Leicester Ring and River Trent

[kevinw]

Thinking of doing the usual 5 or 6 week gentle cruise again this summer, late July and all of August. One thought is to start from Brinklow, down to Braunston and up through Leicester, eventually to the River Trent and head to somewhere like Newark, returning via Trent & Mersey canal to Fradley, Coventry Canal and then back to Brinklow.

In the past, Leicester always had a bit of a "reputation" and the advice was generally to stop around Blaby overnight and make a long day to get through the city and out to the north. Have things changed much, or is it still not a bright idea to moor up in the vicinity? Where are good places between say Market Harborough and the Trent Junction (pubs, scenic bits)

 

And whats the River Trent like - in terms of scenery, and places to stop? We've done plenty of rivers and have a marine band radio. I'm a bit puzzled looking at maps around Nottingham - it appears thatit is neceesary to go along the Beeston canal into the city centre as the weirs on the river don't seem to be locked.

 

Any advice or pointers much appreciated

 

Kevin

[Naughty Cal]

Thinking of doing the usual 5 or 6 week gentle cruise again this summer, late July and all of August. One thought is to start from Brinklow, down to Braunston and up through Leicester, eventually to the River Trent and head to somewhere like Newark, returning via Trent & Mersey canal to Fradley, Coventry Canal and then back to Brinklow.

In the past, Leicester always had a bit of a "reputation" and the advice was generally to stop around Blaby overnight and make a long day to get through the city and out to the north. Have things changed much, or is it still not a bright idea to moor up in the vicinity? Where are good places between say Market Harborough and the Trent Junction (pubs, scenic bits)

 

And whats the River Trent like - in terms of scenery, and places to stop? We've done plenty of rivers and have a marine band radio. I'm a bit puzzled looking at maps around Nottingham - it appears thatit is neceesary to go along the Beeston canal into the city centre as the weirs on the river don't seem to be locked.

 

Any advice or pointers much appreciated

 

Kevin

 

You go on the Canal to get through Nottingham and then lock down onto the river Trent again once through the city. The river is very scenic in places with plenty to see and plenty of places to stop off and have a look around.

 

 

Newark Castle Moorings

 

 

Hazelford Lock Island

 

We really enjoyed the Soar as well last year

 

 

Loughborough Basin

[Ally]

My experience of going through Leicester was fine, (except for getting stuck waiting for flood water to go down!) we really had no hassle, though we did do it on a school day! There was quite a lot of rubbish in the water, which we fell foul to, especially by Belgrave lock. Because of the flooding, we moored on the visitor moorings atCastle park in the centre of Leicester, and it was fine...they are secure floating moorings, protected by high locked gates (BW key) and the park and bridge nearby are closed at dusk. It is also wide enough to turn a boat there if needs be, and an easy walk to the centre of Leicester.

Once past Belgrave lock heading for Loughborough way, it should be fine anyway.

There are various stretches of river and canalised waterways on the way, plenty of choice places to moor should you wish to.

Barrow upon Soar is a nice place to moor up if you can....the Soar Bridge Inn and the Navigation are both decent real ale pubs with reasonable food too, and just by the water (Soar bridge is 2 mins walk from Barrow deep)

If you need water/fuel, Pillings lock marina can provide that just after Barrow towards Loughborough.

Loughborough has moorings at the new basin.....personally though I would moor before the junction in loughborough, where there is wide towpath and grass, as this always feels very safe and quiet. Many choices of food/pubs there....try the Swan in the Rushes which is near the Basin, and has excellent real ales/perrys/whiskies/food. There is also a good market there on thursdays and saturdays if wanted. Gas can be bought from a supplier signposted from the towpath just before the junction also, and they will lend you wheels for it if required.

Further on, Normanton has a decent pub and a couple of moorings, also a decent one at Zouch, though moorings there are busy in the summer!

Over to someone else for the Trent stretch!

Enjoy!

Edited February 16, 2010 by Ally

[PeteS]

A bit more on the Leicester section.

 

Kilby Bridge and Navigation Inn - good for moorings and very good and reasonably prices meals always a good selevtion of beers

 

Birstall - White Horse adjacent to the lock and moorings. Does very nice meals for a 'special' night out.

