The Journey
Your journey from Sheffield can be as easy-going or challenging as you choose.
Whatever your plans, you will start (and end) your journey by passing through the Tinsley Flight of locks - the top lock being situated by Tinsley Marina, about 60 minutes gentle cruising from Victoria Quays - during which you'll pass a varied mix of pleasant canalside nature habitats and the remnants of buildings giving a glimpse into the past industrial heritage of the Sheffield steel industry.
(Tinsley Flight - leaving Sheffield)
The passage through Tinsley Flight needs to be booked at least 24 hours in advance (we can do this for you prior to your departure) and will usually involve a fairly early start. Passing through the flight is assisted by either Dave or Derek - the British Waterways Lock Keepers - not because it's a difficult flight, but as a means of water management and conservation. Starting your journey with the "Lockies" is also an ideal way to bring yourself up to speed on the local waterways, their heritage and navigation. Both Dave and Derek are long time-served custodians of the flight, their knowledge and experience being second to none.
The flight takes around 3 to 4 hours. As you bid farewell to the Lockie you'll have two more manual locks to work through ("Ickles Lock" by the Rotherham and Sheffield Canal Association moorings, and Rotherham Town Lock by the Courthouse) before entering the start of the broader, commercial River Don Navigation. An ideal stopping point for lunch is just before the next lock, Eastwood Lock on the opposite side to the towpath.
The Journey - to Sprotbrough
After leaving Eastwood and passing along to Aldwarke you'll experience some stunning, wide river sections. Occasionally you'll see some large commercial working barges and possibly an oil tanker like the Humber Princess, being one of the last commercial inland waterways to benefit from such traffic. You don't need to worry about the size of these commercial vessels; they're handled by highly experienced Skippers and are very 'narrowboat friendly' (John H Whitaker Tankers Ltd have a website here).
From now on, all of your locks will be automated taking you through canal and river sections, past Kilnhurst Lock, Swinton Lock by the Waddingtons shipyard - builders and operators of some of the huge commercial barges you'll have seen.
An ideal (and recommended) mooring for the night is just before Sprotbrough Lock at the visitor moorings opposite the pub (aptly named the Boat Inn and reputedly serving excellent food) on the towpath. This peaceful and tranquil site, with the gentle sound of the nearby weir, is perfect to settle down for the night, reflect upon your first day on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation and plan the rest of your journey.
The Journey - Sprotbrough and beyond
Leaving Sprotbrough and passing on, through Doncaster sees the last stretch of this part of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.
Just a few miles beyond the Strawberry Island Boat Club you have a choice at Bramwith Junction: Left up the long straight New Junction Canal toward the Aire and Calder Navigation, or Right, onto the Stainforth and Keadby Canal toward the delightful little town of Thorne.
Depending upon the length of your holiday you can explore many of the undiscovered delights of the Northern waterways. A two week holiday affords the time to see the Calder and Hebble Navigation, Selby Canal, Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Rochdale Canal - to name a few. We provide a number of maps and navigation guides on board in addition to the on-line resources available from our Library.
The Journey - Returning to Sheffield
Returning to Sheffield after your adventure is as simple as leaving :-)
The only thing you need to plan is your (pre-booked) return passage through Tinsley Flight.
The best strategy is to plan to arrive at Eastwood Lock the afternoon or evening before your return and moor at the visitor moorings overnight. You'll have around an hour the next morning to get to the bottom lock of Tinsley flight for your rendezvous with Dave or Derek who will again assist you up through the flight, leaving you at Tinsley Marina for your gentle cruise back into Victoria Quays.