Vale of Belvoir Ramblers: Erewash Valley Trail and the Bennerley Viaduct

The Erewash Canal runs north from Trent Lock at the junction of the River Trent and the River Soar Navigation and was completed in 1779 to link the Derbyshire coalfields to the Trent. At Langley Mill, the Cromford Canal joined in 1794 and the Nottingham Canal made a connection two years later at what became known as the Great Northern Basin.

Dave’s 7-mile walk started at the Basin and took thirteen VBR members and guests along the Erewash Canal for a short distance before crossing to the route of the Nottingham Canal which, unlike the Erewash, is not in water along its entire length. After a short excursion across the flood plain of the Erewash River, the route rejoined the Nottingham Canal to take us to view the eastern end of the Bennerley Viaduct (aka the Iron Giant) where a new access ramp and Visitor Centre are being built. Further on is a splendid viewpoint of the viaduct itself.

Leaving the Nottingham Canal, we dropped down on Awsworth Road and crossed over the River Erewash to examine the piers supporting the viaduct Then, after crossing over the East Midlands Railway line, we climbed up to the Erewash Canal which we followed it for a short distance to the western ramp up to the viaduct.

Returning to the Erewash Canal, we then walked past Shipley and Eastwood Locks back to Langley Mill.

Thanks Bill and John for the photos.

A short section of the Nottingham Canal at the Great Northern Basin

The start at the Great Northern Basin

Looking across the first of fourtenn locks on the Cromford Canal

Boat on the Erewash

Leaving the Erewash Canal to join the route of the Nottingham

Flora and fauna on the Nottingham. The cormorant (bottom right) too quick for the cameraman

Severn Trent's 2.5 MW wind turbine powering a local water treatment plant built despite local opposition

Horses on the Erewash flood plain

The Bennerley Viaduct Visitor Centre due to open later this year. Completion of the eastern access ramp to the viaduct has been delayed due to geotechical problems

More information can be found on the website of the Friends of Bennerly Viaduct, the charity set up to rescue the Iron Giant from demolition

Viewpoint of the viaduct

The Bennerley Viaduct carried the Great Northern Railway over the River Erewash. The site required a bespoke design as the ground would not support a traditional masonry viaduct due to extensive coal mining. Click on the image for more information.

Late coffee stop

View up the River Erewash

The viaduct consists of 16 spans of wrought iron, lattice truss girders carried on 15 wrought iron piers which are not fixed to the ground but are supported by brick and stone bases.