 

Syston - Hope and Anchor. Bog standard Hungry Horse pub

 

You should be able to get from Kilby Bridge to Birstall in one day

 

Hope this helps

[harleyj]

We plan to spend a night in May in The Castle moorings as we would like to explore Leicester, but it seems from most of the posts on here that this is not a great idea. We also read that mooring in the middle of Stoke On Trent wasn't the wisest move but we had no problems at all in 08.

[Ally]

We plan to spend a night in May in The Castle moorings as we would like to explore Leicester, but it seems from most of the posts on here that this is not a great idea. We also read that mooring in the middle of Stoke On Trent wasn't the wisest move but we had no problems at all in 08.

We really found castle moorings in Leicester fine. When we were there, there was a boat there who had been there for a couple of weeks, as his wife had unfortunately been admitted to the local hospital. He had been fine. It is secure as possible for a city mooring, and Leicester has plenty to offer.

[harleyj]

We really found castle moorings in Leicester fine. When we were there, there was a boat there who had been there for a couple of weeks, as his wife had unfortunately been admitted to the local hospital. He had been fine. It is secure as possible for a city mooring, and Leicester has plenty to offer.

Thats great news as we like to visit all the towns that we go through because that is to us just as important as enjoying the tranquility of the canals..

[matty40s]

Thats great news as we like to visit all the towns that we go through because that is to us just as important as enjoying the tranquility of the canals..

 

I stayed at kilby Bridge before Easter last year, very nice place to stay. I would get past blaby before mooring again, perhaps Dunns/kings Lock stretch to Aylestone, and then head on through. Castle moorings are an excellent facility, i only used them for a couple of hours though. There is a very interesting stretch of old industrial cityscape following this, and from birstall onwards you are in lovely cruising again. it is a lovely circuit to do, my first real single handing test.

[Naughty Cal]

Well it seems that the Soar is pretty well covered, so i shall have a go at the Trent.

Assuming that the weather hasn’t been too bad during your holiday, there shouldn’t be too strong a flow on the river in the upper reaches, but be aware of it especially when approaching mooring sites and locks. There are some large unguarded wiers but these are well sign posted and the navigable channels are well marked at all junctions.

 

The junction of the Trent and Mersey, Trent, Soar and Erewash can at first glance be confusing, however in reality it is well signposted again and there are moorings available here.

 

The canal through Nottingham can be shallow in places, as we found out, however little trouble should be had for the majority of the way. There is a pleasant mix of industrial and surprisingly pretty semi rural scenery along its entirety. Closer to the city centre there are a good selection of mooring sites with supermarkets at close hand and the usual array of pubs and clubs. Once through Nottingham and onto the Trent again the river is becoming larger and with a more substantial flow, it should however pose little problems this far upstream in fair weather. There are overnight moorings available on the river just upstream of the lock entrance.

 

All of the locks along the trent from Holme Pierpoint to Cromwell (the end of the non tidal stretch of the Trent) are manned during working hours and user operated outside working hours. The keepers can be reached on VHF Channel 74 and will have the locks ready for when you approach. Follow the traffic light signals approaching locks with care though as boats may be locking up/down as you approach. There are overnight mooring facilities at all of the Trent locks, however boater facilities such as water points, toilets and showers are often few and far between.

 

There are plenty of villages and riverside pubs along the next stretch however points of interest are at Gunthorpe, Fiskerton and Fardon where marina facilities are available should they be required before the stretch of river approaching Newark. Again there are marinas available in Newark as well as a visitor pontoon outside the BW offices, visitor moorings opposite the castle on the wall and moorings opposite the BW office again on the wall. We have stayed on both the pontoon moorings and castle moorings with no problems, however the scrap dealers yard opposite the pontoon moorings can be noisy. There is again a large selection of pubs, clubs and restaurants in Newark and the market is well worth a visit if you are there on market day.

Further on from Newark is Cromwell lock about an hours journey from Newark. There are good facilities at this lock however the village has no shop or pubs. It does however benefit from a stunningly quiet and peaceful setting.

