Geo-Trips :: Boating on the Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Canal

A boat trip from Retford wharf, Sat, 22 Sep 2012 by Graham Horn

This trip is part of a series.next leg

The first afternoon of two and a half days on a friend's boat, helping her move it from the Chesterfield Canal and up the River Trent. We joined her at lunchtime at Retford, and travelled as far as Drakeholes that evening. It was great to be back on a boat again, and great to be on the Chesterfield Canal again. The Chesterfield is an under-sung canal, not particularly accessible admittedly as one has to cruise the tidal River Trent to get there, and also the names Chesterfield, Worksop and Retford seem to have a negative image, but the canal is great; similar to and as good as the Southern Oxford Canal without the lock queues. It was a fine afternoon, but that good weather was not to last. Oh, but the pub at Drakeholes is great, one of the best.

Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )

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SK7080 : Below Retford Lock by Graham Horn
Below Retford Lock
This is the basin below Retford Town Lock, with Carolgate Bridge beyond. There... more

SK7080 : Spa Common by Graham Horn
Spa Common
A convenient area of green space, adjacent to the Chesterfield Canal, to the east... more

SK7181 : Canal at Balk Field by Graham Horn
Canal at Balk Field
The Chesterfield Canal runs east of Retford into open fields. The estate of Balk... more

SK7181 : East of Retford by Graham Horn
East of Retford
This houses looks as though it is new, on the site of a smaller building marked on... more

SK7181 : Outside the Hop Pole by Graham Horn
Outside the Hop Pole
Unusually, the canal water point is in the pub garden. We took advantage of... more

SK7282 : Whitsunday Pie Lock by Graham Horn
Whitsunday Pie Lock
We have opened the top gates and are waiting for tour boat to enter the lock.... more

SK7282 : Whitsunday Pie Lock by Graham Horn
Whitsunday Pie Lock
A shallow fall of just 4' 3". The lock is named after the large pie, baked... more

SK7282 : Closing Whitsunday Pie Lock by Graham Horn
Closing Whitsunday Pie Lock
As our boat leaves the lock, my friend heaves the opposite lock gate closed. The... more

SK7282 : Bonemill Farm by Graham Horn
Bonemill Farm
Flat farmland seen from the Chesterfield Canal.

SK7282 : Bonemill Bridge by Graham Horn
Bonemill Bridge
Adjacent to Bonemill Farm. A rural section of the Chesterfield Canal.

SK7282 : Obstruction on the Chesterfield Canal by Graham Horn
Obstruction on the Chesterfield Canal
This section of the canal is prone to hosting large clumps of grassland, more than... more

SK7283 : Clarborough from the canal by Graham Horn
Clarborough from the canal
Clarborough is quoted as a canal-side village, but it generally keeps its distance... more

SK7283 : Clarborough Top Bridge by Graham Horn
Clarborough Top Bridge
On the Chesterfield Canal. There does not appear to be a Clarborough... more

SK7284 : Church Bridge by Graham Horn
Church Bridge
A lovely reflection in the late afternoon sunlight. A fisherman is sitting just... more

SK7284 : Hayton church by Graham Horn
Hayton church
St Peters, a 12th century church, seen from the Chesterfield Canal.

SK7284 : Church Bridge by Graham Horn
Church Bridge
A lovely reflection in the late afternoon sunlight. A fisherman is sitting just... more

SK7284 : Church Bridge by Graham Horn
Church Bridge
A lovely reflection in the late afternoon sunlight. A fisherman is sitting just... more

SK7285 : Canal north of Townend Bridge by Graham Horn
Canal north of Townend Bridge
Lovely reflections in the late afternoon sun, as we cruise the Chesterfield Canal.

SK7385 : Obstruction on the canal by Graham Horn
Obstruction on the canal
This section of canal is prone to large floating clumps of grass, more than weed,... more

SK7386 : Farmland next to the canal by Graham Horn
Farmland next to the canal
Viewed from a boat on the Chesterfield Canal, this is recently ploughed arable land.

SK7386 : Reflections on the canal by Graham Horn
Reflections on the canal
Late afternoon sun as we cruise the Chesterfield Canal.

SK7387 : Canalside property at Wheatley Road by Graham Horn
Canalside property at Wheatley Road
This may have been the site of an old wharf; whether the crane is genuine or... more

SK7387 : Canalside property by Graham Horn
Canalside property
This may have been an old wharf, but is now a canalside house on Wheatley Road.

SK7387 : Boats on the Chesterfield Canal by Graham Horn
Boats on the Chesterfield Canal
We did not see many boats on the move, but there was a whole line of them moored... more

SK7387 : Houses at Clayworth by Graham Horn
Houses at Clayworth
Those on the right are sandwiched between the canal and Wheatley Road. Ahead is... more

SK7387 : Pump at Clayworth by Graham Horn
Pump at Clayworth
This pump, in the canalside garden of a house, is probably decorative rather than... more

SK7287 : Chesterfield Canal past Clayworth by Graham Horn
Chesterfield Canal past Clayworth
The village keeps its distance to the right and the canal takes a continuing rural... more

SK7287 : Chesterfield Canal past Clayworth by Graham Horn
Chesterfield Canal past Clayworth
The village keeps its distance to the left and the canal continues a rural course... more

SK7288 : Towards Clayworth church by Graham Horn
Towards Clayworth church
Across a large arable field to the west of Clayworth lies the church. St Peters is... more

SK7288 : Gray's Bridge by Graham Horn
Gray's Bridge
The bridge carries Wiseton Road, a Roman Road, into Clayworth. So the road is... more

SK7189 : Seven swans a-swimming by Graham Horn
Seven swans a-swimming
A pair of swans escorts their five cygnets. They are nearly grown now, and... more

SK7189 : Wiseton wharf by Graham Horn
Wiseton wharf
The old canal wharf, now a green area to sit and watch the very occasional boat.

SK7189 : Wiseton Top Bridge by Graham Horn
Wiseton Top Bridge
With the old wharf behind. There does not appear to be a Wiseton... more

SK7289 : Towards Fox Covert and Lords Wood by Graham Horn
Towards Fox Covert and Lords Wood
We were intrigued by the aeroplane trail that went into the cloud but didn't come... more

SK7190 : Taylor's Bridge by Graham Horn
Taylor's Bridge
One of several as the canal skirts Wiseton. The sun is dropping, but there are... more

SK7190 : Old Man Bridge by Graham Horn
Old Man Bridge
More correctly Lady's Bridge, but called Old Man Bridge because of the carvings on... more

SK7190 : Old Man Bridge by Graham Horn
Old Man Bridge
More correctly Lady's Bridge, but called Old Man Bridge because of the carvings on... more

SK7190 : Old Man Bridge by Graham Horn
Old Man Bridge
More correctly Lady's Bridge, but called Old Man Bridge because of the carvings on... more

SK7090 : Drakeholes by Graham Horn
Drakeholes
Our boat is moored for the evening at the southern end of the 154 yard Drakeholes... more

All images © Graham Horn and available under a Creative Commons licence external link.

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