Cycling the full length (46 miles) of the Chesterfield Canal can be done in a day, but please be aware that much of the towpath is grass so a racing bike or foldup bike with small wheels would not be suitable. There are also a few stiles to negotiate. To help you getting there or back, there are railway stations at Kiveton Bridge, Kiveton Park, Shireoaks, Worksop, Retford Low Level and Gainsborough, Lea Road, all of which are on the Sheffield to Lincoln line. Northern Rail runs an hourly service from Monday to Saturday but a very restricted service on Sundays.

The route is signposted with Cuckoo Way signs, but these might not always be obvious, especially in summer when hedges can obscure them.

The towpath along the restored sections is obvious, but the unrestored sections can be confusing, especially through Killamarsh. It would be a good idea to refer to our walking guide, click here to download it.

 

This describes the way from Chesterfield to West Stockwith. It is possible to return on the train from Gainsborough Lea Road via Sheffield.

The first part is on the Trans-Pennine Trail.

The Trans-Pennine Trail is clearly signposted from Brimington Road in (S41 0ST) to get to the start of the canal, at St Helena’s. Simply follow the TPT, which is the towpath. You will pass Tapton Lock Visitor Centre and Hollingwood Hub.

After about 6 miles, at Staveley, you must make a decision. Either follow the TPT to Renishaw (which uses the line of the Great Central Railway) or take the line of the canal which is much more difficult to cycle. Most people do the former.

The two routes meet up in Renishaw, where there is another choice – either follow the loop of the canal or the TPT route. Again, the latter is easier.

The next 3 miles are tricky!
At the old Killamarsh Station (10 miles), you leave the TPT. Go up the ramp on the left before you reach the platform and go over the bridge. Turn right up Station Road and you will see signs for the Cuckoo Way and Killamarsh Greenway. Keep following the signs right through Killamarsh until you get to a zig-zag path at the top of Pingle Road. Go down Pingle Road until you get to a small parking area on the right, just above no. 15. Go up this and left along the path. At the other end you will be on Sheffield Road where you cross straight over and along the path. There is a Cuckoo Way sign here. You soon get to the dried up canal and continue on to Rotherham Road.

(If you do get lost, just go downhill to the main road (Sheffield Road) and turn right. As the road starts to rise, you will see a Cuckoo Way sign pointing along a path to the left just before you reach the fence at the first house.)

A short distance after crossing Rotherham Road, you will come to the derelict Norwood flight of locks by some lovely houses and grounds. Keep following the locks uphill, it is a Right of Way, and eventually you will see the sealed up western portal of the Norwood Tunnel. Just before the tunnel, you will need to take the path to the left, over a stile and up the hill through a field. Follow the path on the edge of the field as it curves round to the right. You will see and hear the M1 above you. All but the most hardened mountain bike riders will be pushing their bikes here.

Go through the underpass under the M1. From here it is downhill (though not easy) all the way to the River Trent!

Follow the path that goes slightly to the left to the line of the hedge. Keep going until you reach Hard Lane, where you turn left and then cross the road at Kiveton Waters Fishery. Go straight across the field and you get to the eastern portal of the Norwood Tunnel where the canal restarts. From here you just follow the towpath for the remaining 32 miles to West Stockwith on the Trent.

Some parts of the towpath are quite narrow. Some parts are rough grass, especially east of Retford. There are some anti-motorbike barriers to be neotiated.

Please be very careful with walkers and anglers. You should also be wary if the hawthorn hedges are being cut – puncture risk.