Walk 44: Nutbrook Trail

The Nutbrook Trail is a linear 16 km route running between Long Eaton and Heanor, following parts of the Erewash and Nutbrook Canal, old railway corridors and a visit to the beautiful Shipley Country Park.

Starting in Long Eaton, the route picks up the towpath of the Erewash Canal, skirting the wet meadows of Toton Washlands, before passing through Sandiacre and continuing towards Hallam Fields. The opening miles are rich in industrial heritage, with working locks, sturdy bridges, quiet tunnels and red-brick mill buildings lining the waterway, all set within a peaceful pastoral landscape that feels wonderfully unhurried.

The trail then heads off the Erewash Canal to meet the Nutbrook and follows the course of the former Stanton Branch Line railway, rising gently towards the beautiful Shipley Country Park.

 

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Walk Details

  • Distance: 19.4 km (12 mi)
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Minimum Duration: 5 hrs
  • Refreshments: Cafe
  • Start Grid Ref: SK 49132 34152
  • W3W: appear.jumpy.grin
  • Elevation Gain: 188m (617ft)
  • Route: Download .gpx file
About difficulty
  • Easy: Mostly flat terrain, suitable for beginners and families.
  • Moderate: Some hills and uneven ground, requires a basic level of fitness.
  • Hard: Steep climbs, rough terrain, suitable for experienced walkers with good fitness.

Start Point

Midland Street, Long Eaton, Erewash, NG10 1NY.

Note that the Nutbrook Trail is a linear walk, so it is recommended to take public transport to the start and end points of the walk.

Get directions to this location

Weather

Derbyshire, UK

Route Map

Directions

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Safety First

Each route offers an overview only. Always carry a map and compass and know how to use them. Plan ahead, use common sense, and expect some risk. GPX files are recommended for support, but don’t rely on them as devices can fail. Actual distances are often longer than stated.

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Download Route File (.gpx)

Starting in Long Eaton, the route picks up the towpath of the Erewash Canal, skirting the wet meadows of Toton Washlands, before passing through Sandiacre and continuing towards Hallam Fields. The opening miles are rich in industrial heritage, with working locks, sturdy bridges, quiet tunnels and red-brick mill buildings lining the waterway, all set within a peaceful pastoral landscape that feels wonderfully unhurried.

The trail then heads off the Erewash Canal to meet the Nutbrook and follows the course of the former Stanton Branch Line railway, rising gently towards the beautiful Shipley Country Park.

Please note! that at the time of writing, the official section between Stanton Lock and Stanton North Lagoons was closed due to redevelopment works. As a result, I continued along the canal to Hallam Fields Lock, then followed Hallam Fields Road and descended Crompton Road to rejoin the trail beyond the closure. Later, on reaching the Nutbrook Cafe in Shipley Country Park, I chose to extend the route with a loop around the park, taking the opportunity to explore more of its woodland and open spaces.

Created: 21/02/26. Updated: 21/02/26

Leigh Walker

View posts by Leigh Walker
Hi I'm Leigh, the creator Walk In Derbyshire. I've been walking in the Peak District National Park for over 30 years and have a huge passion for connecting with nature and hiking in the outdoors. I write up the all the walks for Walk In Derbyshire and am also the lead on our group hikes.

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