Leeds Liverpool Canal Boat Hire | Canal Holidays Read what some of our previous clients say about the Leeds - Liverpool Canal. Start Point - Silsden "Well equipped boat; beautiful and interesting scenery; relaxing (yet active!) way to travel; great pub at Kildwick; beautiful moorings at Greenberfield top lock. DO visit the Bingley five-rise lock if you have time; DO traverse the canal between Silsden and Foulridge for its beauty; DO visit the White Lion pub in Kildwick; DO spend a day in Skipton (Venice in Yorkshire??); DO visit the Lock Stock & Barrel pub in Skipton, but DO NOT bother with the Black Horse; and if you want a night ashore in a lovely hotel with a very nice restaurant, stop over at Steeton Hall in Steeton (near Silsden)." JL, USA Silsden - Foulridge "The boat was excellent, very clean and tidy and had everything we needed. We headed right from the boatyard (standing in the boat yard looking towards the canal) and then came back passed the yard and continued on towards the Bingley five rise. I think this was an excellent choice.

From Silsden to the mile long tunnel is lovely scenery and just enough locks!! Back the other way towards Bingley is slightly better scenery but not far before you reach the five and three rises and they would be particularly hard work. Make sure you stop for a curry in Skipton and don't forget to try a pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord bitter. Saltair is worth walking to and Morrisons do a good breakfast!" SLW, UK "This was a fantastic holiday - a week was too short. Where else can you literally 'push the boat out', 'rock the boat' and touch people with barge poles (or not)!!! Things we learned during the week: plan your route before you go and allow plenty time for locks. Buy a guide book! We didn't and regretted it." MC, USA "Staff were friendly & helpful and gave good instruction for beginners. Scenery is beautiful & varied. So who needs good weather?!" CH, UK "Fellow holiday makers and walkers were really friendly and to be able to moor and go to the supermarket or a pub was a pleasant novelty!

The countryside was delightful and we saw a great deal of wildlife - some rather tame ducks made for an entertaining morning!" MP, USA Leeds and Liverpool Canal | Canal Guide | From Leeds to Barnoldswick Leeds and Liverpool Canal With Grateful Thanks to Fettlers Wharf Marina The Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Leeds to Barnoldswick Researched and written by Jeannette Briggs The Leeds and Liverpool Canal was originally built to enable the transport ofheavy goods over the Pennines from the industrial heartlands of West Yorkshire to the docks at Liverpool. The canal was constructed with wide locks so that it was capable of taking huge barges throughout its whole length. It is one of the the longest canals in the country in terms of overall mileage, and its route passes over the highest chain of mountains in England (the Pennines), so its construction was a tremendous feat of engineering for the time. Above: The canal at Skipton - photo by Simon Worsfold The canal company that built it made profits for many years, although the shortage of water supply for the summit pound over the Pennines was always a problem. Despite the fact that the canal company built huge reservoirs there were several summers when because of a water shortage the canal had to be closed to traffic.

By the 1960ies commercial traffic on the canal had ceased. Nowadays the canal is used by those taking a canal boat holiday. It is appreciated not only for its beauty in tranquil settings as it passes high over the moorland but also for the industrial architecture along other lengths through such cities as Leeds, and towns like Shipley, Saltaire and Bingley. This latter town is particularly famous in canal boat circles as being the location for the extraordinary construction known as the "Bingley Five Rise" - a unique set of staircase locks, which were totally revolutionary at the time they were devised (more of these later). This will be a memorable part of a canal boat hire or canal boat holiday. Above: The Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Skipton - photo by Simon Worsfold The Leeds and Liverpool canal starts in the city of Leeds, a huge industrial centre and once the heart of the textile and clothing industry. The canal leaves the Aire and Calder Canal at River Lock in the centre of the city by the railway station. British Waterways Board advise that - as in all big cities - care must be exercised when mooring your boat in Leeds, but that a good place to moor is between River and Office Locks.

Once you leave River Lock thenext lock is in fact Office Lock, and the surrounding area is being redeveloped in the style of Brindley Place in Birmingham. The route of the canal follows the River Aire until Kirkstall Abbey which is visible from the canal. This was a beautiful Cistercian Abbey founded in the 12 century, and was yet again one of those which were despoiled by King Henry VIIIin Tudor times. There is enough left of the ruins of the abbey to give you the impression of the great size and beauty of the original building. Above: Office Lock in the centre of Leeds - photo by Simon Worsfold. Above: Kirkstall Abbey Leeds - photo by Simon Worsfold You next pass through two sets of locks at Forge and Newlay on the outskirts of Leeds and a village called Rodley, before reaching Apperley Bridge, which has a BW boatyard and a mooring basin by Dobson Locks.

Above: Apperley Bridge marina - photo by Simon Worsfold and reproduced by kind permission The canal continues to follow the route of the River Aire, and there is now a long stretch of the canal without locksuntil you reach the towns of Baildon and Shipley plus the model "village" of Saltaire. Above: The canal at Shipley - photo by Simon Worsfold These towns are largely built of dark Yorkshire limestone, and were formerly the centres of textiles and heavy engineering. There are still mills here and factories adjacent to the canal like the Damart mill at Bingley. Saltaire is one of those experiments in social engineering that the Victorians loved so much. The great Yorkshire millowner, Sir Titus Salt was deeply shocked at the living conditions of many of his workers in his factories,and he built a "model village" on the banks of the canal and River Aire just outside Shipley. The houses were of a tremendously high standard for the times - but Sir Titus had signed the pledge against the demon drink and he refused to build a pub for his villagers! He did build a beautiful church in the Italianate style, and schools and centres so that his workers could spend their spare time in improving pursuits.....

