Sheffield to Chesterfield by TPT and The Cuckoo Way

Whilst the City of Sheffield may not in itself be the most attractive place to go to, it does have some good points, one of which being that it has around it some good off-road cycling routes. Also it has good rail links, so you can get yourself and your bike there from Derby in double quick time and, if you have a rail card and time to trawl the Internet, get there and back for a few pounds. How's about this;  Derby to Sheffield (single off peak & Senior Rail Card)  £2.65.  Chesterfield to Derby £2.65

Much of the cycle route uses the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) where the signing is of a very high standard as shown below.

This sign tells you all you need to know about the routes and the mileages.
Getting from Sheffield Train Station to Rother Valley Country Park is the difficult part, but Route 627 is a fine off-road connector.

                    First sight of the large lake and water sports centre at Rother Country Park.
Click HERE for a video about the transformation of the country park from an open cast coal mining area.

                                           A broad gravel path encircles the lake.

                                                   And alongside a host of golden buttercups,

                                       So off now on the TPT to Chesterfield,

Although much of the Trans Pennine Trail is lined with trees, there are some spots where there are open views as here, where we see horses grazing this field.

Lots of wild flowers blooming in the warm sunshine.

Another informative sign.

After crossing the bridge over the disused railway at Staveley we come to this fork where both paths head towards Chesterfield, the left one going via Poolesbrook Park, and the right one goes along the canal path (The Cuckoo Way). 

Before we reach the actual waters of the canal we see the dry bed of the canal extension. New locks are being constructed here.

                                             Looking back we see the new bridge.

 Yet another useful sign,

 And here is the canal with water in it, no boats here as yet, but the Canada Geese have moved in already.

                                                                          A nice new footbridge.

You will not see many boats on the Chesterfield Canal, since it is not connected to the national canal network.  This boat, however, runs short trips.

                                  A sharpish bend in the canal gives this backward view.

Hollingworth Lock, where there is an excellent cafe which will be open everyday throughout the Summer. A good place to stop for refreshment.

                                                  More bridges over the canal.

     And now we reach Tapton Lock, where there is this Visitor Centre with a cafe, shop and toilets.

The sign opposite the Visitor Centre has a rather surprising destination and distance displayed upon it.  We would love to hear from anyone who has cycled to or from Istanbul.

The final stretch of the route leaves the canal-side and runs along the road  from where we confirm our whereabouts by the familiar sight of the Crooked Spire, which does not look quite so crooked from this angle.