Geo-Trips :: Boating on the Chesterfield Canal and up the River Trent
Chesterfield Canal and River Trent
A boat trip from Drakeholes, Sun, 23 Sep 2012 by Graham Horn
preceding leg | This trip is part of a series. | next leg |
The 'middle' day of two and a half days helping a friend to move her boat. We started from Drakeholes on the Chesterfield Canal, in good weather, but the day gradually deteriorated. The canal section is wonderful; one of those under-sung sections of canal with no boats or lock queues.
We set off early to arrive for a morning lock-down on to the tidal River Trent, so that the ide would help us get up to Torksey, where we moored for the night. Actually we arrived there in early afternoon, so also went for a short walk around the Torksey area collecting a few personal points.
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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Drakeholes
The morning after the night before, see [[[3153183]]]
After a peaceful night at a... more
Drakeholes tunnel
The southern section of this 154 yard tunnel is brick lined. This appears to be a... more
Drakeholes tunnel
The guidebook notes talk of an unlined tunnel. The northern section here is brick... more
Drakeholes tunnel
This is the northern portal of the 154 yard long tunnel. It is in a wooded... more
Chesterfield Canal approaching Drakeholes
The canal just grazes the south-east corner of this square, but enough to get an... more
Chesterfield Canal near Gringley
This is a lovely wooded section, especially with the early morning mist still... more
Chesterfield Canal near Gringley
This is a wooded section for the most part, but here there is rough pasture,... more
View from the canal
The canal runs along the contour with Gringley on the Hill behind us. To the north... more
Impressive sky
This looked stunning in reality. The early morning sun was breaking through the... more
Gringley top lock
Waiting for the lock to fill. It has a rise, or fall, of 6' 4". The old... more
Gringley top lock
One of the new top gates, and the markings show it has been installed at the right... more
Gringley top lock
A peaceful spot waiting for the lock to fill. Clumps of grass are a common... more
Gringley top lock
Waiting for the lock to empty. It has a fall, or rise, of 6' 4". The old... more
Middle Bridge
Adjacent to Middle Bridge is Middle Bridge Farm. This is 'middle' in the sense of... more
Building near Shaw Bridge
I'm intrigued as to what this building is/was. It is marked on the map, but with... more
Shaw Lock
A simple wooden bridge leads over the bywash channel towards arable fields.
Shaw Bridge
Shaw Road crosses Shaw Bridge adjacent to Shaw Lock. Are we sure about this?
Chesterfield Canal
A peaceful section of the canal near Gringley. The towpath is used by the Trent... more
Next to the canal
From the map, this might be a brickworks, but part of the site is a dumping ground... more
Smith's Bridge
Leading to a former smithy perhaps, or just a person's name. These days it leads... more
Fountain Hill Farm
An impressive farmhouse, and paddocks running down to the canal bank.
Fountain Hill Farm
A well maintained farm, with paddocks running down to the canal, with a private... more
Hodson's Bridge
A farm accommodation bridge.
Near Hodson's Bridge
Hodson's Bridge is just around the next corner. But this is looking back, we are... more
Paddock near Cooper's Bridge
Taken from a boat going along the canal. The horses took no notice of us.
Wharf Bridge
The middle bridge of three passing Misterton. We had just disentangled ourselves... more
Misterton Top Lock
One of a pair, this one with a fall of 6'10". The lock house is now a... more
Misterton Locks
Looking from the top lock towards the bottom one, as I have the paddle up waiting... more
Misterton Low Lock
The lower of the pair has a fall of 6'8". The top lock can be seen beyond... more
Stockwith Basin
Looking across the basin towards the boat club clubhouse (white) and the... more
Stockwith Basin
Looking across the quieter, eastern side of the basin. There is a slipway on the... more
Stockwith Basin
There are two narrowboats for hire here, Maid Marion and, hidden behind her, Robin... more
Approaching Stockwith Lock - method 1
As we waited for our departure from Stockwith Lock onto the tidal River Trent, we... more
Approaching Stockwith Lock - method 2
As we waited for our departure from Stockwith Lock onto the tidal River Trent, we... more
Stockwith Lock
I'm on a narrowboat, locking down from Stockwith Basin, Chesterfield Canal, onto... more
Stockwith Lock
We are waiting for the bottom gates to open to let us out onto the tidal River... more
Leaving Stockwith
Having navigated the boat out of Stockwith Lock on to the tidal River Trent, this... more
Units to Let
Good riverside access, if you need that sort of thing. Landing stage a bit dodgy though.
