Outdoor planning guide
Outdoor days out in Long Eaton: park or waterside?
West Park, the Erewash Canal and Trent Lock offer three different ways to spend time outdoors around Long Eaton. The useful distinction is the kind of visit you want: a park stay, a walk with a turnaround point, or a waterside destination where you can stop and watch.
This guide combines official visitor information with our suggested plans. The plans are editorial suggestions, not timed or surveyed walking routes. Start with one place rather than trying to fit all three into a short afternoon, then use the visitor links to check the details that matter to your group.
Make a local plan
Choose an outdoor outing
These suggested plans start when you arrive. Allow extra time for travel. Choose a setting to narrow the options, or compare all three below.
3 plans to consider
A flexible hour at West Park
Choose this when you want outdoor time without committing to a long route.
Start: West Park, Wilsthorpe Road, NG10 3NL.
- Pick your entrance and a meeting point before separating from your group.
- Spend the first part of your visit exploring the park, then choose a spot to pause rather than adding a second destination.
- Return to your starting point with time left for the journey home.
Before you go: Check the council’s park information for access arrangements; vehicle access into the park needs a permit.
Official visitor informationAn out-and-back canal walk
Choose this for walking rather than a fixed attraction. You decide the distance.
Start: Choose an Erewash Canal access point on the Trust’s map before leaving.
- Record your starting point and choose one direction along the towpath.
- For a one-hour outing, turn around after about 20 minutes to leave a margin for stops and a slower return.
- Return along the same stretch; avoid adding an unfamiliar loop when you have a fixed finish time.
Before you go: Check the canal map and notices. Towpath surfaces and access points vary; this is a planning idea, not a surveyed accessible route.
Official visitor informationWatch the waterways at Trent Lock
Choose this for a destination where you can pause and watch boats, rather than covering distance.
Start: Lock Lane, Sawley, Long Eaton, NG10 2FY.
- Start at the lock and use the Trust’s local map to orient yourself.
- Watch the waterway junction, then decide whether you want a short walk or to stay near your starting point.
- Allow for your return journey separately from the time spent at the water.
Before you go: The Trust lists free entry and a free council car park, but no public toilets on site. Check its visitor page before travelling.
Official visitor informationChoose the place that fits your outing
| Place or activity | Works well for | Plan ahead |
|---|---|---|
| West Park | Staying in one park and changing your plan as you go. | The council lists Wilsthorpe Road, NG10 3NL. Check access arrangements before choosing an entrance. |
| Erewash Canal | A walk where you control the distance by turning back. | Choose an access point using the canal map and check notices for your stretch. |
| Trent Lock | Watching boats and exploring a waterway junction. | The Trust lists no public toilets on site; plan that part of the visit in advance. |
Planning your visit
Make the return journey part of the plan
A spare hour at your destination is different from an hour including travel. Decide when you need to be back, then work backwards from that time. For a canal outing, an out-and-back walk keeps the return simple: turn around before half your available time has passed, leaving room for pauses. If you want to finish somewhere else, check the onward journey before starting rather than assuming a convenient return connection.
Choose around your group’s needs
For a group that wants to split between moving and resting, a park visit gives you a single destination and a meeting point. For people who want continuous walking, choose a canal stretch instead. Trent Lock works as a destination in its own right without a long walk. None of those choices establishes step-free access: check entrances, surfaces and facilities separately if you are bringing a wheelchair or pushchair.
Keep a shorter alternative ready
A plan is easier to adapt when its optional part comes last. At Trent Lock, make the lock area your main stop and any onward walk an extra. On a canal walk, shorten the outing by turning back sooner. In the park, keep your group’s meeting point consistent even if some people finish early. In darker months, set a finish time before leaving instead of deciding how far to go only after you arrive.
Keep spending and facilities separate
The Trust describes Trent Lock as free to visit and lists a free council car park. That does not include food, travel or nearby businesses. It also says there are no public toilets on site, so do not treat a nearby venue as a guaranteed public facility. If refreshments are part of your outing, confirm opening times and any access needs directly with that business before building your plan around it.
West Park
Use the park as your main destination when you want a flexible visit. Read the council’s access information before travelling: vehicle access within the park requires a permit and is different from parking outside it.
See West ParkErewash Canal
Choose a stretch rather than treating the canal as one fixed attraction. Note your access point and return along the same route if you have a firm finish time.
See the Erewash CanalTrent Lock
Start at Lock Lane, Sawley, NG10 2FY. The junction gives this outing a clear destination; use the Trust’s map to decide whether to add a walk after your first stop.
See Trent LockYour local weekend guide
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Related upcoming events
Confirmed listings currently in the calendar. Check each page for the latest details.
Fitness / Community
Every Saturday • Free
Long Eaton parkrun
09:00 • West Park Leisure Centre, Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton, NG10 4AA
A free weekly 5k community event in Long Eaton. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.
See details
Fitness / Community
Every Sunday • Free
Long Eaton junior parkrun
09:00 • West Park, Long Eaton
A free weekly 2k event for children aged 4 to 14, starting at 9am every Sunday at West Park in Long Eaton.
See details
Community / Entertainment
5 November 2026 • Adults £8 prepaid / £10 on the day
West Park Bonfire and Fireworks
Gates 5pm · Bonfire 6:30pm · Fireworks 7:30pm • West Park, Long Eaton
Fairground rides, a bonfire from 6:30pm and fireworks from 7:30pm at West Park on Thursday 5 November. Gates open at 5pm, with family tickets available.
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