Trent Valley Way
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
|name=Trent Valley Way
|photo= File:Trent Valley Way - geograph.org.uk - 289218.jpg
|caption= The Trent Valley Way with Clapper gates near North Clifton
|location=Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire
|designation=
|length_km = 187
|trailheads=Trent Lock, Derbyshire
Alkborough, Lincolnshire
|use=Hiking
|elev_change=
|highest= {{convert|74|m}}
|lowest=
|difficulty=
|season= All year Round
|sights=The valley of the River Trent
|hazards=
}}
The Trent Valley Way is a waymarked long-distance footpath in England following the River Trent and its valley in the counties of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
Originally created in 1998, to mark the centenary of the Nottinghamshire County Council, it was waymarked between the two southern starting points at Thrumpton and Attenborough, through to West Stockwith near Gainsborough at the northern limit of the county, a distance of some 84 miles.{{cite web|url=http://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Trent+Valley+Way| title=Trent Valley Way |publisher= ldwa.org.uk | accessdate=10 May 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trentriverstrust.org/site/projects/trent-valley-way| title=Trent Valley Way |publisher=Trent Rivers Trust| accessdate=1 February 2016}}
This Nottinghamshire route used both riverside paths and footpaths in the wider valley to link Nottingham, with Newark-on-Trent, Gainsborough and various villages via points of interest. It appeared on Ordnance Survey maps, and a book showing the route was also produced.{{cite book| last=Ordnance Survey| authorlink=Ordnance Survey |title=129 Nottingham and Lougborough |publisher=Ordnance Survey |year=1997 |series=OS Landranger Map Series| isbn=9780319223482}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/enjoying/countryside/walking/ | title=Long Distance Routes |publisher= nottinghamshire.gov.uk | accessdate=10 May 2013}}
The waymark consisted of a white disc with a blue arrow containing three wavy white lines.{{cite web|url=http://www.britishwalks.org/walks/2012/947.php|title=Walk #947: Trent Valley Way: Holme Pierrpont to Thrumpton and return |publisher=britishwalks.org | accessdate=10 June 2013}}
Extending the Route
Various organisations were interested in extending the route of the Trent Valley Way so that it covered the entire length of the river from its source near Biddulph Moor in Staffordshire to Alkborough in Lincolnshire, where the Trent joins the Ouse to form the Humber estuary, a distance of 170 miles.
The feasibility of a complete route along the Trent Valley was investigated in 2008, and it was assessed to have "considerable potential", and would attract 250,000 annual walkers. These would enjoy the combined attraction of "the river’s rich natural heritage and its history as an inland navigation". A draft map using existing footpaths was drawn up in 2009 for the entire 170 mile route, with preferred and interim alternatives where there were major access issues.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentriverstrust.org/site/sites/default/files/TVW%20feasibility%20report.pdf | title=TVW Feasibility Report |publisher=Trent Rivers Trust| accessdate=1 February 2016}}
One of the first revisions of the route was to remove the segment between Thrumpton to Nottingham, so that there was only a single starting point, which reduced the length to 77 miles. The start was then changed to Trentlock in Derbyshire, which extended the route slightly, so that it became 80 miles long.{{cite book| last=Ordnance Survey| authorlink=Ordnance Survey |title=129 Nottingham and Lougborough |publisher=Ordnance Survey |year=2009 |series=OS Landranger Map Series| isbn=9780319231623}}{{cite web| url= http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/EasySiteWeb/GatewayLink.aspx?alId=121955 |title=Policy and Procedures - rights of way Improvement plan 2007-2012 |publisher= nottinghamshire.gov.uk | accessdate=10 May 2013}}{{cite web| url = http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm|title = Get-a-map online|publisher = Ordnance Survey|accessdate= 26 March 2013 }}
=Littleborough to Alkborough=
{{location map+ |England Trent Valley |float=right |width=350 |caption= Locations along the Trent Valley Way |places=
{{Location map~ |England Trent Valley
| label =
| position = right |marksize=7| lat = 52.942
| long = -1.119
}}
{{location map~ |England Trent Valley
|lat = 53.686
|long = -0.666
|label =
|position = left|marksize = 7}}
{{location map~ |England Trent Valley
|lat = 53.4439
|long = -0.8111
|label =
|position = left|marksize = 7}}
{{location map~ |England Trent Valley
|lat = 53.4016
|long = -0.7732
|label =
|position = right|marksize = 7}}
{{location map~ |England Trent Valley
|lat = 53.334
|long = -0.77
|label =
|position = right|marksize = 7}}
{{location map~ |England Trent Valley
|lat = 53.0765
|long = -0.81
|label =
|position = right|marksize = 7}}
{{location map~ |England Trent Valley
|lat = 52.875
|long = -1.272
|label =
|position = right|marksize = 7}}
}}
Subsequently, plans were made to extend the path northwards along the tidal reaches to the Humber. In 2012 an extension of the waymarked route was confirmed, using paths mainly in North Lincolnshire to link the existing path with sections through to Alkborough, and a series of nine walking guides were produced to define this new 36 mile 58 km section. The first two sections act as a parallel route for part of the original valley way, but use riverside footpaths instead.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentvale.co.uk/news/article/trent-valley-way-new-route-confirmed/| title=Trent Valley Way new route confirmed |publisher= trentvale.co.uk | accessdate=10 May 2013}}{{cite web| url= http://www.trentriverstrust.org/site/pages/tvw-walking-guides-gainsborough-humber-estuary | title=TVW Walking Guides |publisher=Trent Rivers Trust| accessdate=1 February 2016}}
- Littleborough to Gainsborough
- Gainsborough to West Stockwith
- West Stockwith to Haxey
- Haxey to Epworth
- Epworth to Belton
- Belton to Keadby
- Keadby to Scunthorpe
- Scunthorpe to Burton Upon Stather
- Burton Upon Stather to Alkborough
The end of the route is the maze at Julian's Bower, which has a viewpoint that overlooks Trent Falls.
File:Julian's Bower - Alkborough Turf Maze - geograph.org.uk - 596274.jpg
=Biddulph to Stone =
There are also plans to establish a definitive route in the upper reaches of the Trent, from Biddulph to Stone. A similar set of walking guides to those produced for the Littleborough to Alkborough section will be created, along with a waymarked route. A Heritage Lottery bid is being developed to fund this work.{{cite web| url= http://www.trentriverstrust.org/site/pages/trent-valley-way-biddulph-stone | title= Trent Valley Way from Biddulph to Stone |publisher=Trent Rivers Trust| accessdate=1 February 2016}}
File:Sign at start of the Trent Valley Way, Thrumpton - geograph.org.uk - 744704.jpg
{{clear}}
{{Commons category|Trent Valley Way}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
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Category:Long-distance footpaths in England