A Guide to Every Lock on the Grantham Canal
The Grantham Canal crosses 33 miles of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire countryside between the River Trent near Nottingham and Grantham. Its 18 locks are among the waterway’s most distinctive features, lifting boats through changing levels while offering walkers and cyclists a useful way to understand the canal’s engineering.
For boaters, a lock is a practical navigation point requiring preparation, teamwork, and patience. For visitors on foot or by bicycle, each chamber reveals something about the canal’s restoration, surrounding villages, bridges, towpath, and wildlife. Some locks are fully navigable, while others have restricted or changing access, so current conditions matter.
The numbering in this guide follows the usual west-to-east sequence, beginning near the Trent and continuing towards Grantham. Lock names are not always used consistently on local maps and signage, so the lock number is the most reliable reference when planning a journey. The interactive canal map is useful for matching each number with towpaths, roads, moorings, and nearby points of interest.
Understanding the lock system
The canal was built to connect Grantham with the national waterway network, overcoming the difference in height between the River Trent and the Grantham terminus. Its locks are narrow canal locks, designed for the working boats of the eighteenth century rather than modern wide-beam craft. Their scale gives the waterway a more intimate character than many larger English canals.
Locks 1 to 18 should be read as a continuous sequence rather than 18 isolated attractions. A boat travelling from the Trent towards Grantham will rise through the staircase of level changes, with pounds between chambers. These pounds may be short, wooded, open to farmland, or incorporated into wider stretches of canal.
The condition of gates, paddles, towpaths, bridges, and approaches can vary. Restoration work has reopened important sections, but the whole route should not automatically be treated as continuously navigable. Boaters should check current navigation notices, stoppages, water levels, and local access information before setting out.
Locks 1 to 6: the western approach
Locks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 form the first group encountered when travelling east from the Trent. This section introduces the canal’s rural character, with open fields, hedgerows, drainage channels, and long views across the Nottinghamshire landscape. Near the western end, visitors may also notice the influence of nearby roads and settlements as the canal leaves the river corridor.
For walkers, the early locks are a good place to learn how a flight works. Look for changes in towpath level, overflow channels, winding holes, and the small bridges that allow farm access across the canal. The lock gates may be modern replacements, but their proportions and operating principles remain close to the original design.
At each of these six locks, avoid standing on gates or leaning over moving mechanisms. Cyclists should dismount where the towpath narrows, particularly when meeting anglers, maintenance teams, or families with children. The canal edge can be soft and slippery after rain, even when the towpath itself appears dry.
Locks 7 to 12: through the Vale of Belvoir
Locks 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 lie through the central rural stretch associated with the Vale of Belvoir. This is one of the most rewarding sections for landscape views. The canal passes through a patchwork of pasture, arable fields, villages, and wooded margins, with the surrounding hills providing a changing backdrop.
The middle locks demonstrate how a canal was fitted into a working agricultural landscape. Banks, culverts, access bridges, and feeder channels helped the waterway coexist with farms and public roads. At several locations, the most interesting view is not directly into the chamber but along the pound towards the next lock, where the engineered waterway becomes part of the wider countryside.
This central group is also valuable for wildlife watching. Reedbeds and marginal vegetation shelter insects, frogs, water voles, and small birds, while the water attracts ducks, moorhens, and seasonal visitors. Keep dogs under close control near lock edges and avoid disturbing nesting birds in spring and early summer.
Locks 13 to 18: the eastern climb
Locks 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 complete the numbered sequence towards Grantham. The landscape becomes increasingly associated with the eastern end of the canal, including the villages, historic estates, lanes, and farmland around Harlaxton and Grantham. The final locks provide a strong sense of arrival, particularly when approached as part of a long-distance walk or cycle ride.
This group can feel more varied than the open central section. Some locks are reached through quiet countryside, while others are close to roads, bridges, or settlement edges. Road access can make them convenient starting points, although parking is not always formal or plentiful. Visitors should use designated spaces and avoid blocking farm entrances or narrow lanes.
A lock’s setting often tells a story about its past use. Broad grassy verges may indicate former working space for horses and cargo handling, while old brickwork, coping stones, and altered bridge approaches can reveal phases of repair. The eastern locks are especially rewarding for visitors who enjoy combining industrial heritage with views of historic houses, churches, and estate landscapes.
