Wheatley Hills

Thorpe Marsh Nature Reserve

Almholme · 3.1 miles

Covering 77 hectares, the reserve sits on the flood-prone lowland of the River Don south-west of Thorpe in Balne and north of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. Managed jointly by volunteers operating for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, the site occupies the marshland that formed after the closure of the adjacent coal-fired power station in 1994 and the demolition of its cooling towers in 2012. The landscape is characterised by wet grassland, reed beds and a network of ditches that support a variety of wet-land wildlife. The fields within the reserve retain a ridge-and-furrow pattern dating from the medieval open-field system, still evident in Reedholme, Applehurst and Cockshaw. Historical documents from the early 18th century refer to the area in connection with the River Dun Navigation, while the name Thorpe Marsh itself first appears in 1731 letters concerning that project. Remains of Reedholme House, recorded on an 1849 map, are still visible, and the site’s long-standing association with flax cultivation is documented in 1790s claims for agricultural subsidies. The nearest settlement identified on OpenStreetMap is Almholme, providing a reference point for visitors approaching the reserve. No admission charge or specific visitor facilities are mentioned in the source material, but the presence of volunteer staff suggests basic access for walkers and wildlife observers.

Potteric Carr Nature Reserve

Bessacarr · 3.1 miles

The reserve stretches over more than 3,000 acres on the south-eastern fringe of Doncaster, close to the Bessacarr community. Managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the site requires an entry fee and operates according to the opening hours listed on the Trust’s website. Its extensive wetland, grassland and woodland habitats are accessible via marked paths, offering opportunities for bird-watching, nature walks and informal study of the local flora and fauna. Historical records trace the area back to the mid-16th century, when the traveller Leland described a “largely impenetrable morass of bog and fen” that lay beyond the road from Rossington Bridge. The carr formed part of the medieval Hatfield Chase, later serving as a royal deer chase before falling into disuse under Elizabeth I. Over the following centuries attempts at drainage were made, culminating in a successful scheme by John Smeaton in the late 1700s, after which a duck decoy operated for about a century, its proceeds aiding the poor of Doncaster. The arrival of the Great Northern Railway in 1849 and subsequent coal-related developments fragmented the landscape, with marshalling yards, sidings and further railway lines cutting through the former carr. Despite these alterations, the present reserve retains remnants of its wetland origins, now protected for wildlife and public enjoyment.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Auckley · 3.7 miles

A wildlife-focused zoo set on the former Brockholes Farm near Branton and Auckley, south-east of Doncaster, offers a mix of animal conservation, rehabilitation and visitor attractions across roughly 100 acres. The park opened to the public in April 2009 after the site was bought in 2008 and redeveloped; the ceremony was performed by television presenter Justin Fletcher, MBE. It is recognised as a member of both the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and now houses around 500 animals representing about 100 species. Key areas include the Atlantic Forest, a South-American-themed zone opened in 2021 that displays bush dogs, maned wolves and lowland tapirs, and Lion Country, a ten-acre enclosure created in 2010 for rescued African lions. Visitors can walk through Lemur Woods to watch crowned, ring-tailed and red-bellied lemurs, or view Amur tigers from a 150-metre raised walkway in Land of the Tigers. The leopard enclosure, launched in 2012, features an eight-metre viewing tower and a long glass wall and is described as the world’s largest for the species. Project Polar, opened in 2014, provides a ten-acre habitat for six male polar bears, including deep pools. Facilities have been expanded with the Yorkshire Hive entrance, a larger car park, retail outlets, coffee shops, a restaurant added in 2022 and an on-site hotel serving guests and nearby airport travellers. Admission is charged and opening times are listed on the park’s official listing.

Sprotbrough Flash Nature Reserve

Warmsworth · 5 miles

The reserve occupies 28 hectares on the north bank of the River Don, just south of Sprotbrough and close to Warmsworth in South Yorkshire. Managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the site includes a long, water-filled depression that runs parallel to the river, giving the area its name. The Trans Pennine Trail cuts across the reserve, providing a route for walkers and cyclists to explore the habitat. The protected zone overlaps with Sprotbrough Gorge, which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Geologically, the ground dates back to the Permian period, when dolomite formed and later supported mid-19th-century quarrying; the original quarry remains visible opposite the river beside the lake. The lake itself resulted from subsidence after the collapse of historic coal mines. Fossil evidence shows that the Pleistocene woolly rhinoceros once roamed the area, with bones recovered from the site. Current wildlife includes common kingfishers, Eurasian bitterns, great crested grebes and ruddy darters, alongside mammals such as brown hare and reptiles like grass snake. The flora features species such as common twayblade, early purple orchid, spindle and small-leaved lime. Visitors can reach the reserve via the Trans Pennine Trail and by road from Warmsworth; the trust operates the site, though specific visitor facilities or admission details are not listed in the source material.

Tickhill Castle

Tickhill · 7.5 miles

Dominating the landscape of Tickhill in South Yorkshire, the ruins of Tickhill Castle reflect a series of medieval power struggles. Originally erected as the 11th-century motte-and-bailey known as Blythe Castle by Roger de Busli, the site later received a stone curtain wall after a 1102 siege and an eleven-sided keep under Henry II, completed in 1192 alongside a stone bridge and chapel. Its strategic position on the Nottinghamshire–Yorkshire border made it a focal point during the reign of King John, serving alongside Windsor Castle as a principal stronghold against potential French invasion. Throughout the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the castle changed hands, witnessing sieges in 1194, 1321 and a brief imprisonment of Joanna of Flanders in 1343. After falling into disrepair by the mid-sixteenth century, Sir Ralph Hansby repaired the structure in the early seventeenth century. The site remained loyal to the crown during the English Civil War, surrendering in July 1644 and being deliberately razed in 1648. The later Hansby house incorporated the surviving Norman gatehouse and parts of the former hall, while the former bailey now forms part of the surrounding gardens. Today the castle is a private residence owned by the Duchy of Lancaster; the monument is opened to the public only on the second Sunday of June, between 14:00 and 16:00. Wheelchair access is not available, and no additional visitor facilities are recorded.

Phoenix Park

Clayton · 8.1 miles

A former coal-mining site now provides a 3.3-mile (5.3 km) linear park that reflects Thurnscoe’s industrial past while offering open space for recreation. The area, owned by The Land Trust and maintained in partnership with The Conservation Volunteers, lies in South Yorkshire, with the nearest town being Clayton. The park follows the route of the former Hickleton Main Colliery, which operated from 1892 until its closure in 1988. After the colliery was cleared and underground shafts filled between 1991 and 1994, Yorkshire Forward and the Homes and Communities Agency National Coalfield Programme funded its conversion into a public park. Local schools contributed designs that Groundwork Dearne Valley turned into various artworks, and the park officially opened in November 2001. Visitors encounter a climbing wall at the entrance that incorporates mining-related motifs, a series of plaques, banners, stone sculptures and wooden sheep. Two entrances feature metal flower-like sculptures bearing poems by Mrs D. Chipp. An underpass beneath the A635 links the southern end of the park with Goldthorpe; recent repainting of this tunnel was carried out with the assistance of local children through the Goldthorpe & Bolton on Dearne Big Local initiative. Access points are situated along the park’s length, and the proximity to Clayton provides road connections. No admission fee or specific facilities are mentioned in the source material, but the presence of the climbing wall and artwork suggests opportunities for casual exploration and community-focused activities.