WILLINGTON WALK

THE WALK 

This is a most enjoyable and easy walk, along the Trent and Mersey Canal Towpath and well-surfaced tracks. It is very popular with ramblers and nature lovers. Much of the walk is by the canal which is busy with boats at the weekends and during the summer before the pretty village of Findern is visited. The final stretch of the walk returns to the canal bank for a short stroll back to Willington Marina.

Prince Hal navigating Trent and Mersey Canal Bridge 21
Prince Hal navigating Trent and Mersey Canal Bridge 21

LOOK OUT FOR

Route Point 1 – James Brindley from Derbyshire, who could not read or write, but had a brilliant brain, was the engineer responsible for the building of the Trent and Mersey Canal.  He died before he could complete the final piece in his canal network that revolutionised trade in the country. Hugh Henshall, his brother-in-law, finished the work. A milestone marks every mile along the route to Preston Brook.

Point 2 – Stenson Marina is a busy place where a coffee shop overlooks the lock. The second deepest on the canal at 12 foot 6 inches in depth and, together with the red-brick road bridge behind it is Grade II listed. To the rear is the Stenson Bubble Inn, it got its unusual name from a small bubbly spring on the downstream side of the lock.

Trent and Mersey Canal, Willington Walk
Trent and Mersey Canal, Willington Walk
Stenson Marina
Stenson Marina

Point 5 – The walk takes you past the site of Stanhope Wood Community Woodland, where the first tree was planted on 18 November 2003. The planting of the wood was completed by the Findern Footpaths Group, other villagers, and the National Probation Service during that month. 

Point 6 – Jubilee Wood is an attractive woodland site off Crow Park Way. Filled with tall ash trees Crow Park is where crows and rooks used to nest and where the name was derived from. The route has been diverted following the building of the A50 trunk road in 1990 and passes under a tunnel beneath the new road.

Stanhope Wood, Willington Walk
Stanhope Wood, Willington Walk
Jubilee Wood, Willington Walk
Jubilee Wood, Willington Walk

Point 8 – Findern Village Green forms the centrepiece of the village, on which an impressive-looking sign was erected to commemorate the Millennium, and more recently a village map has been added. Before the Parish Council took action in the 1950s to restore the green. It looked like a sorry sight divided into four small grassed areas, split up by tarmac paths and frequently used by vehicles. The main problem was in knowing who owned the green. Eventually, ownership was traced to the Crown and the land was purchased for £50 and the restoration started.

Point 11 – Willington has been the hub for transport for many years and has an absorbing history. The River Trent passes to the south of the village, which was an important inland port during the 17th and 18th centuries. The arrival of the Trent and Mersey Canal in 1777, replaced the river as the main form of transport. Later still, rail and then the road took over as the main transport providers.

Findern Village Green
Findern Village Green
The Dragon, Willington
The Dragon, Willington

WALK DETAILS

Length:   4.25 miles. Walkers might like to extend their walk about a quarter of a mile further to explore Stenson Lock and Marina.

Start:     Off the A38, on the A5132 road to Swarkestone. The railway station car park overlooks the canal, on the A5132, next to The Dragon public house.       

Terrain:     A level walk, with more than half taken up along the banks of the Trent and Mersey Canal. After leaving the canal you walk along quiet paths and a lane to Findern, returning to the canal along good footpaths.      

THE ROUTE 

  1. Walk across the railway car park next to The Dragon public house and turn right along the south bank of the Trent and Mersey Canal. Continue for about two miles, passing the Nadee Restaurant and going under two bridges in succession.
  2. Stenson Lock
    Stenson Lock
    After passing under a railway bridge, with an open field and a path on the opposite side of the canal, a few yards further go over Canal Bridge Number 20 (the number is to be found on the eastern side of the bridge). Alternatively, you can take a short diversion and visit Stenson Marina before returning to cross canal bridge number 20.
  3. Once you have crossed the canal bridge, immediately turn left, and walk along a clear path by the side of the canal.
  4. After a short distance turn right by a wooden seat and walk away from the canal, along a path, past a conservation area.
  5. Continue straight ahead, with Stanhope Wood on your right. Ascend two short flights of steps, at the top of which you turn left, along a wide access track.
  6. Soon you turn right through a wide tunnel, under the A50. Then after a few yards, turn left at a ‘T’ junction of tracks along Crow Park Way past Jubilee Wood.
  7. Follow the broad track along keeping to the left when you reach Common Piece Lane. After passing a cemetery on your left, continue ahead aiming to the left of Findern Church.  
  8. Walk up the road in front of the churchyard, to reach Findern Village Green, where you turn left to join Main Street.
  9. Follow the road to left down Heath Lane, and continue along the pavement to cross the bridge over the A50.
  10. Once over the bridge take the footpath on the left, which takes you past a recreation field, before bending further to the right to re-join Heath Lane.
  11. Walk down the lane past a row of houses to reach the Nadee, Indian Restaurant. Do not cross the road bridge, but keep close to the restaurant and go over the canal bridge. Turn right along the canal bank, which you came along at the beginning of the walk; this will take you back to Willington Marina.

WILLINGTON