Walk · South Yorkshire

Swinton Lock to Kilnhurst along the navigation

Swinton · S64 8HR

2MILES

55mON FOOT

10mCLIMB

Linear — plan the returnSHAPE

Off-road 95% 5% shares tarmac with cars

Field & moor path 40%Lane & track 55%Road with traffic 5%

Our drawing of the route — the shape of the walk, not a navigation aid. Carry OS Explorer on the hill. Off-lead information here is what walkers reported or what signage allows — never our advice. Whether and when a dog is off the lead is the owner’s decision and legal responsibility; keep dogs under control near livestock and follow signs on the day.

Starts at

Swinton Lock, Dun Street, Swinton Bridge, by the activity centre S64 8HR

Finishes at

Kilnhurst, by the Ings and the stationLinear — plan how you get back

Parking

Free on-street parking on Dun Street and around Swinton Bridge; Swinton station car park is a few minutes away and is the sensible choice on a weekday when the industrial estate is busy

Directions to the start →

A flat two miles of towpath along the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation from Swinton Lock, where the old Dearne and Dove Canal met the Don, south-east to Kilnhurst. It runs between the working navigation and the river through the ground the collieries left behind, past Swinton Lock Activity Centre on Dun Street and out to the washland at Kilnhurst Ings. Swinton and Kilnhurst both have stations on the same line, so you can walk one way and ride back. The towpath is level and mostly surfaced, but it is unfenced against the water in places.

THE SMALL PRINTCanal and River Trust Towpath Code: "Keep dogs under close control and clean up after them", with "Pedestrians have priority", "Cyclists must slow down for others" and "Take extra care when passing people, pets and wildlife". Anglers line this stretch, and the code asks you to "respect people using the waterway for activities like angling, boating or paddle sports". Rotherham Council's only dog order is the borough-wide Dog Fouling Public Spaces Protection Order, in operation from 29 January 2025 for three years, with a fixed penalty up to £100 or a fine up to £1,000 on conviction. Rotherham publishes no order requiring leads and none excluding dogs from open space.

REGION · SOUTH YORKSHIRE

GRID · 53.4864, -1.3023

SOURCE · HTTPS://CANALRIVERTRUST.ORG.UK/SUPPORT-US/OUR-CAMPAIGNS/STAY-KIND-SLOW-DOWN/OUR-TOWPATH-CODE

Swinton Lock to Kilnhurst along the navigation

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