Updates - January 2015

  
South Yorkshire Waterways
Map 12  -  Towpath Closure  -  From 19 December 2014 until September 2015.  
The towpath will be closed between Jordan's Lock and Halfpenny Bridge (near the foot of the Tinsley lock flight).  A signed diversion will be in place.  The reason is improvements work being undertaken by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
The navigation will remain open.

Chesterfield Canal
 Map 6  -  Chequers pub
There is currently uncertainty about the future of the Chequers pub, canalside at Ranby.  If planning a visit please telephone them beforehand, as on page 40.
 

Updates - November 2014

 
Chesterfield Canal
   
Page 5.  Boating.  The Chesterfield Canal Trust now has trip-boats operating at Retford, Worksop, Shireoaks, Kiveton Park, Staveley (Hollingwood Hub) and Chesterfield.
Cycling.  Between West Stockwith and Norwood Tunnel the canal is a Canal & River Trust waterway, therefore cycling is allowed throughout.
 
Page 33.  Map 12. Chesterfield.  The turning point, near Tapton Mill Bridge (1) is only suitable for boats 50ft or less.
 
Page 40.  Pubs & Cafes.  Delete Brickmakers Arms, and White Swan.
 
Page 41.  Contacts.
CCT Trip Boats.  Add Madeline at Hollingwood Hub, contact details the same as for the John Varley.
Tapton Lock Visitor Centre.  Summer (Easter to end of October)  Open every day 10.00 to 16.30.  Winter, open Saturday to Tuesday 10.00 to 16.00.  All year, closed on weekdays 13.00 to 13.45.
  

South Yorkshire Waterways
  
Page 32, map 12.  Navigation Notes.  Rotherham
Shopping.  The canalside Tesco, just below Rotherham Lock, has now closed.  However, what was its car-park remains in use, as does the footbridge across the River Don to the town centre.  At the end of the footbridge Norris's very good greengrocers is still there, as are a butchers, fish and chips, and a cafe.
  

Updates - September 2014

 
South Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 32.  Moorings above Rotherham Lock.  Although lined with bollards the river deposits mud along this bank and these "moorings" are once again shallow and unusable, other than immediately outside the lock's top gates.  The stretch of moorings below the lock is OK.
 
North Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 40.  Pocklington Canal - Swing-bridge 8.  This bridge is now operational again.  Although on the un-navigable section it's completion is a mark of faith in the future full restoration of this waterway.
 

Updates - April 2014

 
South Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 44.  Contacts.  Add.  Narrowboat hire.  Yorkshire Narrowboats at Sprotbrough.
www.yorkshirenarrowboats.com    info@yorkshirenarrowboats.com
07831 862607    Post code DN5 7NB
 

Updates - March 2013

 
All Richlow Titles
 
Contacts Pages.  CRT Telephone Numbers

With immediate effect the telephone number for all CRT regional offices will be 03030 404040, only.  A central hub will redirect calls to the required region.  Calls to the previous numbers will result in having to redial.  Signs along the waterways will gradually be changed.
 
Direct telephone numbers for lock-keepers, to ascertain tide times etc, will remain in use.
 
 
South Yorkshire Waterways
 
Map 12.  Long-term Towpath Closure, Rotherham
 
From 15 April 2013 to 23 December 2013  -  the towpath will be closed for land-based visitors between Centenary Way Bridge (Rotherham) and Halfpenny Bridge (at the foot of the Tinsley lock flight, Sheffield)
 
The lock-landings at Ickles Lock, Holmes Lock, Jordans Lock, and Tinsley no.11 Lock will still be open for boaters to use.
 
The closure is to carry out major towpath improvements by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, to create a cycle route between the town and Sheffield.  A 2.5 metre-wide path, with a waterproof hard surface, will be installed.  Signposts will be installed along the route, and in adjacent areas, to spread awareness of the waterway.
 

  


This the first phase of a project which will eventually lead to more towpath improvements at both ends of this first section. 
 



South Pennine Ring  -  Part 1
  
Page 6.  Summit Pound of the Rochdale Canal
  
First paragraph.  Delete the requirement to book passage of the summit pound of the Rochdale Canal (although CRT do ask that boaters check with them about water supplies after a dry period of weather (oh, if only!!)
 
Page 7.  Summit Passage of the Rochdale Canal.
Page 20.  Summit Navigation Notes
 
From 2013 there is no need to pre-book passage over the summit, between Locks 36 and 37.  Please note, there is strictly NO MOORING between Locks 38 and 44.
 

