Places features

Wednesday, 24th October 2007

I’m going to start outside Sheffield train station and ask one member of the public where I’m going to go next! When I get to location #2 I'll then ask someone else where to go and then we keep going until the car runs out of petrol.

Joseph tells Steph, "go to Conisborough Castle!"

Here’s where it starts…

8am: Sheffield Station to Conisborough Castle

At Sheffield train station at 8am, Steph met Joseph O'Hara from Greystones in Sheffield on his way to work at HSBC.

"I won't suggest Barnsley public toilets!" he said - and although he'd never been there, instead he recommended that Steph went to Conisborough Castle...

"I've always seen it from the train window and thought it looks like a good place for a morning out."

Sheffield train station, 0800 hours, 23.10.07

And Joseph also says he thinks Rotherham is underrated: "People always say how rubbish Rotherham is, but I've spent a couple of days and nights there and I think it's significantly underrated as a town."

But Steph decided to head off to Conisborough Castle....

11am: Conisborough to Meadowhall and Tinsley

After the M1, M18 and A1 Steph finally pulled up outside Conisborough Castle, which was looking lovely in the autumn light - mist circling the turrets eerily, and birds tweeting.

Conisborough Castle: but Steph can't get in!

But Steph found the iron gates locked; she couldn't get in.

"It's very quiet round this visitor centre. I am the only visitor! I'm going to look round Conisborough itself..."

So Steph found herself in a hairdresser's in Conisborough, with Sheila Neilson and a few people with curlers!

"Try Meadowhall shopping centre," suggests Sheila. "Plenty to do, lots to see - and on this freezing morning, nice and warm too!"

Hairdresser Sheila Neilson in Conisborough

But Sheila mentions another place which is close to people's hearts in South Yorkshire:

"It's the cooling towers at Tinsley at the side of Meadowhall. They've been there years and are due for demolition any day now, which is sad. As a kid going on holiday and coming back home on the motorway, the towers were the first thing you saw. It's just always been there."

Rainbow over Meadowhall. Richard Stocks

1pm: Meadowhall and Tinsley to Weston Park

So Steph arrives at Meadowhall and Tinsley Towers, "two for the price of one". It's a pretty amazing view for all sorts of reasons, particularly because of the controversial decision to demolish Tinsley Towers in the near future.

Tinsley Towers, October 2007

Steph meets Tony Powell, a taxi driver from Sheffield and challenges him to tell her all he knows about South Yorkshire: "It's a beautiful place with lots of places of interest, such as the Peace Gardens, Meadowhall, the athletics sports centre, Don Valley and a lot more!"

But the place which is top of Tony's list is Weston and Crookesmoor Parks for the museum, parks, boating lake and restaurant.

Steph meets Tony Powell, taxi driver at Meadowhall

"We took some friends from New York there last week. They thought it was absolutely glorious and peaceful."

So Steph heads off to the boating lake to see what she can find there...

2pm: Weston Park to Wentworth Castle

Steph followed Tony's advice and checked out the boating lake and pub at Crookesmoor Park - kicking the leaves as she went - followed by Weston Park, close to Sheffield University.

The boating lake at Crookesmoor Park

Steph met Michael and Peter Oxley who were taking their daughters Daisy and Alana to Weston Park museum.

"It's been here since around 1873 I think. We used to come here as children and now we bring our kids. There's lots of interactive things to do - the weather station, the ice age, you can dress up in Victorian clothes, Viking clothes..."

Michael and Peter with their girls at Weston Park

So where did they think Steph should go next? Michael suggested Elsecar Heritage Centre, but then they settled on the Garden Centre at Wentworth Castle near Rotherham.

"It's not just a garden centre, but a stately home with grounds and gardens, a petting zoo, a cafe, a shop..."

But it's the petting zoo that sold it to Steph: "A petting zoo?! That's where I'm going then!"

3pm: Wentworth Castle to Old Moor Reserve, Barnsley

Steph didn't expect to be sent to a garden centre but was happy to find herself in the grounds of Wentworth Castle, chatting to a couple of ladies who often sample the tea and cake on offer.

Maze, Wentworth Castle gardens

Just 10 minutes drive from Junction 36 of the M1, Steph admired her surroundings - including the bear pit, gardens and deer grazing in the extensive grounds of the Wentworth estate.

"It's a trail of golden brown leaves, the holly is all out by the deer, it's absolutely beautiful. Here is just something I didn't expect."

Lisa and Janet

But where did Lisa and Janet tell Steph to go next?

"Old Moor Wetlands Centre in Wath-on-Dearne. It's an RSPB bird reserve. You can go and watch the birds, and they also have a very nice coffee shop (there's a bit of a theme running here!)"

4pm: Old Moor RSPB Bird Reserve, Wath-on-Dearne... home!

Steph's footwear was not up to the job at this watery location. "Slip-on shoes can't have been the best of choices for Old Moor Bird Reserve, when people are marching around with hiking boots and binoculars."

Slip-ons weren't great for a trip to the wetlands

Unfortunately the coffee shop was also shut so there wasn't a lot Steph could do at the Wetlands Centre at Old Moor...

However, she checked the boards to find out which birds had recently been sighted and which she could look out for, and she spied on the bird feeders which are fitted with cameras on the feeders.

And then it was back 'home' to Radio Sheffield.

Steph, loving the autumn leaves at Weston Park

"Today has been a comedy day really! I maybe expected Meadowhall to be on the list, but not the other ones! The amount of places I've been to... well, I wouldn't be able to pick one out as best. Wath-on-Dearne does have the most amount of mini roundabouts I have ever seen though!

"So that was Mission SY for today. Never been done before... will it get done again? We'll see..."