Geo-Trips :: Boating up the River Trent

River Trent

A boat trip from Torksey, Mon, 24 Sep 2012 by Graham Horn

preceding legThis trip is part of a series.

The last of two and a half days helping a friend move her boat from the Chesterfield Canal and up the River Trent. This section of the River Trent from Torksey to Newark is mainly tidal, so we had to delay our morning start until the tide was favourable. However, strong rain further up the Trent was also coming down the river, making our progress very slow. We took an hour and a half longer than the guide time for this section. I was on deck for most of the time and got very wet, as did some of my photos. However, it was great to have done this section of waterway at last.

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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SK8378 : Torksey Lock by Graham Horn
Torksey Lock
The calm side of the lock. The Fossdyke Navigation comes in from the right, where... more

SK8278 : Towards Cottam power station by Graham Horn
Towards Cottam power station
Rounding the first bend after leaving Torksey, we get the first view of the power... more

SK8278 : Approaching Cottam power station by Graham Horn
Approaching Cottam power station
Starting the long left-hand section of this horseshoe bend to the east of the... more

SK8278 : Approaching Cottam power station by Graham Horn
Approaching Cottam power station
Notice how the prevailing rain has beaten against the north-eastern side of the... more

SK8278 : Sluice at Cottam power station by Graham Horn
Sluice at Cottam power station
This appears to be a water outlet of some sort, a pumping station associated with... more

SK8278 : Danger sunken island keep left by Graham Horn
Danger sunken island keep left
The warning signs on this section of the river are very clear and very explicit.... more

SK8277 : Sunken island by Graham Horn
Sunken island
The island that we had been warned about on a sign shortly beforehand is actually... more

SK8277 : Sunken island by Graham Horn
Sunken island
This island is quite visible today, but may not be under flood conditions.... more

SK8277 : Wet all around by Graham Horn
Wet all around
The rain was starting to set in, mainly from the east but veering to the south;... more

SK8177 : Fishing in the rain by Graham Horn
Fishing in the rain
These two cormorants seemed unperturbed by the lashing rain, and remained... more

SK8177 : Raining on the Trent by Graham Horn
Raining on the Trent
We were taking a boat from Torksey to Newark. It was raining, hard, and there was... more

SK8177 : Houses at Church Laneham by Graham Horn
Houses at Church Laneham
The map suggests these might be called Maltkins, although that may be further back... more

SK8177 : Houses at Church Laneham by Graham Horn
Houses at Church Laneham
The map suggests this may be the manor house. Certainly there is a caravan park,... more

SK8176 : Church Laneham landing stage by Graham Horn
Church Laneham landing stage
There is a slipway here and a pontoon landing stage that goes up and down with the... more

SK8276 : Tractor on Laugherton Marsh by Graham Horn
Tractor on Laugherton Marsh
There had been a few fine days, when I hope this farmer managed to harvest... more

SK8276 : Meeting a big boat by Graham Horn
Meeting a big boat
We had left early and were punching the last of the ebb tide, so we half expected... more

SK8276 : Big boat on the Trent by Graham Horn
Big boat on the Trent
Going away from us, this boat does not look very large in relation to the size of... more

SK8275 : Edge of the Trent by Graham Horn
Edge of the Trent
Unusually there are shallows on the outside of this bend, marked by a row of... more

SK8274 : Dunham Rack by Graham Horn
Dunham Rack
The tidal river is wide, straight and uninteresting along this section, Dunham... more

SK8174 : Dunham road bridge by Graham Horn
Dunham road bridge
This is a toll bridge, on the A57, so everything is slowing down for the toll gate... more

SK8174 : Dunham Bridge by Graham Horn
Dunham Bridge
Carrying the A57 over the River Trent. Traffic is stationary for the toll gate... more

SK8174 : Dunham pipe bridge by Graham Horn
Dunham pipe bridge
Carrying a water (?) pipe across the river, immediately south of the road bridge,... more

SK8174 : Dunham bridges by Graham Horn
Dunham bridges
Looking north, back downstream on the River Trent. The nearer bridge is a pipe... more

SK8273 : Construction work on the river by Graham Horn
Construction work on the river
I could not work out what was going on here; there is clearly something elated to... more

SK8273 : Bend at Dunham Dubs by Graham Horn
Bend at Dunham Dubs
There are two sharp bends on the river here, the first one to the right. As we... more

SK8173 : Bend at Dunham Dubs by Graham Horn
Bend at Dunham Dubs
There are two particularly sharp bends in the river in quick succession here, this... more

