Don Valley Way – Walks Guide Book Design

Commissioned by Don Catchment Rivers Trust (DCRT), I designed an engaging, free-to-access walking guide to showcase the heritage trails along the Don Valley Way and highlight recent extensions to the route.

Stretching 43 miles from Sheffield to Doncaster, the Don Valley Way follows the course of the River Don, inviting walkers to explore the landscape, heritage and wildlife that make this part of South Yorkshire so distinctive. All of the route is accessible to walkers, with selected sections also suitable for cyclists.

Developed as part of a Heritage Lottery-funded project celebrating the River Don’s rich industrial past and natural environment, the trail brings the area’s history to life. For centuries, the river powered the mills and factories that drove local industry, and many of the historic buildings and structures associated with this industrial heritage can still be discovered along the way.

The Graphic Design process

My role was to turn this wealth of information into an informative, visually engaging and easy-to-use guide. Accurate route mapping was central to the design, ensuring readers could navigate the trails confidently while discovering the stories behind the landscape.

To encourage people to pick up the booklet and start exploring, I created an eye-catching illustrated front cover, alongside a series of illustrations highlighting heritage landmarks along the routes. These were carefully developed to complement the existing illustrations previously produced for the original walks, maintaining a consistent visual identity throughout the booklet design.

At the heart of the booklet, a double-page centre spread provides an overview of the entire route, tracing the Don Valley Way from Wards End Cemetery in north Sheffield to Thorne, near Doncaster. This gives readers a clear picture of the trail as a whole, helping them plan their journey and discover the many places of interest along the way.

The finished guide combines practical information, clear cartography and engaging illustration to celebrate the River Don’s heritage and encourage more people to get out, explore and connect with our remarkable local landscape.

Finally, all this information can be found on the new DCRT website which we recently completed for the trust.