Boat Hire – River Trent and Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation

Many holiday boaters only cruise that few miles of the River Trent between the Trent and Mersey Canal and the River Soar and perhaps Nottingham, but the rest of the wide Trent is well worth exploring as it flows on down through Nottingham and Newark. The River Trent is one of England’s major rivers, navigable since Roman times and still carrying large commercial barges.

Image by Duncan Nelson from Pixabay

  • Join the River Trent from the Trent and Mersey Canal at Shardlow or at Trent Lock from the Erewash Canal or 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 Canal, passing through through the interesting city of Nottingham. Further on Newark is an attractive market town with fine castle ruins 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.
  • Torksey Lock, set in a wide landscape by the entrance to the Roman Fossdyke Navigation, has popular 72 hour pontoon moorings.
  • North of Gainsborough at West Stockwith the partly restored Chesterfield Canal joins the river.
  • The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation (S&SYN) enters at Keadby on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal. The S&SYN includes the Sheffield Canal, River Don and the New Junction Canal linking to the Aire and Calder. Once busy carrying coal and steel it is now increasingly popular with leisure boaters.

Boat Hire from family firms on or around The River Trent & S&SY Navigation

Shire Cruisers

Shire Cruisers operate from a picturesque basin on the Calder & Hebble Navigation. As well as the interesting Yorkshire waterways you can explore the recently restored Rochdale Canal.

The Boat Co North

The Boat Co North have 4 beautifully individual boats for unforgettable holidays. Being based in Leeds at the epicentre of the Yorkshire waterways you can explore the countryside and vibrant cities all enriched by navigating the history and heritage of our fantastic canals and rivers.

More Information

Holiday Cruising Guide to the River Trent.

More Midlands hire firms or narrowboat hire firms in other areas.

Day hire boats to cruise with a few friends for a few hours.

Help to choose the right canal boat for your holiday.

Plus lots more advice and tips in our Canal Holiday Advice.

Our Listings

We provide contact telephone and email details free of charge for canal based companies, click for details.
Please note: We provide all contact details as an information service. We rely on traders to keep us informed about these listings so we can't guarantee that details are accurate or up to date. Please see our Terms of Use.

Add a company


Aire and Calder Navigation

The Boat Co North
Castleton Mill, Castleton Close, Leeds LS12 2DS.
07710 863124
www.theboatconorth.co.uk


Calder & Hebble

Shire Cruisers
The Wharf, Sowerby Bridge HX6 2AG.
01422 832712
info@shirecruisers.co.uk
www.shirecruisers.co.uk


Day Hire

Gunthorpe Leisure Boats Ltd
Gunthorpe Marina, River Trent, Notts
Sileby Mill Boatyard
Mill Ln, Sileby, Loughborough LE12 7UX.

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