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
Lincolnshire Waterways
Page 26. Geordie's Chandlery and Boat Sales. New owners, David and Sue Ball. Boat services are now - Pump-out, diesel, petrol, Calor Gas, water, chandlery.
General supplies include groceries, newspapers, coal, logs, stamps, ice-cream, fresh and frozen food, pharmaceuticals. 01205 280311
Pages 26 and 52. Witham and Blues. The Ferry Boat Inn at Langrick Bridge has been transformed into the Witham and Blues - restaurant, coffee-shop, bar. http://www.withamandblues.com/
Chesterfield Canal - A Richlow Guide
Page 12. White Swan pub. Walkers can use the pub's car park.
Page 30, and Map 11. The canal is now in water from Mill Green Bridge to the new Staveley Town Basin. The towpath along this stretch was resurfaced in January, thereby removing the mud created by the recent canal restoration work.
Page 40. The Angel pub at Killamarsh has closed once again.
Page 41. The police non-emergency number changed to the new national 101.
Guides available from our website http://www.richlow.co.uk/ Post free.
Inland Waterways Information http://boaters-web.com/
Narrowboat on the Trent - available from http://www.richlow.co.uk/
The tidal River Trent between Cromwell Lock and Keadby Lock
These images are of the tidal section of the River Trent, for those who do not have a clear idea of the nature of these waters, nor what it would be like to navigate them.
We cannot cover here all that is needed to be known. But subjects such as equipment, ropes, anchors, tide calculations, charts, moorings, etc have been collected together in our book Narrowboat on the Trent, based on Richlow's 35 years of cruising the tidal Trent, and regularly updated.
,
The book covers the whole of the navigable Trent, but in this blog we have only covered the tidal section because those are the waters about which boaters need the most information.
Many narrowboats navigate the tidal Trent. They do so because it gives access to canals and rivers not otherwise reachable, or as an alternative to climbing across the Pennines to reach the waterways east of those hills.
And often because they want a change, a challenge.
Approaching Cromwell Lock, from upstream.
The Trent flows over the adjacent weir, the structure which prevents the tide from progressing further upstream.
All locks on the tidal Trent are operated by lock-keepers.
The exit from Cromwell Lock, onto tidal waters.
At first the tidal Trent is narrower than expected, with charts necessary to avoid shallows, but it opens out into wider channels.
When used to seeing and handling narrowboats on the confined waters of canals it takes a while to get used to the scope of a major river.
Yes, large commercial vessels sometimes use the Trent. But good planning, common sense and preparation will make the experience something to savour.
A scene sometimes seen on the tidal Trent, but now rarely. However, carrying contracts come and go.
The first "port of call" is Torksey, the entrance to the Lincolnshire waterways - the Fossdyke, the River Witham and their links to other canals and rivers. An "Images of Lincolnshire Waterways" section is available on this website.
This scene is from Torksey Lock, along the approach cut, with the Trent in the background.
Further downstream is Gainsborough. This scene is from the town's bridge, one of the few road crossings this far downstream.
Two narrowboats cruising downstream on the ebbing tide. Save diesel, let the river help you along whenever possible.
Before railways, when the waterways were the main transport routes, Gainsborough was a major inland port. It was the point where cargoes were transhipped between large coastal vessels and smaller boats which could navigate further upstream.
On any flowing water - always turn into the current before manoeuvring. As here, approaching a mooring.
Remembering this important fact makes life so much easier on any river. And if it's tidal? Know which way the river is going!
The next junction is West Stockwith Lock, the entrance to the pretty and secluded Chesterfield Canal - the only narrow canal in the area.
The narrowboat is going downstream on the ebb tide, the cruisers have turned into the flow, waiting to enter the lock as the one in the foreground is doing.
West Stockwith Lock entrance. Although it's a narrow canal the lock opens into a basin for larger craft.
An "Images of the Chesterfield Canal" section is available on this website.
Just downstream from the Chesterfield Canal is the River Idle, into which is cruising Richlow's Madeley Wood. There is a right of navigation on the Idle but there are sluices at the entrance - for passage of which a high fee is levied.
Richlow is campaigning for the resolution of the Idle navigation problems.
The distinctive Keadby Bridge.
Beyond Keadby Bridge, the Trent becomes wider.
There are wharves on both banks...
...regularly used by shipping.
Near the bows of the coaster is Keadby Lock, the entrance to the Stainforth & Keadby Canal.
This is the furthest point downstream regularly navigated by narrowboats. It is possible to cruise down to the Trent's confluence with the River Ouse - and then up that river, or down the Humber estuary to Hull and other waterways. It needs very specialist local knowledge to safely do so in a narrowboat and Richlow guides do not cover those waters - our guides are "Written by People Who Go There" - and we've never been there - yet. And when we do, it will be in convoy.
