Attenborough Nature Reserve via Erewash Canal

The River Erewash flows southwards along the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire border to join the River Trent at Attenborough, once the site of extensive gravel and sand extraction, The depleted pits filled with water from the adjacent rivers and the 145 hectare (358 acres) site became a nature reserve in 1966. There are many paths around the reserve and most are available for cycling. Also there is a very good Visitor Centre with a cafe and a shop.
So a fine place to take your bike, especially if you prefer water and wildlife to traffic and turmoil. Access is good by train or car, or you can cycle all the way from Derby, the recommended route being NCN Route 6 to West Park, Long Eaton, then take to the Erewash Canal to it's confluence with the River Trent at Trent Lock. Then follow the Cranfleet Cut via Cranfleet Lock and you will come to the Attenborough Nature Reserve.

 If cycling from Derby on NCN 6, you will cross this bridge over the Erewash Canal from West Park (on the right) to the towpath via a couple of streets as the bridge path does not connect directly.

                                      Follow the towpath in this direction, that is Southwards.

                                          Pass the Sea Scout HQ and under the road bridge.

                                                      Another sharp bend in the canal.

                                                        Beneath the railway bridge.

                      And soon we see the great cooling towers of  Ratcliffe Power Station

                                          Strange names on one of the moored boats.

                                               Approaching Trent Lock now.

                                   And this is where the Erewash Canal meets the River Trent.
Keep left from here and the path takes you onto the Cranfleet Cut which is a short canal put in so that boats could avoid the weir on the river.

                                        Trent Lock itself.  Alongside is the Steamboat Inn. Food and drinks.

                                                               The Lock House Tea Rooms.

After turning left onto the canal path from Trent Lock, we come to Cranfleet Lock, to which we will return on our way back.

                      The exit from Cranfleet Lock and the waters re-join the River Trent.

                         This rather featureless path follows the river bank for quite a distance.

 The Attenborough Nature Reserve Visitor Centre stands on an island which is connected to the mainland by a pedestrian bridge. The cafe and a shop are within the building.

                    No bikes allowed across the bridge, but there are bike racks to the left here.

                       If you have any food, the Canada Geese will be pleased to see you.

                                            But some of the birds are just not interested.

                                      And others would prefer to stay with Mum.

                   Food for humans here in the cafe, with wonderful views across the water.

 From the Visitor Centre we turn left to pass the car park and see another view across the water, this time towards Attenborough Church.

                        And on the left bank runs the Derby to Nottingham railway line.

      At the nearby level crossing is this derelict house, which appears to come with a free LandRover.

               And opposite a traffic free gated lane which becomes a track, the Skylark Trail.

                                                                    Trains close by.

                                  And the track leads back to complete the circuit at Cranfleet Lock.

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.