Not a lot has changed and the village is visible from the canal. There is now even a pub at the bridge called the Boathouse Inn! Leaving Saltaire and after negotiating Hirst Lock and Dowley Gap Lock, you quickly approach Bingley. This is the centre of the thermal underware trade with the very large Damart factory right by the canal. There is also a set of three locks here, called the Bingley Three Rise which are daunting enough. However, the single most visited attraction on the canal is located just after the Three Rise locks. They are known asthe Bingley Five Rise staircase locks. These are all "joined together", so that the top gates of one lock are also the bottom gates of the next lock, and so on. They are a magnificent feat of canal civil engineering andthey areworld famous among canal aficionados. It is fun to watch narrowboats trying to negotiate these five locks one after another. It is not so much fun if you arrive at the bottom lock just after another narrowboat has beaten you to it and commenced their ascent, because you know you will then have to wait a considerable length of time until the locks are set once again for your upward ascent.

Once you have reached the top of the staircase you will be relieved to know that there are no more locks to negotiate until you reach Gargarve, about 17 miles away, and beyond Skipton. Once you leave Bingley the large industrial towns seem to melt away - you can still see Keighley to the south of the canal, but there are more views of hills and wooded landscapes from now on for you to enjoy. The canal reaches Silsden, which has pubs and shops for essential supplies, and which is the base for Silsden Boats. Beyond Silsden you approach Kildwick, which isanother nice little village alongside the canal, with pubs and shops, before the long stretch of open countryside that preceeds the approach to Skipton. Above: Bingley Five Rise Staircase Locks - photo by Simon Worsfold Above: Skipton and the canal - photo by Simon Worsfold Skipton is a gem. I first visited here about 30 years ago, and its delights do not fade with time.

It is - as you might expect - the centre of the canal "industry", with loads of moorings, and shops selling everything you could possibly want for your boatand basic supplies like bread and milk. Springs Branch is a canal basin that is off the main canal, and which leads to the centre of the town. The town is still a market centre with many old and interesting buildings, like the castle, and the parish church of the Holy Trinity, both of which tower over the town. The Springs Branch was built originally to carry stone from a nearby quarry down the canal to Leeds, but now it is entirely used for pleasure boating, and there are several pubs here, like The Royal Shepherd, and Herriots. When you tear yourself away from Skipton you will be travelling westward over the top of the Pennines, and through the Yorkshire Dales National Park. You are surrounded by moors and hills and you cross a stone aqueduct at Holme Bridge, before approaching the village of Gargrave. Above:The canal at Gargrave Lock - photo by Simon Worsfold This is a walking and cycling centre for visitors because it is so close to some of England's finest moors and dales.

Gargrave village has lots of pubs and shops for supplies. Above: The delightful setting of Bank Newton Lock - photo by Simon Worsfold Once past Gargrave, the canal twists and turns following the contours of the land, past Bank Newton and East Marton. You reach the first locks on the canal since you left Bingley. The views are tremendous in all directions. There are six locks at Bank Newton, which raise you up even further towards East Marton and Wilkinsons Farm, where there is a useful shop. You might need to stock up here, because the countryside beyond this point is fairly remote. The famous Pennine Way, the 250 mile long walking track from Kirk Yetholme in the Cheviots to Edale in Derbyshire passes through here at East Marton, and the track actually goes along the towpath here for a short distance.

Above: Bank Newton Bridge - photo by Simon Worsfold Above: The bridges at East Marton - photo by Simon Worsfold Once you leave East Marton you are now approaching the town of Barnoldswick and Greenberfield locks which are the "top locks" of the whole canal - the pound beyond here is the Summit Pound and it is downhill all the way towards Liverpool from this point. Above: The lock at Greenberfield - photo by Simon Worsfold Barnoldswick is a busy little town, once the centre of the Rolls Royce aero-engine industry, and it has lots of useful shops and pubs. Thecanalbeyond Barnoldswick takes you through Salterforth and some really remote and beautiful countryside with views in most directions, until you reach the north portal of the Foulridge Tunnel. This is over 1 mile long and very wet: for those in a canal boat you should have cagoules and umbrellas handy to ward off the constant drips from the tunnel roof.

At the southern end of the tunnel the Leeds and Liverpool canal becomes surrounded by almost unrelieved industrial scenes of such towns as Burnley, Clayton le Moors, Blackburn, Chorley and Wigan, which are interspersed with long stretches of flat fields. There are a few sections which are attractive, like Scarisbrick Hall and woods but basically the scenery around this part of the canal is not very interesting, and - it has to be said - unexciting but part of the canal boat holiday experience. Photo courtesy of Sue Adair and Geograph and reproduced by kind permission The canal finally reaches the city of Liverpool. It passes through the suburbs Maghull and Melling and on through Aintree, and winds its way through some rather grim parts of the inner city. Formerly the Leeds and Liverpool canal terminated in a lonely dead-end at Eldonian Village, but a recent £20 million restoration project has resulted in the lock flight down to Stanley Dock being completed once again, and this enables navigation to be extended across the Pier Head, then into the South Docks and Albert Dock in the heart of Liverpool. The Liverpool Link was officially opened in March 2009.

You may want to continue your journey all the way to Liverpool, but if you particularly enjoy the moors and mountains that you have traversed across the Pennines, between Leeds and Barnoldswick, you may decide to turn your narrowboat around at Barnoldswick (there is a winding hole at Bridge 153 whereyou can do this) and retrace yoursteps towards Skipton once again. I hope that this brief introduction to the pleasures of being on a canal boat along the Leeds and Liverpool canal will tempt you to try it for yourself one day! Leeds - Liverpool Canal | Canal | Bradford|West Yorkshire Leeds - Liverpool Canal BD16 Details The Leeds - Liverpool Canal is the perfect place to take a stroll or cycle. The route takes in some magnificent countryside, industrial heritage and iconic feats of engineering such as the Five Rise Locks. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal main line is 127 miles (204 km) long and crosses the country from Liverpool, Merseyside to Leeds, West Yorkshire.

The canal was built with locks 60 ft (18.3 m) long and 14 ft 3 inch (4.3 m) wide to accommodate the Yorkshire Keel barges already in use on the Rivers Aire and Humber. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is said to be one of the longest single canal in England. The famous Five Rise Locks at Bingley can be found on the canal. Also see Aire Valley Canal Walk from Saltaire to Bingley Five Rise Locks Aire Valley Canal Walk Taking the Towpath Way This Aire Valley Canal Walk meanders through some of the finest scenery. Although the Aire Valley - or Airedale - cradles some of West Yorkshire's more industrial areas, many stretches are to be found in the most delightful countryside. The Leeds Liverpool Canal was the first to span the Pennines, forging a route along the Aire Valley, from the West Riding of Yorkshire through to the industrial heartland of Lancashire. With a total length of 127 miles it lays claim to the longest of England's canals and makes for a challenging long distance canal walk.

