cycling around Wharncliffe Woods. Other guides cover running, road cycling, gravel biking, and family-friendly hikes.
Wharncliffe Woods is managed by Forestry England. Their official website is forestryengland.uk/wharncliffe-woods. For general inquiries, the Sherwood Forest District Office can be reached at 0300 067 4340.
While Wharncliffe Woods itself is a natural area, amenities such as cafes and pubs are available in the surrounding villages and towns on the northern fringes of Sheffield. These establishments offer refreshments and meals after outdoor activities.
Wharncliffe Woods has a rich post-industrial history, with many hidden quarry workings. The name 'Wharncliffe' is derived from 'quern cliff,' referencing the Iron Age and Romano-British grinding stone industry that once operated here.

