Cuckoo Way Walk - Chesterfield Canal to Staveley and Abandoned Tunnel, Trans-Pennine Trail

Cuckoo Way Walk - Chesterfield Canal, Chesterfield to Staveley along the Trans-Pennine Trail and Abandoned Hollingwood Common Canal Tunnel

****Links to Chesterfield Canal Missing Section Explores/Walk****
Part 1 (Staveley to Killamarsh) -    • Cuckoo Way Walk Part 1 - Disused Cana...  
Part 2 (Killamarsh to Kiveton & Norwood Tunnel) -    • Disused Canals - Cuckoo Way Walk Part...  


The Cuckoo Way. A 46 mile long path which follows the Chesterfield Canal from Chesterfield to the River Trent at West Stockwith. It passes through the larger towns of Retford and Worksop on it's way.

This video starts at the very start of the path in the Derbyshire town of Chestefield - a historic market town famous for it's crooked spire. We walk the full 4-5 miles of the only navigatable part of the western section to Staveley.

The section we look at today is also part of the Trans-Pennine Trail network.

We pass through various locks along our way (Tapton, Wheeldon Mill, Bluebank, Dixon's locks) until we reach the hub at Hollingwood.

Hollingwood was once a bustling industrail settlement surrounded by factories and major works. Here we find a disused railway station - Staveley Works station. The station served the neighbouring works and factories. The Hollingwood Lock is now home to a cafe and the home of the Chesterfield Canal Trust.

It was at Hollingwood where we found the remains of the Hollingwood Common Canal Tunnel. A smaller canal, which led underground to fetch coal and minerals out from the collieries to the south of the canal. Although the tunnel is out of bounds and inaccesible, we can find evidence in the form of air shafts along the route. We suspect the tunnel was abandoned in 1892 as the main canal was rerouted for the arrival of the Great Central Railway.

From Hollingwood, it is a short walk to Mill Green and the old bridge on the approach to Staveley. From here we see the hard work that has gone in recent years to restore and rebuild newer sections of the canal. Staveley Town Lock and Basin and as far as boats can navigate from Chesterfield. However there are ambitious plans to continue the restoration on the disused "missing" sections onwards to Kiveton Park.

00:00 Intro & Chesterfield
01:22 Start of Cuckoo Way, Chesterfield
03:38 Tapton Lock
05:00 Midland Railway
06:03 Brimington
07:00 Bluebank Pools Nature Reserve
08:44 Bluebank Lock
10:09 Dixon's Lock
11:35 Disused Staveley Works Railway Station
12:33 Hollingwood Hub & Lock
14:27 Hollingwood Common Canal Tunnel
16:44 Air Shaft
18:52 Mill Green Bridge, Staveley
20:44 Staveley Town Basin and Lock

**Wobbly Runner**
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My channel was set up in 2020 mainly to feature my running adventures. I planned to film and showcase the days out and destinations my running travels took me. Mainly the Peak District and the sights and marvels of Sheffield and the surrounding regions.

However due to Covid restrictions, I found a new interest in researching and exploring old abandoned places - railway lines, canal, woodland, parks to name a few.
So the videos you'll find will be mainly be of those things. Of course, where possible I'll be running to my destination.

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