There are, however, a number of gentle, much shorter walks - more suited to the, shall we say, less energetic among us. One such canal walk is this three mile stroll along the towpath from Saltaire through Bingley to the Five Rise Locks at Crossflatts. At the bottom of Victoria Road in Saltaire, join the canal towpath where Salts Mill stands proudly on either side of the water. Strike out westwards, following the signpost for Hirst Wood and Bingley. You'll have a fine view of Saltaire's United Reform Church across the water to your left. As you walk you'll have lovely, long distance views to Hope Hill and Shipley Glen over to your right, through the trees that line the driveway to Saltaire Sports Club. Relax and take in the tranquil scene of grazing horses in the fields across the water. Watch out for Mallard Ducks and Mute Swans along this stretch before reaching the single locks at Hirst Mill. The garden centre here has a great selection of plants. Spoilt for choice ... At Hirst Mill you're spoilt for choice on how you continue your walk: Keep to the canal towpath.

This is easiest because the way is level and well surfaced all the way. Cross the canal by either the swing road bridge or narrow footbridge over the lock chamber and enjoy the wooded walk through Hirst Wood. Take the footpath down to the right and cross the River Aire on the footbridge. Turn left, upriver, and cross the small brook at the other side of the field. The river footpath goes alongside the river past Hirst Weir and the buildings of the Rowing Club. All three options converge at or near the Dowley Gap Aqueduct - where the canal leaps over the river. At times of spate the river thunders below in a raging torrent, through the arches of the aqueduct. The Aire Valley narrows here and over the millennia river water has carved a mighty "S" bend. Beyond the aqueduct use the hump-backed bridge to cross over the canal and continue past the double locks of Dowley Gap. Follow the towpath around the water's edge under a second hump-backed bridge and you'll be faced with a decision! Do you keep walking? Or are you tempted into the Fisherman's pub? Ready for refreshment?

At about the halfway point of this canal walk, refreshing ales and wholesome meals are on offer to the weary walker. Fine days are best spent in the beer garden but the cosy lounge welcomes you indoors should the weather be less than glorious. Another very pleasant, wooded section follows until the valley bottom narrows again. Through Bingley the three ages of travel are squeezed together as canal, railway and modern trunk road run closely alongside each other. Through Bingley also, canal side mills have been tastefully converted to modern luxury apartments for convenient, urban living. No need to look out for Damart's mill chimney - it hits you in the face with bold white lettering on blackened stone. The towpath heads away from Bingley now as it climbs alongside a triple set of locks. Journey's end in sight! A long, left hand sweep brings the Bingley Five Rise Locks into view. Think about the period in history when the canals were built. Pick and shovel! Bucket and wheelbarrow! Blood sweat and tears! You cannot fail to be impressed by the sheer wonder of this testament to the remarkable technology and tenacity of the eighteenth century workers.

The courage, determination and sacrifice of the hardy men who toiled with bare hands to make this possible! The world famous Five Rise Locks Ready for a Yorkshire Dales ice cream? Perhaps a tasty snack with a cup of Yorkshire Tea? Bingley born and bred, Marcus along with wife Ann and daughters Katie & Olivia are waiting to welcome you to The Five Rise Locks Cafe where they will be happy to serve you from a scrumptious, extensive menu. The cafe is open every day throughout the year and is a great place to rest awhile after such an enjoyable walk! To whet your appetite why not browse their menu? Five Rise Locks Cafe Menu Crossflatts village straddles the canal hereabouts. You'll find shops and The Royal pub if you walk a little further along the towpath and bear left down the road to the old A650 main road. When it's time to head back to Saltaire you have options - always nice to have! Buses stop just by The Royal - you'll see the bus shelter at the road side. The railway station is just a couple of hundred metres towards Bingley along the main road. If you're still fit there's the possibility of walking back.

Perhaps at Dowley Gap you might take one of the alternative ways - through Hirst Wood or along the riverbank. This picturesque, gentle canal walk begins and ends with two of the most amazing examples of the new technologies that were developed during the first and second industrial revolutions. In between you'll walk through some of the nicest scenery to be found. I hope you enjoy this canal walk as much as I do. Bingley Bingley Some more views of Bingley Bingley is a small town in the Aire Valley , just north of Bradford in West Yorkshire's Bronte Country . The Leeds - Liverpool canal passes through Bingley, where boats must negotiate the famous Five Rise Locks . The River Aire also passes through the town, and is traversed by the historic Ireland Bridge (which is also known as " Bat Bridge "). The town is centred on an open market square with an ancient market stall (called the "Market Hall"), Butter Cross and stocks. Adjacent to this is the Bingley Arts Centre, which houses the Bingley Little Theatre.

Nearby attractions and places to visit include Myrtle Park , the St Ives' estate, Beckfoot , the World Heritage site of Saltaire (built by the Victorian philanthropist Sir Titus Salt), and the villages of Haworth and Thornton (famous as the home and birthplace of the Brontes respectively). Meanwhile, across Rombalds Moor to the east lies the spa town of Ilkley , with the beautiful Yorkshire Dales to the north. Also nearby is the village of Cottingley , famous for its association with Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, two local schoolchildren who back in 1917 photographed the Cottingley Fairies - which they claimed to be real fairies at the bottom of the garden. The area is also famous for its association with Sir Fred Hoyle (who was born in nearby Gilstead in 1915 and attended Bingley Grammar School ) - the eminent British astrophysicist and cosmologist who first coined the expression "Big Bang" (albeit as a term of disparagement, with he himself being a supporter of the previously established "Steady State" theory of the universe).

