Gamston Canal Walk

3.5 miles (5.7 km)

This walk takes you along a section of the Grantham Canal from Gamston to Cotgrave Country Park. The walk starts at Bridgford Lock on the western side of Gamston.... From here you can pick up the towpath and follow it south towards Gamston Lock before turning east towards Tollerton. You skirt the edge of the Nottinghamshire Country Club before finishing by the lake at Cotgrave Park.
This attractive waterside walk follows one of the most picturesque sections of the Grantham Canal through the gently rolling countryside of south Nottinghamshire. Opened in 1797, the canal was built to connect Grantham with the River Trent, transporting coal, agricultural produce and other goods before commercial traffic declined during the twentieth century. Today it is valued as a peaceful green corridor with many restored locks, bridges and lengths of historic towpath.
Leaving Gamston, the route passes quiet stretches of canal bordered by mature trees, hedgerows and open farmland. The slow-moving water provides habitat for swans, ducks, moorhens, herons and kingfishers, while dragonflies are a common sight during the summer months. Traditional brick bridges and restored canal structures add to the historic character of the walk as the canal meanders through the countryside towards Tollerton.
The walk finishes at Cotgrave Country Park, a popular local beauty spot created on the site of the former Cotgrave Colliery. The park includes a large lake, wildflower meadows, woodland, accessible walking trails and excellent viewpoints, making it an ideal place to extend your visit or enjoy a picnic beside the water.