Description
Start : Car Park on Wilne Lane off the B5010 at Shardlow. OS Grid Ref: SK 444 304.
what3words reference: flops.durations.penny
(S/E) Leave the car park using the wheelchair stile at the Eastern end of the car park.
Turn left and follow the track until you see the canal ahead (0.1 miles). Take the flood bank path to where it meets the Trent & Mersey Canal tow-path.
Turn right and follow the tow-path for about 0.6 miles, where you will come to the Derwent Mouth Lock. This is lock number 1 of the Trent & Mersey Canal. Nearby is the confluence of the Rivers Derwent and Trent.
(1) Carefully cross the canal using the purpose-made walkway built into the upper lock gate. If this gate is open then you will need to take even greater care in crossing the lower gate. Follow the path in a Northerly direction traversing several stiles and passing between two pools.
At 0.8 miles bear North-North-West for 155m (170 yards) to where you will come to the River Derwent.
(2) Follow the riverside path up stream until you come to a metal foot bridge which spans the river (at 1.3 miles).
(3) With the bridge behind you head left (South West) along the path for 400m (440 yards), to where you will find a gate and metal stile.
(4) Carefully traverse the stile (South), which can be a challenge, and step down onto Wilne Lane. Follow Wilne Lane in a Southerly direction through Great Wilne, where the lane zigzags first right and then left (1.83 miles)
Continue South-Westerly until you come to Shardlow and a canal bridge (2.08 miles).
Cross over the bridge and take the pedestrian entrance, on the left, back into the car park. (S/E)