The River Trent and S&SY Navigation Holiday Cruising Guide and Map

Newark Castle on the River Trent

The Trent and Mersey Canal joins the River Trent near Shardlow and the river soon passes junctions with the Erewash Canal and the River Soar which connects to the Grand Union Leicester Section and the rest of the waterways network. The non tidal section of the Trent flows for about 40 miles down 13 wide manned locks to Cromwell Lock. All except Cromwell Lock can be self-operated out of hours. At Beeston the route temporarily leaves the river for the Beeston and Nottingham Canals, passing through the interesting city of Nottingham, bypassing the shoals and bridges that make the Trent un-navigable here. This wide cut was always closed to navigation on Sundays by a heavy chain, the Lenton Chain, stretched across the water, to ensure boatmen’s religious well being! Once back on the river Newark is an attractive market town with a castle (ruined by Cromwell) dominating the river.

The semi tidal Trent below Cromwell Lock flows northwards for another 50 miles through Gainsborough to the River Humber at Trent Falls. Cruising here requires a suitably equipped boat with an experienced crew due to tricky tides, shallows and large commercial craft. The Fossdyke Navigation joins at Torksey Lock (useful 24hr moorings), the Chesterfield Canal at West Stockwith and the S&SYN at Keadby.

The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation

The S&SYN leaves the River Trent at Keadby. It was created by a 19th century amalgamation of a number of canals with the intention of upgrading them to allow large craft to link Sheffield, Doncaster and the south Yorkshire coalfield with the North Sea. Trade continued well into the 20th century but after the loss of much of the mining and industrial heritage the area now provides a fascinating collection of surprisingly attractive, uncrowded and interesting wide cruising routes.

The S&SYN includes the Sheffield Canal to Rotherham, the closed Barnsley Canal and sections of the River Don and the Stainforth and Keadby Canal which links to the River Trent at Keadby. In 1905 the New Junction Canal was built which links the S&SYN to the Aire and Calder Navigation at Southfield Junction to bypass the Trent providing quicker access to the North Sea via Goole and the River Ouse.

The Roman Fossdyke Navigation

The Fossdyke runs for 11 miles across flat farmlands from Torksey lock to Lincoln where it joins the River Witham as it heads to Boston and the Wash or the 40 miles of Witham Navigable Drains.