Walk · South Yorkshire

Swinton to Mexborough along the navigation

Swinton · S64 8HR

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. 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 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

Swinton to Mexborough along the navigation

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