Sir Fred Hoyle died in 2001, and in 2009 the recently constructed local Bingley Relief Road was named in his honour. In the summertime Bingley hosts the Bingley Show , and Bingley Music Live - both of which are usually held in Myrtle Park . Accommodation in and around Bingley The following guest houses, self-catering cottages and hotels provide accommodation in and around the Bingley area: [N.B. Please mention the Eagle Intermedia Bronte Country website when making your enquiries.] Other Bingley Websites For more information about Bingley and Bingley related organisations, please visit the following externally maintained websites and web pages: Canals Birmingham Canals The Birmingham Canal links the City of Birmingham to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal and the start of the Shropshire Union Canal at Aldersley, just north of Wolverhampton. The canal passes through Smethwick and under the M5 at Oldbury. There are two branches off the canal at Dudley, where the famous Dudley tunnels pass under the town. The Dudley tunnel starts from the basin at the fabulous Black Country Museum and surfaces at Parkhead Locks.

The Netherton tunnel starts at Dudley Port and surfaces at Bumble Hole where Cobbs Engine house can be found along with the excellent Dry Dock Pub . Both tunnels are more than a mile in length. The canal continues through the Black Country industrial areas of Tipton and Coseley before reaching the city of Wolverhampton. It passes by Wolverhampton's racecourse, Dunstall Park before meeting the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal . The Birmingham Canal Network can currently be accessed from five directions. From the north the link with the Staffs & Worcs Canal climbs the 21 Wolverhampton locks to join the 'new main line' built by Thomas Telford in the 1820's to straighten James Brindley's twisting contour route. He made use of deep cuttings and embankments and the wide canal had a towpath on either side. From the south comes the Worcester & Birmingham , and from the south east the Grand Union Canal . The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal comes in from the east, forming a network through the centre of the city of Birmingham. The Dudley Tunnel, closed to powered craft, gave access from the west.

Boats now use the wide Netherton Tunnel with towpaths either side and gas lighting built to overcome the bottleneck caused by the old narrow tunnel. There were also links in the north east area to the Staffs & Worcs at Hatherton and to the Coventry Canal at Huddleston. The two large loops of canals in the North Eastern area served coalfields, especially those around Cannock which were the last to close in the 1960's. Subsidence has always been a major problem because of mining activities. Lappal Tunnel (11,385 yards) which gave a faster link to the Worcester & Birmingham was closed in 1917 due to subsidence, though even it now has a society planning to reopen it. The Birmingham & Fazeley soon leaves urban Birmingham behind for the green, peaceful and rural Midlands. The canal starts right in the heart of central Birmingham, dropping through 13 locks in less than a mile at Farmer's Bridge by the Post Office Tower. But its urban origins are soon forgotten as it travels north-eastwards for 15 miles through Minworth and Curdworth.

Nicknamed 'The Bottom Road', the canal is now devoid of much of the industry for which it was built. Salford Junction, the waterway interchange in the bowels of Spaghetti Junction, is starkly impressive. At Drayton Bassett, once the home of Sir Robert Peel, the canal is crossed by a curious Gothic footbridge. The canal runs alongside Kingsbury Water Park where the popular Dog & Doublet is frequented by both boaters and people from the Birmingham area. The Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canal travels through an industrial landscape which recalls the bygone era of the working canals. Boaters exploring the Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canal can spot clues to the past in canalside factories, old arches and the nearby railway line. This 2 mile canal was built in 1844 to ease congestion into Birmingham and hosted a steady stream of working boats making their way from Camp Hill to Salford Bridge. Today, the canal passes close by Birmingham City Football ground and �Star City� � a large modern entertainment centre. New housing developments overlooking the canal emphasise the dawn of a new canal age.

Yet in quiet reaches by the old factories of �Brumagen� you can easily imagine the sights, sounds and smells of working boats and bustling wharves in days gone by. Birmingham Canal Main Line, designed by Thomas Telford , the 'New Main Line' runs through massive cuttings and bold embankments through the heart of the Black Country. The 19th century equivalent of a motorway, the Main Line runs straight as an arrow from Birmingham to Tipton before heading off to Wolverhampton. Thomas Telford's improvements shortened the route between Birmingham and Wolverhampton by around seven miles whilst also using fewer locks. Birmingham Canal Old Main Line - Much of the old Birmingham Canal is still open to boaters and walkers - and the sense of history is almost overpowering. The Old Main Line plays a prominent part in many modern developments, such as the houses at Tividale Quays. These focus on the waterspace, a trend unimaginable only a generation ago when housing shied away from the 'grimy' canals.

Superseded by Telford's straight New Main Line, the seven-mile stretch of James Brindley's Old Main Line from Smethwick Junction to Factory Junction sees fewer boats than Telford's newer and shorter route. Other parts of the original line survive in curious 'loops', some navigable, some lost. Like manmade oxbow lakes, these demonstrate how the first Birmingham Canal - which followed the contours of the land - was superseded by a straighter, shorter route through the Black Country. Bridgewater Canal Considered the inspiration for 'Canal Mania', the 28 miles of Bridgewater Canal is more noteworthy for its innovation than its scenery. The coal mines at Worsley which prompted its construction can still be seen, and the impressive Barton Swing Aqueduct is quite unique. Also known as 'The Duke's Cut', the Bridgewater Canal is now an integral part of the Cheshire Cruising Ring. One of the original cruising rings of the modern canal era, it encompasses rolling Cheshire countryside and the rugged Pennines. Caldon Canal Could this beautiful canal through Staffordshire be England's most scenic waterway?

Built as a branch of the cross-country Trent & Mersey, this picturesque waterway from Stoke-on-Trent to the heart of Staffordshire has assumed the status of a canal in its own right. Its final miles run through an area known as 'Little Switzerland', with only a preserved steam railway to disturb the peace. The Caldon runs for 18 miles from Stoke to Froghall, with a three-mile branch to Leek. On leaving the industrial environs of the Potteries, the canal becomes increasingly picturesque as it follows the Churnet Valley, passing the Boat Inn at Cheddleton - even sharing the river's course for a while. Caledonian Canal At the heart of Scotland's Great Glen, the 'Caley' is one of the great waterways of the world, offering visitors spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife - including the Loch Ness Monster! The Caledonian Canal links the Atlantic and the North Sea. Situated between the Moray Firth and Loch Linnhe, the canal was constructed as a transport route to save the long sail around Scotland. It is one of Scotland's largest marina facilities.

