Chesterfield Canal

At 46 miles long, the Chesterfield Canal runs from the River Trent to the middle of Chesterfield, linking Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire in the Yorkshire & North East region.

It is a serene and beautiful waterway, with some areas so peaceful you're unlikely to come across any houses or boats. One area (Drakeholes) is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the presence of rare aquatic plant life, including linton's pondweed, short-leaved water starwort, and brackish water crowfoot.

The Cuckoo Dyke also boasts some of the earliest staircase locks ever built, which are now over 250 years old.

Things to do on the Chesterfield Canal

The Chesterfield Canal is popular for walking, cycling, fishing and nature spotting.

Places to visit near the Chesterfield Canal

If you enjoy time in nature, the Chesterfield Canal is a must visit. Drakeholes provides the perfect place to admire rare flora, whilst the pretty hamlet of Turnerwood is home to the Turnerwood Lock Flight, which forms part of the Giant's Staircase.

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.

Harthill and Pebley Reservoirs provide water to the summit pound. This water is augmented in the Broadbridge Dyke Feeder by runoff from an abandoned mine, local surface water runoff and groundwater from Norwood Tunnel.