South Pennine Ring  -  Part 2
 
Page 7.  Standedge Tunnel
 
Final paragraph.  Addition  -  CRT do not allow petrol-powered, or fibreglass, boats to pass through the tunnel.
 
Page 7.  Bookings for the South Pennine Ring
 
Second paragraph.  Delete  -  the summit pound of the Rochdale Canal.
Amend  -  to Manchester 17 Locks.
 
Page 10. Cycling
 
CRT has recently allowed cycling along all of their towpaths unless there are specific "no cycling" signs.  As a result cycling is now allowed on the towpath of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, however some sections are narrow and there are a lot of low bridges and blind spots.
 
If cycling the South Pennine Ring, we do not recommend using the river bank between Cooper Bridge and Kirklees Locks on the Calder & Hebble Navigation.  It is too uneven, narrow and dangerous.
 
Please be aware, pedestrians have priority on towpaths.
 
Page 20.  Standedge Tunnel
 
Add  -  as above for final paragraph of page 7.
 

Updates - November 2012 (2nd)

 
South Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 32 Nav Notes, and Map 12  -  Rotherham Moorings
 
Below Rotherham Lock there has always been a length of moorings but until recently it has been out of use, with no pedestrian access to/from them.  The moorings have now been re-opened as part of the rebuilding of Rotherham Central railway station, with a ramp up to the station's adjacent car-park.
 

The moorings are about double the length shown here.




At the top of the ramp is the station car-park. The red buildings are on the main road.  Turn left, and over the railway, for a Lidl supermarket.

Turn right for the bus station and the town centre.

There is also a taxi-rank by the side of the railway station.

South Yorkshire Waterways  -  a guide to the whole of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation (SSYN).  Available from www.richlow.co.uk   Written by People Who Go There!

Twitter @richlowguides

Updates - November 2012

 
South Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 18.  Thorpe Marsh Power-Station Demolished
 
This power-station was at the junction of three waterways, the New Junction Canal, the Don Navigation, and the Stainforth & Keadby Canal.  It's cooling-towers were a navigational aid visible for many miles across the flat landscape.  It ceased operation in 1994 and I took the following pictures in that year, thinking I would soon have "before" and "after" scenes.
 
Eighteen years later!  -  Thorpe Marsh power-station has eventually gone, to be replaced with a gas-fired type on the same site.

Stainforth & Keadby Canal - approaching Bramwith Lock.

Stainforth & Keadby Canal - above Bramwith Lock the power-station seemed further away.

On the New Junction Canal.











The demolition of Thorpe Marsh power-station has made a major change to the landscape for three of the waterways of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation.

Our guide to the SSYN is available from www.richlow.co.uk

Twitter @RichlowGuides

Doncaster Regatta

South Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 24.  Navigation Notes. Final Paragraph.  General Information about Doncaster Rowing Club's Regatta
 
Takes place annually on the Saturday of the late May Bank Holiday (on the 26th in 2012)
 
Two buoyed lanes in the River Don.  The 600 metre course stretches 300 metres either side of the clubhouse (map 8).  Boats race downstream.  09.30 to 18.00, with a lunch-break.  About 70 races - starts are every 5 minutes. The club's website http://www.doncaster-rowing-club.org/ states that "River traffic will be stopped during races but will be allowed to pass between races."
 

Updates - February 2012 (2)

Narrowboat on the Trent
 
Page 36  Keadby Lock Size.  Length Restriction.  About 60ft is the normal length restriction on boats using Keadby Lock.  The chamber is 67ft according to the lock-keeper, but other considerations are the wide walk-overs within the chamber on the river-end gates, which tillers can rise up under.  Longer craft can only pass through when the tide in the Trent makes a level with the canal and all gates can be opened, by prior arrangement with the lock-keeper.  This means waiting outside on the tideway for appropriate conditions, and is not recommended.  Note, that such craft will only be able to proceed as far as the similar-sized Thorne Lock.
 
The chamber of Keadby Lock is wide enough to accommodate three narrowboats abreast.

Narrowboats, having come in from the Trent. The centre one is 60ft long, plus fenders. On the right is Richlow's flagship Madeley Wood, with John Lower on the roof. Note, he is wearing a life-jacket.

Narrowboat on the Trent  www.richlow.co.uk  Post Free