Keglon two

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I walked to Long Eaton, potential for cattle, floods and a few stiles on the anglers path by the river, gates on the definitive paths. Tedious road walking and a frustrating view of Sawley Lock house just 300 metres across the field before a tour around the perimeter of the marina. Overall a pleasant walk.

I was tempted by the shorter Keglon-1 but the defects in the plotting at Sawley really need a new plot so I went for route two which is also the similar route from Brekeg-2. By choice I would have taken the definitive path rather than the river side but either route is still prone to flooding around Ratcliffe Lock as could be seen from recent scouring. Leaving the river the loop doesn't feel as bad on the ground as it looks on the map but some do make the unofficial link to the bridleway at the A453 bridge.

Warren Lane a popular no through road was quiet but evidence suggests this is no always be so. Back on the towpath a good surface continues, confident footing allows the eyes to survey the variety of boats at their mooring or perhaps in better weather, on the move. The Lock House Tea Room I'm told is unlikely to reopen but there is plenty of choice before and after in this popular visitor location.

Trent Lock requires a change of direct onto the Erewash canal and the shared towpath cycleway takes us off road close to the meeting place in the centre of Long Eaton.

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Summary: This is a great walk, but more reliable in the summer months. It’s liable to flooding in prolonged wet weather. If this is the case, Keglon 1 might be the better option.

I walked from Kegworth to Long Eaton on a wet, January day. While I was able to complete the route, it was touch and go in places.

I started the route with a short pavement walk to an alleyway looking out onto fields leading up to the bridge (photo 1). Once you get to the bridge, a look over it will tell you if it’s going to be an interesting day (photo 2).

Avoiding the first small, flooded part of the canal path, the puddles that were there could be walked around. After the canal, the following path along the river was wet but firm. The river was very high though and it wouldn’t take much more rain for this area to flood. And sure enough, no sooner had I thought this, the path got boggy (photo 3) and a little further on I had to stop as the path was completely flooded and impassable (photo 4).

I decided to return to the bridge, but as I got back to the boggy area, I saw a yellow route marker pole that wasn’t visible in photo 3, so a quick hop over the mud and up the flood bank and I was back on the route (photo 5).

The bank path led me to a gate and a footbridge (photo 6). I decided on the footbridge, knowing that I could return to the bank path if the river path flooded again.
(The Keglon 2 path was visible from the flood bank path and so I don’t think that a new route is warranted – this review is enough to let you know that it is possible to continue.)

There was another flood just after the bridge underpass (photo 7), but a small path next to the bridge took me onto higher ground, where I walked to the stile just past the bend and onto well defined fields and to the lane (photo 8).

I then walked to my next footpath sign (photo 9) to walk across well-defined field paths to get me to Warren Lane and onto Sawley Marina. Here you can walk into the Marina to eat, drink, and use the facilities.

Walking out of Sawley Marina I took the path right and continued to the canal path over the bridge (photos 10 and 11). By the time I got to the closed Lock Keeper’s Rest it was raining hard. The bridge crossing has steps that can’t be avoided (photo 12).

I continued along the river path to Trent Lock, which was firm but not puddle free. At the café (photo 13) I walked across the bridge to get back onto the canal path, which took me all the way into Long Eaton (photo 14).

The canal path takes you all the way to a cut-through and onto the road in Long Eaton facing the lovely little York Chambers pub (photo 15) and the end of the route.

I walked this from Long Eaton to Kegworth, so the reverse of the GPX route. The first part of the route out of Long Eaton centre is identical to KEGLON 1.

Where Tamworth Road crosses the canal we remain on the surfaced towpath and follow it to Trentlock, where there are two pubs and a cafe within sight of the route. After crossing the first of the two canal bridges at the lock, we follow the riverside path (Trent Valley Way), which has a fairly well smoothed gravel surface. We remain by the river as far as a railway bridge - the path crosses the Trent next to the railway and the bridge has access ramps on both sides.

Here the Trent navigation separates from the river and we follow the surfaced canal-side path up to the bridge on the B6540, where we rejoin KEYLON 1.

There is no alternative to following Warren Lane around the marina. Beyond the marina there is no pavement, but the road is quiet so this is not a safety issue. As on KEYLON 1, we leave Warren Lane at an obvious bend and take the field path straight on. This field path is unsurfaced but well used and stile free.

When we reach the road, we diverge from KEYLON 1 by following the quiet road left. Where the path leaves this road, there is a stile next to a locked gate. The track ahead is unsurfaced but easy and wide. I plotted the GPX using the OS "snap to footpaths" option, but shortcuts are possible once the riverside meadow is reached.

From here we follow the river Soar and its navigation canals into Kegworth. This is effectively a canal towpath, and beyond/south of the A453 it is not marked as a right of way on the map, though it is popular with locals and clearly marked on the ground. It does have a few stiles, and a little bridge over the river has some easy steps, but it takes you to the bridges on Station Road without incident. From here we follow the direct shortcut path and Mill Lane into the centre of the village and the meeting point.

Overall a very pleasant walk. Had it not been for the stiles I would have given it a five star rating.

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