Thomas Telford began construction of the canal in 1803 and it was completed by 1822. The mountain scenery of the Scottish Highlands may be a surprising setting for a canal, but the Great Glen - through which the Caledonian Canal runs almost directly from South West to North East - has for centuries been the region's natural line of communication. Stretching from Fort William to Inverness, the Caledonian Canal is 60 miles long. 22 miles are man-made: the rest are natural lochs, namely Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, the famous Loch Ness and Loch Dochfour. Widely considered a masterpiece of canal engineering, the Caledonian is on a scale incomparable with almost anything else in Britain. It has survived in part due to its continuing importance in the Highland economy, and partly because it is quite simply spectacular. Coventry Canal Once bustling with narrowboats carrying coal, this surprising rural canal now passes quietly by spoil heaps that are today swathed in greenery. Rural throughout much of its length, the Coventry Canal runs for 38 miles linking Coventry with the Trent & Mersey Canal at Fradley Junction.

Coventry's most famous landmark is its cathedral - a stunning modern building standing next to the shell of the original cathedral, bombed in World War II. This is just a short walk from the attractive terminus basin, which is now lined with shops and bars. Informative signs and artworks adorn the towpath between Hawkesbury Junction and the city, and the line has undergone much general improvement. There is a pleasant flight of 11 locks at Atherstone. They are partly in town and partly in countryside. Atherstone holds a football match on Shrove Tuesday which follows 12th century rules. Crinan Canal Revelling in the title of 'Britain's most beautiful shortcut', the Crinan cuts across Mid Argyll between Loch Fyne and the Sound of Jura. Running for nine miles between Ardrishaig and Crinan, the canal, completed in 1801 was built to save sailing boats from the difficult passage around the Mull of Kintyre. The Crinan Canal is a very popular route passing through wonderful Scottish scenery that is especially beautiful around Crinan Basin.

The canal is only 7 m / 23 ft wide, too narrow and shallow for heavy commercial traffic today, but yachts, pleasure cruisers, and a few fishing boats continue to navigate its waters. There is a towpath throughout. Large sea-going vessels may be encountered, and navigators should beware of strong winds and a significant current. Forth & Clyde Canal After lying derelict for many years, the Forth & Clyde Canal once again strides the country from east to west. The canal was completed in 1791 and closed to navigation in 1963. Running from Bowling and the Clyde, through Glasgow to Grangemouth and the Forth, it was triumphantly reopened in 2001 as part of the �78m Millennium Link project - the largest canal restoration ever in Britain. Its 35 miles and 39 locks cross the Scottish Lowlands, passing the 115ft (35m) high Falkirk Wheel en route. The world's first rotating boat lift, the Wheel was opened in May 2002 by the Queen.

Situated in a natural amphitheatre outside Falkirk, the remarkable lift is a piece of working art and a monument to the future. The only structure of its kind in the world, the Wheel is the height of eight double decker buses and is capable of lifting loads equivalent to the weight of 100 African elephants! Day visitors can experience the thrill of the Wheel from special trip-boats at the site, while the Visitor Centre provides the most sensational land vantage point from which to view the wheel in action. Grand Union Canal The trunk route of Britain's canal network, the picturesque Grand Union links London through the Chilterns with Birmingham via the longest single canal in Britain. The Grand Union is a 1920s marriage of historic waterways that even now impresses with the scale of its vision. The Grand Union Canal leaves the River Thames at Brentford and climbs over fifty locks up into the Chiltern hills. The attractive 137-mile main line has many branches to towns along the way. The longest of these, the Leicester Line, runs to Leicester, from where the River Soar continues to Nottingham. As the main line from London to the Midlands, the Grand Union Canal was once one of the busiest in the country.

There are long tunnels at Blisworth and Braunston. Today, its charm lies in its diversity: from the centre of London through the Chiltern Hills, rural Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, and into the suburbs of Birmingham, it offers a wide variety of landscapes, wildlife, architecture, historic craft and buildings. The canal section before Leicester is very rural at times and has two tunnels at Crick and Husband's Bosworth and staircase locks at Watford and Foxton. Foxton is the site of a steam powered Inclined Plane which replaced ten locks and lifted narrowboats 75 feet. It was opened in 1900 but suffered from mechanical and structural problems and the locks were reopened in 1908. For the last twenty miles or so the route is along the River Soar which is a tributary of the Trent . Kennet & Avon Canal The Kennet & Avon Canal weaves through spectacular scenery between the River Thames and the Severn Estuary near Bristol covering a distance of 90 miles with more than 100 locks, as natural rolling landscapes give way to the World Heritage Site of Bath. England's most southerly cross-country broad-beam canal links London and the Bristol Channel.

The route of the Kennet & Avon takes it through some of the nation's best loved landscapes, including West Berkshire - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and the southern tip of the rolling Cotswolds. Designed by Scottish engineer John Rennie , the canal was built 1810, closed in the 1950s, and reopened in 1990.Its breathtaking architecture is in perfect harmony with surroundings that provide a habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna. And with an excellently maintained towpath, it's ideal for exploration by bike or on foot, as well as by boat. Reopened as recently as 1990 by the Queen, this canal is fast becoming one of Britain's favourite waterways. Lancaster Canal One of the most scenic canals now on the network, this gentle waterway offers wonderful views of the Silverdale coast, Forest of Bowland and rolling countryside of Wyre. The Lancaster Canal is unique. Being a contour canal (built along the natural lie of the land), it has 41 miles without locks. This is the longest stretch in the country, and in fact the only locks on the main length are derelict!

