Walk · South Yorkshire

Swinton to Mexborough along the navigation

Swinton · S64 8HR
N 440 YD
1.6MILES
45mON FOOT
8mCLIMB
Out & backSHAPE
Off-road 95% 5% shares tarmac with cars
Field & moor path 35%Lane & track 60%Road with traffic 5%

Our drawing of the route — the shape of the walk, not a navigation aid. Carry OS Explorer on the hill.

Starts at
Swinton Lock, Dun Street, Swinton Bridge S64 8HR
Parking
Free on-street parking on Dun Street at Swinton Bridge, and Swinton station car park a few minutes away. The industrial estate roads are busy on weekdays, so weekend mornings are easier
Directions to the start →

The short north-eastern leg of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation from Swinton Lock up to Mexborough, about three quarters of a mile each way on a level towpath beside the working waterway. Swinton Junction, where the derelict Dearne and Dove Canal turned west, is at the Swinton end. It is a working navigation with commercial-sized locks, so the water is deep and the edge is unfenced in places. Both towns have a station on the same line if you want to walk one way and ride back.

THE SMALL PRINTCanal and River Trust Towpath Code: "Keep dogs under close control and clean up after them", plus "Pedestrians have priority", "Cyclists must slow down for others", "Take extra care when passing people, pets and wildlife" and "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, fixed penalty up to £100 or a fine up to £1,000 on conviction. There is no lead order in Rotherham, but deep water and commercial lock gates are the reason to have one in your hand here.
REGION · SOUTH YORKSHIRE
GRID · 53.4864, -1.3023
SOURCE · HTTPS://CANALRIVERTRUST.ORG.UK/SUPPORT-US/OUR-CAMPAIGNS/STAY-KIND-SLOW-DOWN/OUR-TOWPATH-CODE
Also in Swinton
N 880 YD
Walk SOME LIMITS

Swinton Lock to Kilnhurst along the navigation

S64 8HR
2 MI · 55M · 95% OFF-ROAD

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.

VERIFIED 30 JUL 2026 VIEW ›
No photo yet
Stay NOT CHECKED YET

Swinton Park

No reviews yet

Swinton Park is a place to stay in Swinton, Swinton. It is listed here so you know it is there, but we have not yet established whether dogs are welcome — so there is no verdict on this page and no stamp. If it is your business, claim the page and tell us, and we will stamp it.

NOT CHECKED YET · IS THIS YOURS? VIEW ›
N 176 YD
Walk SOME LIMITS

Swinton Queen Street Recreation Ground

S64 9HB
0.7 MI · 20M · 90% OFF-ROAD

One of two recreation grounds Rotherham Council keeps in Swinton, this one off Queen Street on the northern side of the town, with pitches, changing rooms and a path round the perimeter. It is flat, open and lit at the road end, which makes it the practical everyday walk for the top end of Swinton. For anything longer, the navigation towpath at Swinton Bridge is a mile south-east and Manvers is two miles west. Keep off the marked pitches when games are on.

Off-lead OK
VERIFIED 30 JUL 2026 VIEW ›

Get the new stamps first.

One short email when we add places or a council changes its beach rules. No noise, easy out.

NO SPAM · UNSUBSCRIBE ANY TIME · WE NEVER SELL THE LIST

Wagfinder Members · Coming soon

Your patch, watched for you.

£4.99 A MONTH · OR £48 A YEAR
Restriction alerts for your saved beaches — know before the ban starts, not at the slipway sign.
New-place notifications in your area, the day we stamp them in.
Member perks at claimed venues across the county.

NO PAYMENT NOW · FIRST IN WHEN DOORS OPEN · EASY OUT