Active things

The Trans Pennine Trail is an exciting route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking the coastal towns of Southport in the West with Hornsea in the East. Some 25 miles (40 Km) of the trail passes through Doncaster from its western boundary at Bolton Upon Dearne to its northern boundary at Sykehouse. As you travel along the trail you will follow riverbanks, canal towpaths and disused railway lines, pass through woodland, farmland and villages. Look out for signs of our industrial past and keep your eyes open for the wildlife too.

Learning, exercise and beautiful views, all in one!

‘Discover Lakeside’ by using the Quick Response (QR) codes to learn about its history. You can walk, explore, read and answer questions to unlock fun and interesting facts about the site. Don’t forget to brave the climb to the top of the hill!

ycling has so many benefits! It is a quality exercise that builds muscle mass, relieves stress, strengthens emotional wellness, and so much more!

Doncaster Council’s Get involved in Cycling page includes information on cycling including access to bikes, clubs, groups and information on the impact of Covid-19 on cycling. Some ideas of where you could cycle include:

• Join the Club Doncaster Bike Library Scheme at the Keepmoat Stadium
• Visit Doncaster Dome’s new cycle track
• Get cycling in Melton Wood Country Park

Parkruns are free, weekly community events around the world. A positive and welcoming experience that is great for all.

In Doncaster, there are two parkruns, one at Cusworth Hall and one at Sandall Park. You can contact sandallpark@parkrun.com and cusworthhall@parkrun.com for more information.

The woods are a great place to go exploring. Make a visit to your nearest woodlands and see what you can find.

Visit the Woods page on Doncaster Council’s website to find your closest woodland area. 

Improving posture, balance, flexibility, coordination and so much more! Ice-skating is perfect to get moving in a way that is fun, different and exciting.

Doncaster Dome has the UK’s first two-tier ice rink and is the first destination to have the cold ice with a warm air temperature!

You can visit their website for more information.

Sports clubs are a great way to get active and make friends, building social skills.

Visit the Sports Clubs in Doncaster website to find out what clubs there are in Doncaster and find the perfect one to be involved with.

Building confidence, getting stronger, improving social skills… Swimming is the perfect activity to get moving and engaging. Visit Doncaster Council’s Swimming Pools, Leisure Centres and Sports Centres to find your nearest place to swim and get swimming!

Rugby is a great activity. It improves physical fitness, develops team building skills, improves residence, reduces stress, and more!

Join the Doncaster Knight Mini Juniors, an RFU Accredited Club. Their values are Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship. If you want to get involved, contact Doncaster Knights through:

Being active is not just about playing specific sports. Google says that “sport” is anything which gets you moving and can be played individually or as a team.  Design your own sport where you can test yourself, set yourself goals and improve your physical health all at the same time!

Active Fusion are a Doncaster based charity that strives to engage young people in physical activity across South Yorkshire.

Visit the Active Fusion website to find out more.

Staying fit sounds like a chore, but it can actually be really fun! Being active also comes with a lot of benefits, including making you feel happier, keeping your bones and muscles strong, improving brain health and memory, as well as supporting relaxation and sleep quality.

The Get Active with CBeebies website provides resources to get you moving.

Sports Days may not be happening in schools, that doesn’t mean they don’t have to happen at all. Have a go at designing your own sports day for your family to take part in. Pick your favourite sports that you can do in your back garden, or make them up! You have complete freedom to make up your own rules and get moving with a bit of competition added in.

Visit the Youth Support Trust website for tips on designing your own family sports day.

How long can you kick a football and keep it off the ground for? How long can you bounce a ball on a tennis bat? How quickly can you run from one spot to another?

Find something active to challenge yourself with and try your hardest to beat your score.

Visit Rainbow Hub’s 60-second challenge page for ideas on challenges you could try.

Challenge your creativity and create your own challenge. Take inspiration from the show ‘I’m a Celebrity’ and design your own challenge. Here are some ideas.

Take a picture and share your challenge on Instagram with the hashtag #100ThingsDN

Head down to Denaby and explore these north facing-slopes. These rocky outcrops were once used for local transport, communication and defence. Explore the Crags and see what you can find.