Navigating the Trent
Seven minutes out from Stockwith and I'm now comfortable with the width of the... more
Walkerith
It takes a while to adjust to the speed on the river, but I have now pinpointed... more
Walkerith
It takes a while to adjust to the speed on the river, but I have now pinpointed... more
River Trent
We are well under way on the river now, and although I am having trouble... more
Drainage facility
This appears to be at the end of a large land drain flowing into the River Trent.... more
Drainage facility
This appears to be at the end of a large land drain flowing into the River Trent.... more
Approaching Morton
The buildings on the right, called The Wharf, appear to be new flats in the style... more
Passing Morton
The houses to the left are on the site of the wharf, but appear to be modern... more
Meeting their promise - 1
When we left Stockwith Lock, 28 minutes earlier, two private cruisers were going... more
Meeting their promise - 2
When we left Stockwith Lock, 28 minutes earlier, two private cruisers were going... more
Meeting their promise - 3
When we left Stockwith Lock, 28 minutes earlier, two private cruisers were going... more
Approaching Gainsborough
This is the reach between Morton and Gainsborough, not much to see apart from the... more
Approaching Gainsborough
The narrowboat ahead of us is approximately where I have placed the subject... more
Riverside Approach
These new flats, on the site of an old wharf, are accessed from landward by a road... more
Wharf in Gainsborough
It had started raining hard so I left our helmswoman to it and went below for a... more
Gainsborough water front
The old wharves are now virtually all replaced by modern flats and office... more
Gainsborough Bridge
Also known as Gainsborough Arches, although I think that more properly refers to... more
Kerry Ingredients
To quote the company's website "we develop, manufacture and deliver... more
Rounding Saundby bend
There are some sharp bends on the river; Saundby bend here is one of the sharpest... more
Trent Junction railway bridge
There are two main arches, both navigable, so we took the right-hand one in case... more
Trent Junction railway bridge
There are two main arches, both navigable, so we took the right-hand one in case... more
Up the Trent
South (upstream) of Trent Junction railway bridge. The narrowboat ahead of us is... more
Up the Trent
West Burton power station starts to come into view.
Up the Trent
West Burton power station, SK7985 comes into view as we pass through the... more
West Burton power station
The power station is back from the river, but the river is dominated by it.... more
Pipeline protection?
I'm not sure what this is. I'm speculating that there is a pipeline under here... more
Grazing along the bank
Having passed the power station, then seen evidence of a pipeline, it seemed... more
Towards West Burton power station
As the river takes another sharp turn we see West Burton power station on out hind... more
Forever chasing
We continue to follow another narrowboat up the river. It always remained 200 to... more
Continuing up the Trent
We continue to follow another narrowboat up the river. It always remained 200 to... more
Port marker
In times of flood the markers indicate the normal edge of the river, heading... more
Navigation marker on Lea Marsh
In times of flood the markers indicate the normal edge of the river, heading... more
Knaith Reach
We continue to follow another narrowboat up the river. It always remained 200 to... more
Knaith Reach
Mainly the banks are too high to see anything. But occasionally, as here, they... more
Stream entering the Trent
This is probably the stream marked on the large scale map. It seemed an exciting... more
Knaith Hall
There are the remains of a Cistercian Priory in the trees, just visible to the... more
Knaith Hall
There are the remains of a Cistercian Priory in the trees to the left, just... more
Down the Trent
The river is tortuous. It took me some time to work out that this power station,... more
Burton Chateau
The building ,with grounds down to the River Trent, is in the hands of the... more
Trent Bank Cottage
A house at Littleborough that seems in danger of flooding should the river get too high.
House at Littleborough
Adjacent to the River Trent but probably high enough above the river to not be... more
Drainage pumping station
One of many drainage ditches ends up here with water presumably being pumped into... more
Drainage outlet
One of many drainage ditches ends up here with water presumably being pumped into... more
Trent Port
The name Trent Port is a little ambitious, consisting of just this small jetty.... more
Trent Port
The name Trent Port is a little ambitious, consisting of just this small jetty.... more
Power on the Trent
Cottam power station still some way away in SK8179 is framed by one of the many... more
Up the Trent
We have been going upstream with the tide for two hours now, and are still... more
Old and new buildings
Cottam power station SK8179 is in the background. Near the river bank in this... more
Birds on the Trent
This naturally shallow section of the river bank seemed popular with wading birds.
Power on the Trent
In the background is Cottam power station in SK7981 . In the foreground is a... more
Wildlife on the Trent
This heron appears to be stalking this swan, although the latter was not showing... more
Buildings next to the Trent
What are they? Google maps shows a whole group of portable buildings here, next... more
Torksey viaduct
This is disused but formerly carried the Lincoln to Retford railway line. There... more
Torksey viaduct
This is disused but formerly carried the Lincoln to Retford railway line. There... more
Torksey viaduct
This is disused but formerly carried the Lincoln to Retford railway line. There... more
Torksey church
The tower of the church in the village, which is set back from the river, peers... more
Torksey castle
The remains of a 16th century fortified Tudor manor house, never a true castle... more
Torksey castle
The remains of a 16th century fortified Tudor manor house, never a true castle... more
View from Torksey Lock
This is taken from the A156 road bridge crossing the tail of Torksey Lock. The... more
Reach below Torksey Lock
This is taken from the A156 road bridge crossing the tail of Torksey Lock. The... more
Maize at Torksey
In this square is a field of maize, probably game cover or to be harvested for... more
Irrigation equipment
I did not expect to see irrigation equipment after the very wet summer we have... more
Drainage channel off Sand Lane
This channel surrounds the golf course, but probably pre-dates it. Beyond are new... more
Paddock at Firs Farm
Evidence of simple practising for the local horse-jumping events, in the field... more
Bungalow for sale
This is a small bungalow adjacent to the former Lincoln to Retford railway, the... more
Land at Torkesy Common
In the foreground is the trackbed of the former Lincoln to Retford railway.... more
Castle Inn, Torksey
This is a local's pub, not particularly near the castle but named after it. The... more
Former railway bridge
This is the abutment of the former Retford to Lincoln railway line where it... more
Torksey church
Dedicated to St Peter. The chancel and nave are very plain following restoration... more
Hume Arms
This large roadside pub seems to have had at least one reprieve from closure, but... more
Most of Torksey
The village is not large, although there are hidden gems. It is bisected by the... more
All images © Graham Horn and available under a Creative Commons licence .