These are at Tewitfield, the southernmost point of the Northern Reaches, and as such are part of the �50 million restoration scheme to reopen the 14 miles of canal to Kendal. Though the canal was once busy with cargoes from Kendal, Preston and Lancaster, it has only just been connected to the national waterway network by the Millennium Ribble Link. The southern section became part of the busy Leeds & Liverpool Canal but the isolated northern section became a backwater. A waterbus now runs on the canal in the summer months, resurrecting a 200-year old tradition. Enjoy one of a variety of cruises on offer, including Lancaster to Carnforth, Carnforth to Tewitfield, Lancaster country cruises and Lune Aqueduct Cruises with Lancaster Canal Packet Boats. The canal was engineered by John Rennie , and the bridges and aqueducts are built on his usual massive classical scale. The five arched Lune Aqueduct is 660ft long and commonly accepted as one of the wonders of the canal world. Leeds & Liverpool Canal This is the longest canal in Britain built as a single waterway - yet one of the least busy.

One of three trans-Pennine waterways, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is 127 miles long and, via its connection with the Aire & Calder at Leeds, offers a coast-to-coast route across the north of England. Fascinating towns and attractions abound, from the big city appeal of Leeds to the peace of villages on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Waterway landmarks include the famous Five-Rise flight of locks at Bingley, the impressive Burnley Embankment, and Foulridge Tunnel, through which a cow once swam. The summit level goes through some fine moorland scenery over the 'backbone of England' , plunging through the mile long Foulridge tunnel. It then begins to descend amidst remote and beautiful countryside through the market town of Skipton into the Yorkshire Dales and on towards the bustling city of Leeds and the heart of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The canal has good connections at either end but keeps itself to itself across the Pennines. Consequently, it has its own vocabulary (lock paddles are known as 'cloughs') and has retained a distinctive character.

After Leeds, the Aire & Calder Navigation opens up a fascinating range of Yorkshire waterways, some once industrial, some very rural. The Yorkshire Ouse takes you to the ancient cities of York and Ripon. The South Yorkshire Navigation leads to the restored basin at the heart of the city of Sheffield.The Leeds & Liverpool is a barge canal, built with locks 60 feet long and 14 feet wide, reaching a height of 487� feet above sea level on the summit at Foulridge. The locks between Liverpool and Wigan are longer at 72 feet, as are the 2 on the branch to Leigh, where the junction with the Bridgewater Canal allows boats to reach the narrow canals of central and southern England. A second branch links the canal at Burscough with the River Ribble via the small port of Tarleton. Llangollen Canal One of the most popular waterways in Europe, the Llangollen Canal boasts scenic beauty and breathtaking engineering in equal measure. The magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct across the River Dee is worth the journey alone and is simply a must-see.

This 46-mile canal leaves the Shropshire Union Canal just north of Nantwich in rural Cheshire and climbs through deserted Shropshire farmlands to cross the border into Wales near Chirk. It then cuts through increasingly hilly countryside to finish alongside the River Dee tumbling out of Snowdonia, just above Llangollen. It is beautiful throughout and is understandably very busy in the high season. Understated rural countryside, including the market towns of Whitchurch and Ellesmere, gives way to the majesty of the Chirk and Pontcysyllte Aqueducts - two of Britain's greatest waterway landmarks, built by the engineers Thomas Telford and William Jessup and were among the first to use cast iron troughs to contain the canal. The final few miles of canal hug the side of the River Dee valley on their approach to Llangollen. The canal beyond the moorings at Llangollen, continuing to the water feeder at Horseshoe Falls, is a particularly attractive spot for a walk. Manchester Ship Canal From the tidal River Mersey at Eastham to Salford in Manchester, the Manchester Ship Canal, nicknamed 'The Big Ditch', runs for 36 miles.

Britain's biggest waterway, its size, construction methods and operations make it incomparable with any other inland waterway in the country. Opened by Queen Victoria in May 1894 the MSC brought deep-sea shipping to Manchester and led to the creation of Trafford Park, the world's first industrial estate. Although its role has diminished, it still carries significant amounts of cargo. Notable works include the Barton Swing Aqueduct, which carries the historic Bridgewater Canal over the newer waterway. It has five locks and transformed Lancashire's economy by making Manchester accessible to ocean-going craft. In particular, it led to the development of the cotton industry as raw cotton was transported east along the canal to Manchester and the finished textile products were shipped west to the Merseyside ports. Oxford Canal The picturesque Oxford Canal meanders slowly through 77 miles of classic scenery, much of which has barely changed in centuries. At one time it was the main transport route from the midlands to the south of England and it is now one of the most beautiful and popular cruising canals. The Oxford Canal is one of England's most peaceful waterways, running lazily through the countryside from Oxford to Coventry.

It was briefly the principal waterway from London to the Midlands, but was superseded soon after construction by the more direct Grand Junction Canal - now the Grand Union. Consequently, the Oxford Canal has escaped large-scale development and few towns have sprung up on its banks. The southern section is particularly charming and remains largely unaltered. The canal heads north through pleasant pastures, through the old canal village of Thrupp and passing close to the magnificent Blenheim palace, Winston Churchill's birthplace. The countryside becomes more isolated with rolling hills around the old village of Lower Heyford, neighbouring Upper Heyford had a large USAF base. The section up past Rugby was straightened in the nineteenth century, almost halving the length of the original winding route. You can still see the remains of some of the straightened out loops and the entrance to the old Newbold Tunnel is near the churchyard. The "new" tunnel is at right angles to the old one and is of fairly generous dimensions, having a towpath on both sides. It joins the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction. Rochdale Canal The Rochdale Canal is one of three trans-Pennine routes, with its high summit level meaning lots of locks - but splendid views.

The Rochdale Canal strides boldly for 33 miles from the heart of Manchester to its junction with the Calder & Hebble at Sowerby Bridge, rolling through some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery in the country. The culmination of over 25 years' volunteer work, the canal finally reopened to boats on 1st July 2002 after more than 50 years without through navigation. The restorers overcame obstructions including a supermarket built on the line, two motorways, countless road blockages, and a misguided 1970s scheme to infill the channel with concrete. It is once again a glorious route across the Pennines that appeals equally to boaters and walkers. Opened in 1804 and running from Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, England, to the Bridgewater Canal in Manchester. Shropshire Union Canal Arrow-straight for much of its length, this charming rural waterway strides across the landscape. The 66-mile Shropshire Union Canal is a canal of two halves. In total, it runs from the edge of urban Wolverhampton through some of the most underpopulated areas of England to the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port.

