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Sprotbrough Canal Falls Circular Walk

3.7 miles (6 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk visits the popular Sprotbrough Falls and the Sprotbrough Canal before heading to the nearby Sprotbrough Flash Nature Reserve on the River Don, near Doncaster. The area is popular with local walkers due to its natural beauty. It includes locks, weirs, woodland trails and lots of wildlife to look out for.
The walk starts on Sprotbrough Bridge and heads past the falls to Sprotbrough Flash. The reserve is an interesting place located in the Don Gorge with some wonderful limestone scenery. The site also includes open water, wetland, woodland and limestone grassland. It's great for wildlife too with Bittern, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe, Green Woodpecker, Reed Warbler and Brown Hare visitors to the area. In the summer months you will also see a wide variety of pretty wildflowers.
After exploring the reserve you pick up riverside paths running along both sides of the Don.
To extend your walking in the area you could pick up our Doncaster River Walk and head west along the river to Conisbrough and the impressive Conisbrough Viaduct. Near here you can also pick up the Trans Pennine Trail and visit the Denaby Ings Nature Reserve.
It's another great place for wildlife watching and is located just a few miles west of Sprotbrough. The riverside walk forms part of the Don Valley Way, a long distance route which can be followed all the way to Sheffield.

Postcode

DN5 7NB - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Sprotbrough Falls OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Sprotbrough Falls Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Boat Inn is located in a lovely spot on the grassy banks of the River Don, next to Sprotbrough Lock. It dates back to 1652 when Sir Walter Scott was said to write a tract of the novel Ivanhoe at the inn. They serve good food and have a large garden area to relax in on warmer days. You can find them at postcode DN5 7NB for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The waterside paths make for a fine walk with your dog. The Boat Inn mentioned above is also very dog friendly with treats available.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

To the south of Doncaster there's Potteric Carr Nature Reserve to visit. Here you'll find 500 acres of marsh, scrub, waterways, grassland and woodland with lots of wildlife to see as well. The peaceful woodland trails in Sandall Beat Wood on the eastern fringe of the town is another good option.
To the east you can pick up the Peatlands Way to explore Thorne Moors and Hatfield Moors, part of the Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve. The moors are the second largest lowland raised peat bog in England and notable for their diversity of wildlife and plantlife.

Photos

Sprotbrough Flash - geograph.org.uk - 116967

Sprotbrough Flash. This expanse of open water next to the River Don, was created by subsidence from coal mining at Cadeby and Denaby Main.

Sprotbrough weir on the River Don, South Yorkshire

Sprotbrough weir on the River Don, South Yorkshire

Sprotbrough flash from the hide - geograph.org.uk - 1727533

Sprotbrough flash from the hide. A view of the flash taken from the bird hide, one of three provided by the side of the water and accessible form the Trans-Pennine Trail by the Don.

River Don lock at Sprotbrough, South Yorkshire

River Don lock at Sprotbrough, South Yorkshire

Sprotborough Lock - geograph.org.uk - 925452

Sprotborough Lock on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Canal. A Canalised section of the river in the village.

All aboard for cruise on the River Don. - geograph.org.uk - 536087

All aboard for cruise on the River Don. Did this boat used to cruise the River Wyre in Lancashire?

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Sprotbrough Falls.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Sprotbrough Falls.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)