Walks you can reach from Fitzwilliam by train

A great mix of nature, old and new industrial architecture. An easy and flat walk almost entirely along the canal towpath. The Sheffield half is a little uneven and can be slightly muddy underfoot; after Rotherham it is well-surfaced as part of the cycle route. Off-road for almost the whole way with no steps. Lined with interesting industrial archaeology and some street art at the Sheffield end. Suitable for dogs, buggies and cyclists. The Sheffield canal basin (off the published route) has the famous straddle warehouse plus shops, cafes and toilets.

Waterway: four fifths along the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Time: 3h–6h

Warnings: Sections of the towpath have been subject to temporary closures with diversions; check before relying on a continuous route.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A walk that follows the river out of the Calder valley on the signposted TransPennine Trail, then through a country park with parkland paths, fields and lakeside tracks. The western part is on good paths; finding the right paths becomes tricky once away from the valley and with one section that can flood. Follows the signposted TransPennine Trail along the river. The Normanton meeting point has several benches.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Warnings: One slightly flooded section could be impassable in wetter conditions. Paths in the eastern half are hard to find and do not match the rights of way.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

An easy, direct route mostly on well-signposted cycletracks and entirely on hard surfaces, with no stiles. It starts past a stone church, follows a segregated pavement and cycle track along a busy road, then an old-railway cycle track in a green corridor into Doncaster, with a fiddly but well-mapped finish through the town's roundabout and footbridges and bus station. Some steps above the bus station (avoidable). Largely follows the Doncaster Cycleway / Sustrans routes along old railway lines. The Draughtsman Alehouse micropub is on Doncaster station platform 3 (no train ticket needed).

Time: 2h–4h

Lunch: A large pub/food outlet at the junction with the Great North Road.

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a quarter of the walk. Some steps above Doncaster bus station (avoidable by a detour). Lockable gates at a shopping area (in practice left open). Endless traffic alongside the segregated pavement.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a third of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 3h–6h30

Warnings: A third urban.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

The view from the viaduct makes the tour worthwhile. A varied riverside walk crossing the River Don by the Conisbrough Viaduct, then following the Trans Pennine Trail and Don riverside into Doncaster. Mostly good bonded-surface cycle track and easy riverside path, with some compacted-earth and open flood-bank sections that can flood and plus steps and stiles. From Conisbrough Viaduct it's possible to stay on the Trans Pennine Trail much further west.

Waterway: two thirds along the River Don.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–6h30

1 lunch spot: the Boat Inn

Warnings: Stiles and steps along the way, and the compacted-earth riverside section shows signs of flooding at times. Care needed taking the right-hand uphill fork approaching the viaduct.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Great view of Leeds from the top of the rise. A mix of rural and urban with great views towards Leeds: downhill through Morley, residential streets, the last few fields before the city, then past White Rose, along a busy ring road, up to Beeston and a high ridge with a steep grassy drop to a footbridge over the M621, through Holbeck, a final canal- and riverside approach with steps up to the station. Plenty of steps and some uneven and steep footpaths.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: A fifth urban. Steps and some uneven, steep footpaths; a steep grassy bank drops to the M621 footbridge. A busy ring road to walk along by White Rose.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A view of the stunning Wentworth Hall and it's delightful associated village; one of the grandest stately homes in the country. A typical mix of roadside pavements, quiet lanes without pavement, field, wood and grassy-lane paths, including a long and almost traffic-free tarmac section through the grounds of a grand estate. Some gentle climbs; mostly easy going.

Elsecar Heritage Centre: A visitor attraction in former Victorian workshops housing the Newcomen Beam Engine, a steam railway and canal basin.

Time: 3h–6h30

Lunch: Shops and cafes at the Elsecar heritage centre, and a shop, inn and post office just off route at Wentworth.

Warnings: Cattle may be present where the route crosses estate parkland. The lane approaching Wentworth can be overgrown. Munsbrough Rise/Munsborough Lane can be busy and is a hazard on car-boot-sale days.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A mostly flat, well-surfaced walk on towpath, old railway cycle track and pavement and following the Don and the canal through a green corridor between industrial sites. A few unsurfaced but compacted sections and some steps; one significant climb early on. Follows the Trans Pennine Trail along the canal. No services on route. Rotherham Central station building is notably impressive.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 3h–5h30

Lunch: No services on the route.

Warnings: A major road crossing on Meadow Bank Road needs care; use the pelican crossing as the pavement runs out beyond the residential area. The route also negotiates subways and level crossings beneath the M1 at Tinsley.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A largely level route out of the city, starting along the River Aire and city-centre bridges, following National Cycle Route 66 through industrial estates, then skirting Temple Newsam park (the loveliest part, light woodland and grass), with a super-muddy section along Beech Walk and meandering paths through Millennium Wood before the village of Garforth. Mostly wide and weatherproof paths with two stiles; some hills; concrete-heavy around the Thorpe Park shopping centre. Generally follows National Cycle Route 66 with handy signposts; mostly off-road (80-90%). Crosses the A1(M) by footbridge; the Springs / Thorpe Park retail park has places to eat and drink mid-route.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Lunch: Places to eat and drink at the Thorpe Park / Springs retail park mid-route.

Warnings: A super-muddy section along Beech Walk near North Plantation; two stiles; a diversion is needed just before Thorpe Park (easy reroute via a short stretch of bridleway); the section south of Halton Moor needs care.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A walk on footpaths and bridleways kept off-road as much as possible and with some semi-urban road walking. Numerous obstacles make it suitable for reasonably fit walkers.

Time: 3h30–7h

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a quarter of the walk. Numerous obstacles along the route, including stiles.

Walk details: Slow Ways.