The North section of the canal - built originally as the Chester Canal - is a wide waterway following the gentle rolling landscape of western Cheshire from Nantwich to Ellesmere Port. The old docks at Ellesmere Port now house The Boat Museum which has a unique collection of ex working boats and waterways exhibitions. But the southern half of the canal - built in the twilight of the canal age - is an astonishing feat of engineering. It has long embankments and deep cuttings, a number of which were reputed by the old boat people to be haunted. These were massive undertakings, Shelmore embankment took six years to build and Woodseaves cutting is 100 feet deep. Nearly all the locks are bunched together in "flights". This made for quicker working by the boat people because locks could be easily prepared in advance of the boats. The Shropshire Union was formed by the "union" of a number of canals, that from Nantwich to Chester was built to broad barge standards, and many miles of little used branches through Shropshire were abandoned early in the 20th Century. frequently dominate the scenery.

In contrast to the winding contours of early canals, the Shroppie kept the same course across valley and through hills, speeding cargoes on their way from the North-West to Wolverhampton and the Midlands. Concrete 'pill boxes' are an artefact from later times, a reminder of how the line was defended in wartime. Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal The Staffs & Worcs Canal, as it is commonly known, was built as one of the trunk routes of the canal age - but is now justifiably popular with pleasure boats. Leaving the Trent & Mersey canal at Great Haywood, and rising over the Compton Summit before dropping to meet the River Severn at Stourport, it runs for 46 miles through almost entirely rural surroundings. Cutting through mostly soft undulating landscape fashioned by geological events of over 400 million years ago and twisting around river valleys and then through some remarkable sandstone scenery around Kinver. It skirts the edge of suburban Wolverhampton and then crosses the wide open farmland of Cannock Chase before joining the near the beautiful Tixall Wide. The Staffs & Worcs is an essential link between major waterways as well as being an enjoyable cruise in its own right.

Once full of coal boats, it now forms part of two separate cruising rings. The canal skirts the Birmingham and Black Country conurbation without ever becoming truly urban, making a delightful route through scarce West Midlands countryside. Stourport is a fascinating inland port, much of the port area little changed from the eighteenth century. There are four interlinked basins, clock tower and the old Tontine hotel, built by the Canal Company in 1788, overlooking the Severn. Kidderminster was a centre for carpet production and is now the terminus of the Severn Valley Steam Railway. Kinver village and the surrounding sandstone hills get many visitors, as does the Vine pub which sits right alongside the lock at Kinver. The canal has two sets of unusual locks, at Bratch and Botterham. The two locks at Botterham are a staircase, locks placed close together which share gates. The Bratch locks are not a staircase but there is only a few feet between them. Both sets of locks can be confusing to work through for the first time but there are instructions posted about how to work the locks and Bratch normally has a lock-keeper on hand to help during the summer.

Just north of the junction with the Shropshire Union Canal near Wolverhampton there is a narrow cutting just over half a mile long through rock, which is not wide enough for boats to pass. There are passing places. Stratford-upon-Avon Canal Saved from dereliction by the efforts of waterway pioneers, the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal runs from Birmingham's suburbia to Shakespeare's Stratford in 25 picturesque miles. The canal is usually considered as a northern and a southern section: the northern section runs from Kings Norton to Kingswood Junction, and the especially attractive southern half continues to meet the River Avon at Stratford. This consistently delightful waterway is now part of the Avon Cruising Ring. During warm spells at Bancroft Basin in Stratford, resting actors can be seen giving impromptu Shakespearean performances with the famous theatre as their backdrop. Although the canal is fairly short, there are 54 locks and it goes through some enchanting countryside in the very Heart of England. Once it leaves the Birmingham suburbs the canal passes through nothing other than small villages until it reaches Stratford.

The delightfully named neighbouring Warwickshire villages of Preston Baggot, Wootton Wawen and Wilmcote are all attractive with old houses, churches, inns and Halls or Manors. Lapworth is an interesting canal junction where a short spur connects to the Grand Union Canal which runs parallel close by. The final descent through the Stratford suburbs is uninspiring until you pass under a low bridge and come out amongst hordes of visitors in Stratford Basin, alongside the River Avon and the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. The canal has one tunnel at Brandwood near King's Norton Junction where it leaves the Worcester & Birmingham Canal . It has three interesting aqueducts with cast iron troughs, the largest at Bearley (or Edstone) near Wootton Wawen. There are unusual barrel-roofed lock cottages along the canal. Stratford Basin is right in the visitor heart of Stratford Upon Avon. This beautiful canal through the Cotswolds once linked the River Thames to the River Severn. Now under restoration as part of the 'Cotswold Canals' route, the reopened canal will enable boats to navigate between England's two greatest rivers once again.

Abandoned for 70 years, the Thames & Severn Canal is now under restoration. Slicing through the glorious rolling Cotswold countryside for 36 miles between Saul Junction on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal and the Thames at Inglesham, the Stroudwater Canal and Thames & Severn Canal are now collectively known as the Cotswold Canals. When fully restored the Cotswold Canals will reinstate the link between the Rivers Severn and Thames and, together with other lines, will form part of the Wessex Cruising Ring. Sapperton Tunnel on the Thames & Severn is amongst the longest in the country. Trent & Mersey Canal This cross-country canal through the North Midlands offers excellent views over the Cheshire Plain and impressive engineering feats - including Harecastle Tunnel, the first of its kind. The Trent & Mersey Canal was the most ambitious part of canal pioneer James Brindley's plan to connect the principal rivers of England, running within a few miles of the River Mersey, near Runcorn and finishing in a junction with the River Trent in Derbyshire.. Its importance was recognised by its early name of the 'Grand Trunk' Canal.

