Long Eaton, Sawley, Breaston

Date : I8 February 2012.

Area  :Derbyshire

Walk :Long Eaton, Sawley, Breaston

OS Sheet : Explorer 259 and 260

Start Grid : 448 339 End Grid : 460 339

Distance (M/k) : 8.0 miles, 12.6k

Ascent  (ft) :81 Descent (ft) :54 Excluding bridges

Route

These notes are provided to enable the walk to be plotted on a 1:25,000 map.

From the twin roundabouts in the middle of Long Eaton go west on A6005 Derby Road at the bridge over the canal turn South onto the towpath, follow to Trentlock turn right along the north bank of River Trent, to the B6540 Tamworth Road, turn left over the Trent. Follow the south bank of the Trent west under the M1 past the Aquaduct and on to Longhorse Bridge, cross, turn right along the Trent then left on to the Trent & Mersey Canal. At the lock cross over the lock gates taking the path and road to Church Wilne. Pass by the Church to take path on right to Breaston

  

Journey

 This walk is one of Andys training walks, we had planned to continue from Breaston northeast under the M1 to pick up the Erewash Canal and walk back to the start at the Derby Road, making the whole walk some 10-11 miles. Unfortunately a freezing cold wind and freezing hard driven rain, two pints and a good lunch changed our minds and we used our “twirly” cards to get the bus back to Long Eaton.

Although Long Eaton is an old town dating back to before the Doomsday book it is clear as you walk through it along the Erewash Canal to the  River Trent and back over the Trent and Mersey Canal that in the 1800 hundred’s and early twentieth century it must have been a very busy industrial town. Even today there appears to be a large number of small industrial sites and buildings dotted around. 

The towpath is surfaced in gravel bonded to bitmac which is easy for walking. Even on a cold late winter day there is plenty to see Coots, Moorhens and ducks, walkers, cyclists and fishermen, a motor boat and a number of canal boats, some occupied others looking as if they have been laid up for the winter.

As well as canals Long Eaton appears to be well endowed with railway tracks, on the Erewash we passed beneath two and as we got closer to the Trent we see a couple more lines heading for the Trent Crossing and tunnel, where the concrete towers of Ratcliffe on Soar power station looming over everything.

Walking up along the Trent we walk under one of the railways again and head for Sawley Marina for a cup of tea and a warm in front of the fire. Heading out we walk under the M1, but before we get there we suffer the noise of it, it’s effect was physical, mind numbing. Moving rapidly on, we spotted a few fishermen sitting under umbrellas around some fishing lakes formed from old gravel pits. I bet they were colder and wetter than we were.

As the Trent swings around to the South the River Derwent comes into it from the North with alongside it the start (end?) of The Trent & Mersey Canal. A hundred yards or so up the Trent stands the new Longhorse Bridge, looking absolutely stunning in the rain and murk.

The old bridge was demolished in 2003 and the new one as built in 2011. See the film of whole bridge being swung into place Here 

The only way to cross the Trent & Mersey and get to Church Wilne is to walk up to the Derwent Mouth Lock and cross over the lock gates, a tricky little exercise.

On reaching Breaston we headed for The Navigation pub, a super well run little place with a good atmosphere, good beer and excellent food. Nearly two hours later we got off the bus just up the road from where we started.

It was not the best of days to do this walk, we had a few minutes of sun then full on.  wind and rain. However, it’s a great anytime walk, albeit a bit flat and I certainly recommend it. There’s plenty to see and loads of options to vary or extend the walk as far as you like and as Andy says being close to home he can get out and do an 8-12 mile walk at almost any time with little planning or preparation.