SK8173 : Bend at Dunham Dubs by Graham Horn
Bend at Dunham Dubs
There are two particularly sharp bends in the river in quick succession here, this... more

SK8172 : River Trent at Fledborough by Graham Horn
River Trent at Fledborough
The yellow sign warns of a sunken island. We didn't see it, but kept right as... more

SK8172 : River Trent past Fledborough by Graham Horn
River Trent past Fledborough
It continued to be a grey day, although the rain had eased. Power lines dominate... more

SK8171 : Trent Viaduct by Graham Horn
Trent Viaduct
Otherwise known as Fledborough Viaduct. This used to carry the former Lincoln to... more

SK8171 : Site of High Marnham power station by Graham Horn
Site of High Marnham power station
This pumping station is all that remains of the former High Marnham power station,... more

SK8170 : Marnham boat club by Graham Horn
Marnham boat club
The floating pontoon used by Marnham boat club. There is also a slipway nearby.... more

SK8170 : Up the Trent by Graham Horn
Up the Trent
On a rainy day, and fighting a strong flow, we plod on up the tidal river.

SK8169 : Raining still by Graham Horn
Raining still
It is difficult to give an impression that it is persisting down, but here the... more

SK8169 : Promontory on the river by Graham Horn
Promontory on the river
This seems to be the point where the old course of the River Trent rejoins the... more

SK8168 : Up the Trent by Graham Horn
Up the Trent
It is raining. We are taking a narrowboat from Torksey to Newark today, fighting... more

SK8168 : Sluice feeding the river by Graham Horn
Sluice feeding the river
This is an outlet for a drain into the River Trent. Excitement on an otherwise... more

SK8168 : Approaching Normanton Sands by Graham Horn
Approaching Normanton Sands
There is a large section of access land along both sides of the river from here... more

SK8168 : Drainage sluice by Graham Horn
Drainage sluice
More excitement, another drain flows into the river and another photograph is... more

SK8167 : Flotsam at Normanton Sands by Graham Horn
Flotsam at Normanton Sands
Flotsam (or is it jetsam) in the form of a log, stranded by a higher tide on the... more

SK8167 : Works discharge point by Graham Horn
Works discharge point
I think this is a point where sand barges load. Sand, or gravel, is 'pumped' up... more

SK8167 : Sand and gravel loading point by Graham Horn
Sand and gravel loading point
I think this is a point where sand barges load. Sand, or gravel, is 'pumped' up... more

SK8167 : Drainage channel by Graham Horn
Drainage channel
This is one of the larger drainage channels feeding the River Trent. All around... more

SK8167 : Bank protection by Graham Horn
Bank protection
There are a number of sunken barges here, providing bank protection in an area of... more

SK8166 : Girton Stakes by Graham Horn
Girton Stakes
The area either side is known as Upper Girton Stakes (right) and lower Girton... more

SK8166 : Girton Stakes by Graham Horn
Girton Stakes
The area either side is known as Upper Girton Stakes (right) and lower Girton... more

SK8066 : Why? by Graham Horn
Why?
Well, he might be asking the same question of us, as we plough on upstream in the... more

SK8066 : A fisherman's retreat by Graham Horn
A fisherman's retreat
Why drive to this isolated spot then sit out in the rain? Well, he might be... more

SK8066 : Cattle on Smithy Marsh by Graham Horn
Cattle on Smithy Marsh
You can't see much from a narrowboat with high flood banks. So cattle on the bank... more

SK8066 : Yes we're mad, what about you? by Graham Horn
Yes we're mad, what about you?
You can't see much from a narrowboat with high flood banks. So cattle on the bank... more

SK8066 : Why am I standing here getting wet? by Graham Horn
Why am I standing here getting wet?
You can't see much from a narrowboat with high flood banks. So cattle on the bank... more

SK8065 : Through South Holme by Graham Horn
Through South Holme
The river continues upstream, with high flood banks restricting the view. The... more

SK8065 : Post at South Holme by Graham Horn
Post at South Holme
Square, red posts mark the eastern (port) side of the river, and are visible in... more

SK8065 : Rounding Springhead by Graham Horn
Rounding Springhead
The River Trent continues upstream, with high flood banks restricting the view... more

SK8165 : Passing Besthorpe Nature Reserve by Graham Horn
Passing Besthorpe Nature Reserve
We didn't specifically know it at the time. It was more of the same, high flood... more

SK8063 : Did I say it was raining? by Graham Horn
Did I say it was raining?
It had been raining all day, and was well set in. We were thoroughly soaked as we... more

SK8063 : Did I say it was raining? by Graham Horn
Did I say it was raining?
It had been raining all day, and was well set in. We were thoroughly soaked as we... more

SK8056 : Approaching Newark by Graham Horn
Approaching Newark
Towards the end of the day, the rain had passed but the sky was still very... more

SK8061 : Cromwell Weir by Graham Horn
Cromwell Weir
We had fought upstream for five and a half hours since leaving Torksey, a journey... more

SK8164 : Besthorpe wharf by Graham Horn
Besthorpe wharf
Barges collecting extracted sand and gravel operate from here. Still raining.

