Grade: 1-3 The River Derwent in Derbyshire is a beautifully scenic river cutting right through the heart of the Peak District. It drops down through the World Heritage site of the Derwent Valley, through Matlock and Cromford. From here it flows through to Derby before joining the River Trent further…

Grantham Canal

The Grantham canal is under reconstruction. Nature has reclaimed most of it rendering much of the original route unpaddleable. The Canal & River Trust is currently working on restoring parts of the waterway.

Cromford Canal

The 14.5 mile Cromford Canal is a wildlife paradise to paddle along. It starts at Cromford in the shadow of an old cotton mill once owned and run by Richard Arkwright. It once ran all the way south to Ambergate where it met the Erewash Canal and filtered through to…

Erewash Canal

The Erewash canal is a great way to explore the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire countryside in a unique way. As you paddle along you will glide right through the heart of the DH Lawrence countryside. You paddle through a range of habitats perfect for nature lovers. The canal begins in Langley…

Trent and Mersey Canal

The Trent and Mersey canal is one of the longest canals in the country. Stretching 93 miles from Cheshire, through Staffordshire and Derbyshire, it’s a stretch that can be paddled from many different access points. There’s something for everyone along the Trent and Mersey canal. And, like many of the…

River Trent

Grade: 1 (up to 2 in parts in high waters) Distance: 94.8 miles The 3rd longest river in the UK at 185 miles long, the River Trent is one of the major rivers in the Midlands. The river rises in the Staffordshire moors and flows through much of the midlands…

Nottingham and Beeston Canal

The Nottingham and Beeston Canal is a relatively short paddle at just 2.5 miles long with 3 locks. The canal flows straight through the city of Nottingham, directly under the towering, old British Waterways building, past the court system and past the very popular waterfront venue where you’ll notice hundreds…

River Dove

A principal river of the Peak District National Park, the River Dove is probably most famous for the stepping stones across it at Dovedale. This 45-mile stretch of river actually offers much more than stepping stones and a great view of Thorpe Cloud. Rising in the moors near Buxton, the…

River Soar

The 24-mile River Soar, or Soar Navigation, flows and weaves its way through the Leicestershire countryside. It provides a lovely day paddle for those who love to just get out on the water. Although the river does flow through Leicester itself, most of the river is actually through the countryside…

Chesterfield Canal

Known locally as ‘Cuckoo Dyke,’ the 46-mile Chesterfield canal is a lush, green haven for wildlife travelling through Derbyshire into the Lincolnshire countryside. It has 65 locks. Although most of it is navigable, Tapton Lock on the edge of Chesterfield, is cut off from the main canal. The eastern part…

Grand Union Canal Loughborough Navigation

As the name suggests, the Grand Union Canal Loughborough Navigation forms part of the Grand Union Canal at Loughborough. Just above North Lock at Leicester, the Grand Union Canal becomes the River Soar. The Soar flows from the River Trent at Trent Lock and flows through the city of Loughborough.…

Grand Union Canal Leicester Arm

The Leicester Arm of the Grand Union Canal is one of the longer arms or branches of the canal. The river Soar flows into the Leicester Arm just above the city of Leicester. The canal then continues through the very heart of the city, flowing through sprawling countryside with a…

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Nige Berry

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River Derwent in Derbyshire