Old castle on the edge of a river on a sunny day

River Trent

The mighty River Trent is one of England’s major rivers. It flows through the bustling city of Nottingham, the market town of Newark and the rural Trent Vale.

Running for around 95 miles from Shardlow to Trent Falls, where the Trent and the River Ouse empty their waters into the River Humber, the Trent spans our East Midlands region.

The navigable Trent is a waterway of substance which still carries a considerable amount of commercial traffic, especially in its lower reaches. Below Cromwell Lock, it becomes tidal and is subject to a periodic tidal bore similar to that seen on the River Severn, but to lesser effect. This is locally known as an 'aegir'. We look after the River Trent from Shardlow, where it becomes navigable, to Gainsborough Bridge.

A wide river flows gently passed an stone castle in the setting sun.

Boating the River Trent

All you need to know about boating the River Trent

Things to do on the River Trent

The Trent Valley Way is a long-distance walking route, following the banks of the river. The scenery is mostly arable farmland, with villages, churches, watermills and old ferry crossings along the way. Newark Castle sits directly on the banks of the river, its high stone walls dropping straight down to the water.

Near Nottingham is the National Watersports Centre, where you can do lots of exciting activities, including canoeing, sailing, water-skiing and rowing. The British Canoe Union is based here. For a more tranquil day out, there is the Attenborough Nature Reserve, a series of lakes that are home to a rich variety of wildlife.

The Nottingham Circular Walk

Enjoy a leafy waterside walk through the heart of Nottingham, passing along the Victoria Embankment, the River Trent and the Nottingham & Beeston Canal.

Fishing the Trent & Mersey Canal

One of our top places to fish

Places to visit near the River Trent

The River Trent is the third longest river in the UK, and it has no shortage of places to visit. Take in the beautiful Nottingham Victoria Embankment, or visit Newark Castle, situated right on the river.

National Angling Championships River Trent 1945

History of the River Trent

Discover more about how the River Trent has changed

Where does the water come from?

The Chesterfield Canal runs downhill from Norwood Tunnel to its junction with the River Trent at West Stockwith Lock. The western part of the canal is steep, and has narrow locks. The flatter eastern part has broad locks. CJ The canal water originally came from four reservoirs at the summit near to the Norwood Tunnel. When the tunnel collapsed in 1907 two of the reservoirs became inaccessible, but Harthill and Pebley Reservoirs continue to provide water to the summit pound.

Diverted streams (feeders) and water pumped up from nearby rivers, also provide water to the canal on the eastern side where the broader locks require more water. When craft lock up and down between Stockwith Basin and the River Trent, the basin water level drops. A manually controlled pump can be used to lift water from the River Trent into the basin.