 

Just before Cromwell is the village of Muskham, here there is an excellent riverside pub and village shop. Well worth the visit.

 

If time permits a run out onto the tidal trent could see you reach Dunham pontoon, Torksey or even West Stockwith and Keadby with little trouble.

 

As with all river navigations, ensure you leave plenty of slack in your ropes and don’t rely on two ropes at 90 degrees to the banks. Tie up properly with springs set fore and aft, there will be large numbers of craft using the river and speed limits are higher than on the canal. Remember that the water levels can go up and down very quickly.

Edited February 16, 2010 by Phylis

[Tim Lewis]

Thinking of doing the usual 5 or 6 week gentle cruise again this summer, late July and all of August. One thought is to start from Brinklow, down to Braunston and up through Leicester, eventually to the River Trent and head to somewhere like Newark, returning via Trent & Mersey canal to Fradley, Coventry Canal and then back to Brinklow.

In the past, Leicester always had a bit of a "reputation" and the advice was generally to stop around Blaby overnight and make a long day to get through the city and out to the north. Have things changed much, or is it still not a bright idea to moor up in the vicinity? Where are good places between say Market Harborough and the Trent Junction (pubs, scenic bits)

 

And whats the River Trent like - in terms of scenery, and places to stop? We've done plenty of rivers and have a marine band radio. I'm a bit puzzled looking at maps around Nottingham - it appears thatit is neceesary to go along the Beeston canal into the city centre as the weirs on the river don't seem to be locked.

 

Any advice or pointers much appreciated

 

Kevin

 

Don't forget the Ashby and whilst in Leicester the National Space centre and adjacent pumping museum are well worth a visit.

 

Tim

[Ally]

Don't forget the Ashby and whilst in Leicester the National Space centre and adjacent pumping museum are well worth a visit.

 

Tim

If visiting the space museum, moor near the belgrave lock....don't try and turn above the weir and round to the supposed moorings outside the centre, as they are just a small pontoon....suitable for a cruiser but not for any largish narrowboat, and the turn is tight above the weir!

[kevinw]

Thanks, everyone - I think that's a plan! We've done some scary river bits in the past - Severn between Tewkesbury and Gloucester on a Spring tide and the Avon in flood (stuck for 3 days as it was closed to navigation and an effort when re-opened), so familiar with the ways of rivers. The Ashby's nice as well, I agree - we were up there last summer for the RN Register bash. I think we all dredged it a bit in places!

 

Kevin

[Richard T]

And if into trains the Great Central Railway at Loughborough or Shackerstone on the Ashby.

[Naughty Cal]

Just sifting through last years photos. Heres another of the castle moorings in Newark.

 

 

This has to be one of our favourite moorings, especially during the summer when its BBQ time.

[matty40s]

 

A favourite one of mine from pre-easter at Kilby bridge.

and one of solitude just below Watford Flight

Edited February 22, 2010 by matty40s

[Naughty Cal]

 

Cromwell Lock. The end of the none tidal trent.

 

 

Newark. Above town lock

 

 

Nottingham Canal.

 

The tidal bits good fun as well

 

[kevinw]

Just back from the trip. Wonderful time with good weather for most of it. Watford locks were a bit of a hold up - we've been through several times, but never in school holidays, but got through Foxton without hardly any delay. We found many of the locks on the Soar to be difficult with gates that wouldn't stay shut and the section between the large park (Abbey Park?) and Space Museum was full of rubbish; empty drinks bottles, beer cans and takeaway food boxes mostly.

 

River Trent was an experience; it's the only opportunity we have to run the engine at full power for 2 or 3 hours or so between locks. The moorings on the river are typical commercial waterway affairs and not very friendly towards narrow boat paintwork. Nottingham is a great place to visit by boat as well.

 

Coming back on the T & M, we thought we'd moor at Alrewas. Not a hope! Not even space for a 20 foot boat, let alone a 70 foot one. No space at Fradley junction either (is there ever??) and so it was almost to Streethay before we stopped at our normal "secret mooring" on that stretch.

 

Thanks to all who gave us the advice earlier this year.

 

Kevin