Overview
2-hour Fish & Chip cruises run on Friday Afternoons 13:00 from Tapton Lock Visitor Centre
1st, 22nd, 29th May; 5th, 12th, June; 3rd, 10th, 24th July; 11th, 25th September; 16th, 23rd, 30th October
and Wednesday Evenings 19:00 from Tapton Lock Visitor Centre13th May, 15th July, 16th September
Please note: Passengers who are vegetarian or gluten intolerant can specify your requirements at checkout.
What's Included
🍴 Food - Fish and Chips with mushy peas fresh from our local supplier. GF option available
🥤 Drink - Teas and coffees served.
📋 Other - Please wear clothing suitable for the weather conditions. Notes:
📋 There is no toilet on John Varley, but there is at the Visitor Centre
📋 Wheelchair lift available. We can accommodate a / up to two manual / self - propelled wheelchairs. Max 1.05 m x . 75; chair plus passenger not exceeding 300kg.
📋 Dogs: Sorry, we do not allow dogs on food related trips
Our cruise commences at the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre where there is an Information Centre and toilets.
After winding (turning round), the fish & chips are delivered to the boat and tables are set up with suitable cutlery, condiments and soft drinks that are served with the supper. Whilst we dine, we cruise down - following the Rother Valley – through Wheeldon Mill Lock and on to the beautiful Bluebank Woods. Here we explore this wonderful broad and sweeping curve before descending Bluebank Lock towards Dixon's Wharf where we wind again and return through the locks arriving back at Tapton Lock to disembark.
Subject to conditions and the skipper's permission, you may be able to help with the locks or have a go at steering the boat.
Unlike rivers, canals can go up and down hills! Learn about the working of the 250 year old locks which raise and lower the boats from one level in the canal to another. Locks use a lot of water - each time we use Tapton lock, it takes about 100 cubic metres of water to re fill it. That's the equivalent of about 2500 baths! The water isn't wasted though, it eventually finds its way back into the river.
If engineering (and sums) isn't your thing, then relaxation surely is. Cruising on water is just such a tranquil and leisurely activity. Combined with a profusion of wildlife – dabbling ducks and moorhen, the majestic heron or iconic kingfisher – look out for martins as they swoop and skim low over the water - tree lined avenues and swathes of bluebells and other spring flowers – all your cares and worries will drift away on the water.
John Varley II is a purpose built 36' (10.9m) narrowboat. Built in 2016 designed and licenced to carry 12 passengers. It replaces an older trip boat, also called John Varley, which was retired off after 24 years' service.
Narrowboat? - John Varley is 6'10” (2.1m) wide and the locks are little more than 7' (2.13m) wide ~ so mind your fingers in locks, bridges and tunnels.
Why John Varley? The route of the Chesterfield canal was originally surveyed by canal engineer James Brindley and he employed John Varley as his clerk of works. Brindley died in 1772 and Varley took over as resident engineer. The canal opened in 1777 and ran 46 miles from Chesterfield to West Stockwith on the River Trent.
In its heyday, the canal carried malt, hops, gravel, pottery, coal, iron ore, iron products, lead and stone. The boats were all horse-drawn and were called 'cuckoo boats'. Prior to canals, cargoes were carried by horse and cart. The maximum load a single horse could pull in a cart – and remember the roads were rough, muddy and full of pot holes - was about one tonne. The same horse pulling a canal boat could pull up to 30 tonnes. So you can see – canals made good sense.
All trips are crewed by qualified volunteers of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, and the profits from all trips go towards the restoration of the last few miles of the Chesterfield Canal.