Forge Dam
🏟 Playground & park · Fulwood, Sheffield
Forge Dam
The top of the Porter Valley: a children's playground with a hillside slide beside the old millpond, with a much-loved cafe next door.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Park open at all times; cafe open daytime hours · Free · No booking needed
📍 Location & directions
Address: Forge Dam, off Oakbrook Road, Fulwood, S10 3TL
Plus Code: 9C5W9F66+9C
About Forge Dam
Forge Dam sits at the top of Sheffield's Porter Valley in Fulwood, the fourth and highest of the Grade II listed chain of Porter Valley Parks that run up from Endcliffe Park. The park is set along the Porter Brook around the historic Forge Dam millpond and covers roughly 23.5 acres of waterside and woodland, with winding paths that make it a favourite for family walks. It is part of Sheffield City Council's parks, and the well-known Forge Dam Cafe is listed on the council's parks and catering pages. The main attraction for children is the playground, which includes a long slide built into the hillside, set right beside the cafe so parents can grab a drink, ice cream or snack while children play. From here you can walk down the valley past Mayfield Valley and on through Bingham Park and Whiteley Woods, or simply enjoy the dam, the ducks and the woodland. Free to visit and tucked into a wooded valley, Forge Dam makes a relaxed family outing combining a proper playground, a cafe and a scenic walk.
⭐ What makes this place special
- Forge Dam Cafe (sit-down and takeaway, ice cream and snacks)
- Forge Dam millpond
- Porter Brook and waterside paths
- Woodland walks (top of the Porter Valley Parks)
🏞 Facilities
- Free entry
- Parking: Small car park and on-street parking nearby
- Café / refreshments
- Dogs: Dogs are permitted in the park
🧒 Ages & play
- Children's playground including a slide built into the hillside
📍 Nearby places to play
- Endcliffe Park · approx 1.3 miles · Hunter's Bar / Endcliffe
- Millhouses Park · approx 1.8 miles · Millhouses
- Rivelin Valley Park · approx 2.3 miles · Rivelin Valley
Explore more:
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is Forge Dam free?
Yes. Forge Dam is a free public space within Sheffield's Porter Valley Parks, including the children's playground.
What's in the playground?
The children's playground includes a slide built into the hillside, set right beside the Forge Dam Cafe.
Are there toilets and a cafe?
Yes, there is the popular Forge Dam Cafe beside the playground, serving sit-down and takeaway food, ice cream and snacks. Toilet provision is not confirmed from official sources.
Where is Forge Dam?
It is in Fulwood, off Oakbrook Road at the top of the Porter Valley, west Sheffield, around postcode S10 3TL.
Is there parking?
There is a small car park and some on-street parking nearby; it can get busy at weekends and in good weather.