Normanton-On-Soar – Trent Lock

River Guide

The Get-On here at Normanton-On-Soar is a historically, Well-Used Access area for Canoeists and here, unlike many launching points, we have the use of a public slipway.
The access into the water here is pretty straight forward, after parking and unloading, a short 50M away is the access point, the get-on is a simple slipway and pretty clear of debris.
Once one and underway, you will realise how wide the River Soar can be in certain sections and perhaps you will notice behind you, the remnants of the old ferry crossing, serving Normanton some 250 years, recently restored and operating for £1 per crossing.
After a few moments of paddling you will see Normanton Boat Club, on your right hand side. This is the site of Normanton Canoe Club who we work in partnership with to run some of our events.
Not even a mile has elasped and we are at “Zouch Weirs” Here you are presented with an automated Sluice, a side weir, a much smaller weir under a footbridge and the canalised channel which leads to the Zouch Lock (Lock 55) on the “Zouch Cut”. You may be relieved to read that we will be taking the smaller weir or portaging around the lock.
The A6006 Road Bridge here marks the county boundary between Leicestershire & Nottinghamshire.
After passing under the aforementioned bridge we will see the “Zouch Cut” re-enter the main river on our right hand side.
Not even half a mile later and we come accross the “Devils Elbow” a pair of originally sharp turns in the rivers natural route, going off to the river left. The River Left channel is sometimes impassable but feel free to try, Fortunately for canal boats, a new channel which cuts off the corner was installed, so if overgrown, we will just use the simpler route !
Next we will see the “Otter Pub” on the A6, on our way to Kegworth.
In a few moments, the river will split off to the left and the canalised section to the right, We will follow the canalised section this time due to the weir on the river left being considerably high and unpleasant to shoot, the lock or portage seem a much nicer proposition. It is worth noting that at this point, before turning left or right, You are on the final approach path of the East Midlands Airport Runway and will undoutedly see many aircraft arriving.
Whilst either in or portaging the lock here (Kegworth Lock 56) we are almost right in the centre of Kegworth.
Interestingly, there used to be a different lock here, this was rebuilt, nextdoor to it. Due to the numerous flood defences built in and around 1986. The original lock had a rise and fall of 7 Feet but with the new flood measures installed the lock needed to be deeper, therefore the current lock rises/falls around 12 Feet (Which is also why we don’t shoot the aforementioned weirs!) The Old Lock can be viewed from the lock island and the shapes of the old lock chamber can easily be recognised.
Less than half a mile further we get to the Kegworth Flood Lock, there is a car park here which can be used for Access/Egress on different trips or indeed to make this one shorter !
Continue now for another mile or so, until we reach Ratcliffe-On-Soar backwaters. There are 2 weirs here and a lock if portaging is your cup of tea. We will be shotting the second weir by a house and footbridge.
After the wier/lock the two channels rejoin around a mile later and after a sharp right hand bend we are heading toward redhill marina, where there used to be an interesting canal boat painted to look like a giaraffe ! Before the marina however, you will have unparralelled views of the Ratcliffe Power Station and East Midlands Parkway Rail Station on The Midland Mainline.
As we pass through the marina, there is another flood lock but this will likely be open, in the event that it is shut we simply proceed riover left on the approach to it and go around !
The final half mile will see us on the confluence to the River Trent. Here the River Soar ends and becomes the River Trent.
on your right you will see a large Chain Barrage under the Railway Bridges, known as Trent Junction. We will however be proceeding to our right and accross the width of the river to the Left Hand Bank of The River Trent.
This is Trent Lock, where the River Soar, Erewash & Cranfleet Canals Converge and join The River Trent.
There are plenty of Pubs and Parking at Trent Lock and quite often, an ice cream van frequents the Get-Off, which makes for a nice treat after a long paddle !