So respect the River Trent - don't fear it.
Narrowboat on the Trent is available, post free, from our website. Study it, do your homework, make your boat ready for these waters - and enjoy yourself.
North Yorkshire Waterways guide - available from http://www.richlow.co.uk/
The rivers Ouse, Ure, Foss and Derwent, and the Ripon and Pocklington canals.
There is a wide variety of navigable waterways in North Yorkshire, and the same can be said of the locations reached thereby. They are well worth cruising and visiting for their wealth of wildlife, countryside and history.
These waters are little cruised by visiting boats, but the attractions of York and Ripon should not be missed. Public transport is easily available for visits further afield.
Further downstream on the River Ouse are the River Derwent and the Pocklington Canal - both are waterways needing more visiting boats.
The following pictures were taken in 2011, on a group cruise, led by Richlow's narrowboat Madeley Wood. Richlow guides - Written by People Who Go There!
Selby Lock, with boats waiting to descend to the tidal River Ouse. The lock-keeper decides when locking takes place, depending on the time of the tides, and the destinations required - upstream on the Ouse to York, and the Ripon Canal - downstream to the River Derwent and the Pocklington Canal.
Exiting Selby Lock, and turning downstream towards the River Derwent.
At the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Derwent is Barmby Barrage, which controls the levels of fresh water in the Derwent, and prevents salination of those waters by the Ouse tides.
Approaching the Barrage lock, for access to the River Derwent.
On the River Derwent, the Barmby Barrage pontoon moorings.
If you hear that the River Derwent has an over-hanging trees problem, then rest assured. The trees were cut back in 2011.
River Derwent - Sutton Lock.
River Derwent. Head of navigation at Stamford Bridge.
Pocklington Canal. An example of its distinctive paddle-gear.
The Pocklington is a quiet rural canal, in sharp contrast to the rivers of the region.
The Pocklington provides surroundings more familiar to those used to the main canal network.
Pocklington Canal - head of navigation.
Back to the River Ouse. Upstream from Selby Lock is Naburn.
On the left is the weir which prevents the tide from progressing further upstream. Naburn Lock is on the right.
The home of the Archbishop of York, alongside the River Ouse.
York is the highlight of cruising the River Ouse. This historic city needs a number of days exploration.
Ripon Canal. After the rivers, the canal is a quiet haven.
Approaching the basin at the head of the canal. The small city of Ripon is a lovely place to explore.
These pictures are only a brief depiction of North Yorkshire's waterways, but they do give an indication of the types and sizes of the rivers and canals in this north-eastern corner of the network. Yes, boating here need planning, but with the help of Richlow's North Yorkshire Waterways guide you will find there is much to see and the challenge is worthwhile.
Richlow guides - Written by People Who Go There!
The South Pennine Ring - Part 2 of 2
Map 16, and text on pages 28 and 30. Sellers Tunnel.
While the canal was derelict most of its route between Longroyd Bridge 25 and Queen Street was filled in. The site was used industrially and several buildings were built on the line of the canal. As a result the restored canal was built at a lower level in a tunnel, and locks 3E and 2E were moved. Now the surface site is being redeveloped, the tunnel roof is being removed, the locks resited, and the water level raised.
This will make the route more attractive to boaters, and re-open the towpath as a through route. These major works on still on-going. When they are complete we will, of course, update the guide-book, but in the meantime we took the following photographs on 27 December - but it is a site closed to the public so we couldn't get as near as we would have liked. And being a Bank Holiday there was no one to discuss things with, which the civil-engineering half of Richlow likes to do.
The roof of Sellers Tunnel removed, just beyond the excavators.
From above what was the "new" lock 3E looking east. The gates have been removed from the lock, but the tail bridge is still in place. Beyond, the roof of the tunnel has been removed, and a new waling can be seen on the pile tops which previously formed the tunnel walls.
An emergency access point in Sellers Tunnel - which is actually at the site of the original lock 3E, just upstream (west) of Chapel Hill Bridge.
Chesterfield Canal
Map 11. Staveley. The canal now has water in it from Chesterfield to the new Staveley Basin. It will take until approximately the middle of January 2012 to fill the basin. Meanwhile the towpath remains officially closed in the area - however, walkers and cyclists have continued to use it. Those doing so should note that in the vicinity of Hall Lane Bridge (12) the path is very muddy across its entire width, and for a considerable distance. This is a result of the heavy machinery working in the area.
If you wish to see the new basin, there is a good view from Hall Lane, Staveley (down the hill from the Library).
The whole project is another success for the Chesterfield Canal Partnership - and the gap between the two restored sections is reduced yet again.
The new basin at Staveley beginning to fill. The water is still shallow, but it shows what the Chesterfield Canal's latest feature will look like.
