The Tidal Trent Newark to Torksey and West Stockwith

 Sunday 3 October Newark to Cromwell Lock and Torksey

Today is dry, with clouds amid blue skies, so we got up and headed for Nether Lock, then five miles down the Trent to the tidal lock at Cromwell.

NB Essence came through Newark Nether Lock (appropriate as it’s next to the sewage works!) with us. We travelled five windy miles in the sun, slowing a little for the numerous Sunday anglers on both banks. Passing under the A1 and by North Muskham, John rang Cromwell Lock and spoke to lock keeper Neil again. We motored straight into the lock, followed by NB Essence, who were heading home to Torksey and the Fosse Dyke. John also got telephone numbers for getting our boat hull blacked again at West Stockwith, and had this organised before we left the lock!

Apparently there was four feet of fresh (water) raising the river level today, so we didn’t have to worry about the sandbar below the lock. We were making 6 knots downstream at 1200rpm, without any problem, but slowed a little for fishermen at times. John had got out the Boating Association chart for the Tidal Trent, essential for avoiding shallows and available online. Pearson’s Guides stop at Cromwell. John Lower’s excellent guide book Boating on the Trent is available from the Chesterfield Canal Trust. It explains the tides, too!

The fifteen miles to Torksey include many large and some sharp bends, sunken islands, shallows and bridges, but is beautiful and great to do, as long as you prepare and take the advice of the Cromwell lock keepers. In general, the non-tidal Trent is navigable safely, as long as you keep in the centre of the river, steering closer to the outside on bends, as the inside is always shallower. There are some sandbacks (sunken islands) which are noted in the Boating Association guide mentioned above.

We moored on the pontoon in Torksey cut and walked to the local pub  for Sunday lunch, which was fine. They do excellent pies too, except on Sundays. Books and tv filled our day afterwards.

Monday 4 October Torksey to West Stockwith (15 miles, 1 lock)

Leaving Torksey Cut

John winded Annie and we set off at 0830, as advised. We had been told that high tide was about 0845, so we would be stemming the tide intially, followed by  slack water for a time, before Annie would be taken down more quickly by fresh water current plus ebb tide.

John rang Torksey lock and let them know. Neil was there this morning, and rang ahead to let Jim at West Stockwith Lock know that we would be there about 1130ish.

Past Torksey Castle and railway viaduct, the wind was strong from the west side of the river, but there was no rain, thankfully! At times, the clouds cleared and we had lovely sunshine. The boat's speed picked up to 6 knots with the ebb.

Littleborough Roman Ford

 

Near West Burton power station, the river's serpentine curves box the compass, and Gainsborough's tall Kerry's flour mill can be seen in various directions. Gainsborough railway viaduct precedes the town.

John aimed Annie through the central arch of Gainsborough's stone bridge, through which the water rushes. The visitor mooring pontoon passes on the town bank. You need a CRT key to get ashore from it.

Once through the town, you have about four miles to go. John rang West Stockwith lock when fifteen minutes away, turned Annie towards the centre of the river as we passed the lock to face the strongish current. It's about half tide, still maybe an hour or so before low water here, so a strong current is running, but you can't wait until then, usually, as at low tide there is not enough water depth to get into the lock! (I did get here at low tide once, and had to wait in the river for most of an hour until the beginnings of the flood tide rose enough for me to get in the lock). 

Approaching West Stockwith Lick from upstream

 

John honked her horn as the gates weren't open! Jim came running out and soon we were stemming the tide, moving crab fashion slowly towards the lock. at the last few seconds, 

Annie now pointing upstream and edging across to the lock

John gunned the engine and turned into the lock. Oops, we bumped against the downstream side of the lock entrance as we entered, as John miscalculated the strength of the flow. It had to happen, eventually! No damage, and we left Annie in the basin for her hull to be blacked again by Wilf, Debbie and Philip Warne.

Our kind neighbours, Carrie and Scott, brought us home. Thank you!