Depends where you go. I suspect being on your own walking up backs of summer lane, racecommon road, dodworth road Sheffield road after dark might make those hairs tingle on the back of your neck.
Often out while 5am up there (yes even now)... no problem whatsoever. I do appreciate a small percentage of people have suffered at the hands of others but i don't feel this is any more of an issue now than it was 30 odd years ago. Indeed there was rarely a night as a teenager that i didn't end up in a scrap (never looked for it because it's not in my nature). Was knocked out twice, once in the Dolly's for accidently standing on someone's toe and outside benjy harolds whilst sticking up for a lad who was getting a kicking from 4 others. Serously cant recall seeing any violence in town for years and i'm a regular. It was a lot worse back then in my experience.
I walk home every night i go in town and don't feel threatened. Used to live off sheffield road too and never had any problems.
I'd agree it's safe compared to other places. Wellington st may be a gauntlet of drunks later on but usually it never feels dangerous or scary. West st in Sheffield is a different kettle of fish and I wouldn't advise any lad and certainly never a girl to walk alone down off division street. I've seen some sights and regularly felt unsafe in Sheffield and Doncaster, never scared but certainly uncomfortable. Never Barnsley though, a few drunks to avoid but rarely any greater threat.
So did i. As soon as I stepped off the main road down the back streets it was very much try and keep your wits about you. I wouldnt have been the 1st getting popped on a post pub walk home and no doubt the last.
Does it say "Barnsley" or "parts of Barnsley". I would agree that Cawthorne is probably one of the safest areas in South Yorkshire, as are several other villages to the West of the M1. I would also argue that some of the eastern areas are relatively unsafe, and we have evidence that the town centre can be dangerous. Although, every time I've been out in Donny someone has been beaten up and regularly had friends mugged in Sheffield back in the day.