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ILKESTON TO
TRENT LOCK –
CANOE TRAIL
A microadventure on the Erewash Canal
Written by Rebecca Lovatt
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW CANOE TRAILS,
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER BECKY LOVATT AND GO
CANOEING MANAGER JENNY SPENCER HEADED OUT ON THEIR
PADDLEBOARDS TO TRACK ALONG THE EREWASH CANAL CANOE
TRAIL ALONG THE DERBYSHIRE/NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BORDER.
“Having owned a paddleboard for over
a year and only managing to get out in
it approximately twice, I arranged with
Jenny, the Go Canoeing Manager, to try
out one of the new canoe trails we have
redesigned as part of the collection.
“The canal trail is 6.5 miles long with 6 portages along
the route and a couple of good picnic spots, pubs and
points of historical value as you paddle the length of
the canal.”
“We parked one of the cars at Trent Lock and used
the other car to drive to our start point – Gallows Inn
Field, Ilkeston. The car parking is free at both carparks
with toilets available at Trent Lock.
“Jenny and I were both completing the trail on
inflatable SUPs, so after a good ten minutes ‘warm up’
pumping the boards to their required PSI, we headed
to the bank of the canal to put in and set off on our
microadventure down the Erewash Canal.
>>
“The Erewash trail seemed a sensible choice for our
varied SUP experiences with a few portages and most
importantly, a pub at the end!
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