I’m writing this while wincing at the lobster red sun burn all over my shoulders and neck from my most recent weekend in May. Which means two things - I should take the sun more seriously, but also that summer is almost here.
I moved to Sheffield three years ago at the onset of a heatwave in July 2021, so summertime in the Steel City comes loaded with nostalgic memories for me of my weeks here, like getting lost for the first time in Rivelin Valley, to climbing the hill off Whiteley Woods in the sun.
I’m now approaching my third summer in Sheffield, and I have a greater list of guaranteed good times to cross off before the leaves turn in September.
Most of them involving enjoying Sheffield’s green spaces, sure, but who can be mad at enjoying the sun in such a lush city as ours.
Here are 10 things I’m looking forward to in Sheffield this summer - from ambitious hopes of walking across the Peak District to enjoying an after-work Guinness at ‘Wasp City’ - you’ll have to see my gallery below for what that could mean.
9. Walking the width of the Peak District
My, quite a few of these entries are about walking somewhere... Anyway, ANOTHER dream/theory of mine is there's a good day out to be had in walking across the Peak District. I don't even think it's that hard, just get a map or decent routes app and head west from Hathersage train station. I think it's entirely possible to reach Chapel-on-Firth or just Edale in a matter of hours while drinking in the views. And, when you reach the end or just want to quit out, just head to the nearest train station and let it carry your aching feet back in Sheffield in 30 to 45 minutes. Maybe this is the year I convince my friends (pictured) it's not completely crazy.
10. A summer of coach trips... whether I like it or not
'Looking forward' to this is one is an exercise in optimism rather than enthusiasm, but nevertheless. My 25-30 Railcard runs out in mid-June and I won't get another one until I turn 60 or get a girlfriend for the Two Together option (please hold your jokes about "whichever happens first"). Trains are about to become a lot more expensive than they already are for me... So, from this summer out, I'll be taking a lot of coaches. But let's look on the teeth gritting bright side! Coaches to London to see my brother will be, well, at the very least much cheaper... and one time I took a rail replacement bus to Stockport that was essentially a stunning coach trip across the Peaks, which was bloody lovely in its own way. Here's to a summer of embracing coach trips and making the most of public transport in, around, and out of Sheffield. Photo: Alastair Ulke