Hi
Has anyone paddled the Driffield canal?
Looking at write ups online they suggest its 7 miles long but not navigational?
Thanks Sabina
Hi Sabina.
Driffield canal was pretty good when I was paddling it yesterday,
. If you start at the Driffield end there is easy launching with plenty of grass and easy parking. The main basin is about a quarter mile in length with the 1st lock at the end. A bungalow was built next to the lock whilst the navigation was derelict which means the towpath now passes through their garden. As the lock is now restored I'm not sure what the arrangements are but there will be passage of sorts.
Below this lock there is good paddling through open countryside for probably 2 to 3 miles untill you reach Whinn hill lock (working but easy portage) next to the main Driffield to Beeford road. Below this lock the canal runs through a cut with many trees and bushes. Another mile will see you at Wansford lock, again restored and functioning. Easy in and out to portage round with a nice shaded area if you want a break though still next to the road, there is a shop over the road here. A hundred yards down stream on the right there is an old farm with it's own quay that when I was a kid still harboured the rotting remains of a couple of narrow boats, now long gone. Directly past this is the only real blockage of the navigation, a fixed bridge that is to be replaced with a swing one eventually. Canoes will go under with ease though a little ducking is required.
Seventy yards or so below this bridge on the left there is a well maintained public landing with plenty of room. Tie up there and directly across the road is the Trout Inn with good food and beer.
From the landing the canal runs along side the road again for a mile or so to the origonal tidal lock at Snakeholme, The upper lock is restored but you can still see where the second set of gates were located when the navigation was tidal up to this point. Again an easy in and out.
Below Snakeholm the canal runs to the Brigham, a small village with no facilities except a pay phone at the top of the hill. The swing bridge here has been fully restored and the water simple heaves with fish. There are otters just upstream of Brigham and you will see kingfishers, herons etc.
From Brigham the canal continues a good half mile or so where it forks. The right fork will take you down through open farmland to the Bethels Bridge boat club, where sadly the welcome is a lot less friendly than it used to be, having said that the area looked a mess when I visited so in no hurry to return. Far better to turn left and paddle to the beautifully maintained landing at North Frodingham. I've camped there two or three times with no trouble at all and the chap who lives there popped down the next day to paddle his ally Grumman. Further upstream the canal splits though I've yet to explore that far. All in all Driffield to Frodingham is probably 8 or 9 miles with a lovely place to camp at Frodingham. Regards, Mike.
Hi Mike
Thanks - and thanks for taking the time to reply and in such detail - will print it off and take it with me so I can look out for everything.
Sabina
Glad to help. I took quite a few pictures yesterday. Uploading them is always a pain but when I do I'll TT the trip with pictures. If I were doing a 2 or 3 day trip I'd put in at Driffield, camp at Frod' the 1st night then head down past Bethels Bridge, portage at Empholme lock which is the new tidal lock with a big (tide depending), weir off to the left. There used to be space for atent or 2 there. From there head downstream to Tickton Bridge and pub where again there used to be no trouble overnighting. Regards, Mike.
Can we stick this in the where to go section as this is where I look for new routes
Ta
Sabina
A great thing I've done which combines the canal and the River Hull:
Put in on the River Hull near Rotsea (between Rotsea Carr Farm and Hunt Hill Farm) and paddle up the canal (2nd left) to the lock just before Wansford - you can then nip across to the River and come back down - met a couple of angry anglers last time which didn't really bother me as the river is quite fast flowing and they ate my dust - swans may be a bit of a bother as there are quite a lot and they will not be used to river traffic.
If you need more help or info or company, let me know - I'm in Tadcaster.
Regards
Andrew
That sounds like a good loop to do.
Bet I can shout louder than the fishermen!
Can you remember how long the loop took?
Sabina
Sabina
Sorry - not been on for a while - we did it in the evening, so 2-3 hours I guess.
regards
Andrew