Cycling, Leeds to Chesterfield

[Kendorr]

Just back from cycling the southern section of the Trans-Pennine trail. Set off Friday, train from Hull to Leeds then onto the Leeds Liverpool canal heading towards the Aire and Calder and through Stanley Ferry. Did this section on Halcyon last year and it was interesting to see the surroundings from a different viewpoint. After Stanley Ferry, a bit of cross country took us onto the disused Barnsley canal, I was surprised to see just how much of this canal still exists, with several parts still in water, although very overgrown. Through Barnsley and leave the canal system until we picked up the South Yorkshire navigation after Rotherham. Through the Rother valley and finally onto the Chesterfield Canal. Good to see all the work which is going on as we headed to our overnight stop in Chesterfield Travelodge.

 

Saturday morning, back along the Chesterfield and into the Rother valley to pick up a route to take us across to the eastern end of the Norwood tunnel. Managed to follow the canal to just before Retford, where the towpath became very difficult for cycling, so we took a road route, following the canal as closely as possible. At Misterton we headed North to Thorne to overnight on Halcyon.

 

Today, down to Gainsborough then up through Brigg and home. Altogether, 180 miles covered.

 

Enjoyed chatting to the Chesterfield restoration society who were out fundraising near to Rhodesia. Those who have read my post about Halcyon will be aware that she spent some of her life on the Chesterfield at Rhodesia and I'm looking forward to doing the canal again later this year, this time on the water rather than the towpath.

 

Kevin

[cheshire~rose]

Glad you enjoyed your cycle ride. 

If anyone else fancies cycling (or walking) the route there is some information here:

Chesterfield Canal Trust

You can download walking guides (as well as a lot of other information) from the website and there seems to be an increased interest in folks walking or cycling the entire length of the towpath these days, even though many of them do it in bite size chunks.