The complete numbered sequence
The following quick reference covers every lock from the Trent end towards Grantham. Conditions and navigation status can change, so use the numbers alongside current local information rather than treating the list as a substitute for a navigation notice.
| Lock | General position in the route | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Lock 1 | Western approach from the Trent | River-side landscape and early canal engineering |
| Lock 2 | Western canal corridor | Towpath, bridges, and field boundaries |
| Lock 3 | Western rural section | Lock chamber details and water management |
| Lock 4 | Western rural section | Open views and nearby access tracks |
| Lock 5 | Approach to the Vale of Belvoir | Hedgerows, pasture, and changing levels |
| Lock 6 | Western edge of the central section | Short pounds and rural maintenance features |
| Lock 7 | Vale of Belvoir | Farm crossings and wildlife-rich margins |
| Lock 8 | Vale of Belvoir | Views along the canal and surrounding fields |
| Lock 9 | Central canal route | Vegetation, bridges, and lock furniture |
| Lock 10 | Central canal route | Long rural pound and drainage features |
| Lock 11 | Central canal route | Countryside views and towpath changes |
| Lock 12 | Eastern edge of the Vale | Transition towards villages and estate country |
| Lock 13 | Eastern rural section | Open farmland and engineered banks |
| Lock 14 | Eastern rural section | Bridges, access points, and changing scenery |
| Lock 15 | Harlaxton and Grantham approach | Estate landscape and historic surroundings |
| Lock 16 | Grantham approach | Mixed rural and settlement-edge character |
| Lock 17 | Nearer the eastern terminus | Final rise and canal heritage details |
| Lock 18 | Eastern end towards Grantham | Arrival point for the complete lock sequence |
Planning a lock-by-lock visit
A full lock walk is a substantial outing, especially when combined with the distance between the chambers. Rather than trying to visit every lock in one day, many people choose a western, central, or eastern section. This makes it easier to allow time for photographs, wildlife observation, refreshments, and diversions to nearby villages.
The towpath surface varies with weather and maintenance. Walking boots or sturdy shoes are sensible after rain, while cyclists should expect narrow stretches, gates, uneven surfaces, and occasional dismounts. Mobility access also differs from lock to lock, with gradients, bridges, and soft ground creating difficulties for wheelchairs and some mobility scooters.
Public transport and parking options are uneven along the route. Check the return journey before starting a linear walk, and do not assume that every road crossing offers a safe place to leave a vehicle. Carry drinking water, a charged phone, and an offline map, as mobile coverage can be inconsistent in rural dips and wooded stretches.
Boater’s etiquette and seasonal detail
Approaching a lock requires more than opening and closing gates. A crew should inspect the chamber, check for obstructions, control the boat with adequate ropes, and communicate clearly. Never leave a paddle raised without supervision, and make sure gates are left in the condition required by local instructions. Water conservation is particularly important during dry periods.
Walkers and cyclists should give working boats room, especially beside gates and in narrow lock approaches. A boat may need the full width of the channel to manoeuvre. Anglers should keep rods and equipment clear of the towpath, while everyone should respect signs marking private land, temporary closures, or restoration work.
Every season changes the experience. Spring brings fresh vegetation and bird activity; summer offers the longest daylight for linked lock walks; autumn adds colour to wooded banks; and winter can expose brickwork and earthworks hidden by foliage. Frost, flooding, fallen branches, and mud can make some sections hazardous, so a flexible route is wise.
Recommendations for a better lock trail
- Record each lock number as you go, using photographs or a route app to create a personal canal log.
- Check navigation notices, towpath conditions, and access restrictions shortly before travelling.
- Wear footwear suited to mud and uneven ground, and carry extra water on rural sections.
- Leave gates, paddles, bridges, and surrounding vegetation exactly as you find them.
- Combine the locks with nearby villages, wildlife areas, and historic landmarks rather than rushing between points.
The 18 locks reward repeated visits because the canal looks different in every season and under changing water levels. Follow the sequence from the Trent towards Grantham, explore one section at a time, and use the lock numbers to connect practical navigation with the story of this restored historic waterway.