SK8164 : Steps to the river by Graham Horn
Steps to the river
These lead nowhere, and the footpath is along the top of the flood bank. There... more

SK8064 : Carlton Rack by Graham Horn
Carlton Rack
This reach is called Carlton Rack. The long left hand bend takes us to the... more

SK8064 : Approaching Carlton-on-Trent by Graham Horn
Approaching Carlton-on-Trent
Despite the rain, the windmill gives us an accurate location. The OS symbol these... more

SK8064 : Carlton windmill by Graham Horn
Carlton windmill
It is early 19th century, and listed, but even Windmill World... more

SK8064 : Carlton-on-Trent wharf by Graham Horn
Carlton-on-Trent wharf
Passing in the rain.

SK8064 : Carlton-on-Trent wharf by Graham Horn
Carlton-on-Trent wharf
Passing in the rain.

SK8163 : Gravel wharf at Besthorpe by Graham Horn
Gravel wharf at Besthorpe
There are sand and gravel extraction quarries off to the left. A conveyor brings... more

SK8163 : Gravel wharf at Besthorpe by Graham Horn
Gravel wharf at Besthorpe
There are sand and gravel extraction quarries off to the left. A conveyor brings... more

SK8163 : Gravel wharf at Besthorpe by Graham Horn
Gravel wharf at Besthorpe
There are sand and gravel extraction quarries off to the right. A conveyor brings... more

SK8062 : Up the Trent by Graham Horn
Up the Trent
Our journey from Torksey to Cromwell continues. Although the incoming tide should... more

SK8062 : Fisherman on the Trent by Graham Horn
Fisherman on the Trent
These are the professionals, a tent and all the equipment to keep the rain at bay.... more

SK8061 : Approaching Cromwell Lock by Graham Horn
Approaching Cromwell Lock
This marks the southern limit of the tidal River Trent. Cromwell weir can be seen... more

SK8061 : In Cromwell Lock by Graham Horn
In Cromwell Lock
Having entered the lock this is the view back as the gates closed behind us. The... more

SK8061 : Cromwell Lock by Graham Horn
Cromwell Lock
This lock marks the southerly end of the tidal section of the River Trent. The... more

SK8061 : Cromwell Lock by Graham Horn
Cromwell Lock
This lock marks the southerly end of the tidal section of the River Trent. The... more

SK8060 : Above Cromwell Lock by Graham Horn
Above Cromwell Lock
Although the river is not tidal above Cromwell Lock, it is still wide and, with a... more

SK8059 : Farms at Holme by Graham Horn
Farms at Holme
The east bank village of Holme stays away from the river. But the farms to its... more

SK7958 : The Muskham Ferry by Graham Horn
The Muskham Ferry
A pub in North Muskham on the west side of the river. As its name implies there... more

SK7958 : The Muskham Ferry by Graham Horn
The Muskham Ferry
A pub in North Muskham on the west side of the river. As its name implies there... more

SK7958 : Tree on the Holme side by Graham Horn
Tree on the Holme side
Opposite the pub called the Muskham Ferry is the location of the landing point of... more

SK8058 : Up the Trent by Graham Horn
Up the Trent
South of North Muskham and Holme the river widens out again and becomes more rural... more

SK8058 : Boundary on the river bank by Graham Horn
Boundary on the river bank
Strangely, the boundary that runs clearly east west either side of the river, and... more

SK8057 : Passing Winthorpe Lake by Graham Horn
Passing Winthorpe Lake
The high flood bank to the left hides, or contains, Winthorpe Lake, almost... more

SK8056 : Winthorpe Bridge by Graham Horn
Winthorpe Bridge
This high level bridge carries the A1 Newark bypass over the River Trent. I had a... more

SK8056 : Winthorpe Bridge by Graham Horn
Winthorpe Bridge
This high level bridge carries the A1 Newark bypass over the River Trent. I had a... more

SK8055 : Newark railway bridge by Graham Horn
Newark railway bridge
This bridge carries the East Coast Main Line railway across the canalised section... more

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

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