It passes through the industry of the Staffordshire Potteries out into rural Staffordshire and then Derbyshire. The canal was promoted by pottery producers such as Josiah Wedgwood , eager to abandon the rutted roads of the area for this new, smooth form of transport. Consequently, it runs through the heart of the Potteries, but also offers rural cruising through Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire. The canal has recently achieved fame through the Inspector Morse story, The Wench is Dead, reputedly based on the true story of a murder committed by 19th century boatmen working out of Preston Brook. Shardlow, near the River Trent , is one of England's best preserved canal towns. Josiah Wedgwood was involved in getting the canal built and the Wedgwood factory and museum are canalside just south of Stoke on Trent. The canal is known for its tunnels, at Harecastle, Barnton, Saltersford and Preston Brook. Saltersford has a kink because tunneling started at different points and didn't quite meet in the middle! Preston Brook has a large central chamber where a collapse was repaired, and cruising through the pitch dark confines of Harecastle tunnel is an experience nobody forgets!

Anderton lift carried narrowboats down to the River Weaver near Northwich. The Anderton Boat lift near the village of Anderton in Cheshire, provides a 50 feet (15.2 m) vertical link between two navigable waterways: the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal. Built in 1875, the boat lift was in use for over 100 years until it was closed due to corrosion in 1983. Restoration started in 2001 and the boat lift was re-opened in 2002. The lift and associated visitor centre and exhibition are operated by British Waterways. It is one of only two working boat lifts in the United Kingdom; the other is Falkirk Wheel in Scotland. Worcester & Birmingham Canal Although the Worcester & Birmingham Canal is one of the most heavily locked in the country, the hard work in navigating it is more than compensated by long stretches of idyllic scenery as the line descends the 30 miles between Birmingham and Worcester. It links the two cities, built to connect the River Severn in Worcester to the Birmingham Canal System via a quicker route than the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal .

Leaving Birmingham, the canal manages to remain on the same level for 15 miles, diving through tunnels when necessary. Then the locks begin - and how. The Tardebigge Flight has 30 locks in just over two miles, making it one of Britain's steepest. Though largely rural, the line is steeped in history and its five tunnels contribute an aura of mystique. At Bournville is the Cadbury's Chocolate Factory which has tours and exhibitions. Cadbury's had a fleet of immaculately painted narrowboats which carried their raw materials to the factory. There is also the village built by the firm for its workers and two half timbered houses which were moved here from other parts of Birmingham. The canal has four tunnels, the longest at Kings Norton near the junction with the Stratford Canal is just under two miles long. Steam tugs were used from the 1870's to haul strings of narrowboats through the four tunnels. Location & Routes for Leeds & Liverpool 7 miles and 8 locks This boat is located at Riley Green in the wonderful Lancashire country side.

Ideally situated almost halfway between Leeds and Liverpool, the canal is rated as one of the most picturesque of all canals and boasts many excellent pubs, restaurants, shops, attractions & historic sites. Travel west towards Liverpool passing through the famous Wigan flight or travel east towards Leeds passing through the Yorkshire market town of Skipton and on towards the famous Bingley five rise. Both routes will take you through the stunning countryside and the contrasting industrial mill towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire. One of three Trans-Pennine waterways, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is 127 miles long and, via its connection with the Aire & Calder at Leeds, offers a coast-to-coast route across the north of England. Fascinating towns and attractions abound, from the big city appeal of Leeds to the peace of villages on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Waterway landmarks include the famous Five Rise flight of locks at Bingley, the impressive Burnley Embankment, and Foulridge Tunnel, through which a cow once swam. The canal has good connections at either end but keeps itself to itself across the Pennines.

Consequently, it has its own vocabulary (lock paddles are known as 'cloughs') and has retained a distinctive character. The following are suggested cruising routes from our base in Riley Green: Short Breaks: Heading West: Leaving our base at Riley Green you pass through the Withnell Fold Nature Reserve, onto the Johnson Hill Locks passing through the lovely countryside of Wheelton, Heapey, Whittle le Woods, Adlington, Haig Hall Country Park and onto the top lock of the famous Wigan flight before heading back to base. A very picturesque route. Heading East: Leaving our base at Riley Green you can travel up to East Marton in the Yorkshire dales passing the famous Lancashire Witch haunt of Pendle Hill and taking in the some fabulous countryside and industrial architecture of the Lancashire Mill towns. 1 Week Cruises: To Bingley and return: From our base, you can comfortably cruise to the famous Bingley Five and Three rise and back. This route takes in glorious views as the canal skirts around the contours of the Yorkshire Dales coupled with a flavour of the once industrial heartland of West Yorkshire . Take time to stop off in the wonderful market town of Skipton.

Experience the 5 Rise Locks at Bingley, one of the wonders of the waterways. Saltaire offers the opportunity to stroll round the model village and mill created by the 19th century entrepreneur Sir Titus Salt. For the Art lovers amongst you, Salts Mill now houses the David Hockney exhibition. To Douglas Valley and return: The route takes you through the beautiful and picturesque Johnson's Hill Locks on through Adlington and down the famous Wigan flight. From there on you can cruise the pretty Douglas Valley taking in the villages of Parbold, Burscough, and Haskayne. Take a detour along the Rufford Branch to Tarleton to view the Ribble Millennium Link sea lock. 2 Week Cruises: Manchester (Relaxing): Across the Pennines in Lancashire lies the great rival to Yorkshire's no.1 city - Manchester. Manchester sees itself as the new Barcelona, a cool, classless, cosmopolitan twenty four hour party capital with style. And the best bit........you can moor up slap bang in the centre of the most vibrant part of the city - Castlefield basin - and soak up the atmosphere.

Those of you wanting 100% relaxation may choose to moor at Adlington and take the regular train to Manchester. For the more adventurous lies one of the big challenges of the Waterways, The Wigan Flight consisting of 21 broad locks in rapid succession. This drops the canal down to the level of the lock free Bridgewater Canal and onto Manchester. Rochdale Circular (Strenuous): Travel via either Manchester or Leeds to join the fabulous Rochdale canal to give you a full circular route through broad locks. Huddersfield Circular (Strenuous): To achieve this route in 2 weeks will require meticulous planning and timekeeping as Standedge Tunnel is now only open 2 days per week. Miss the passage at your peril! This route takes in all of the 1 week cruise routes plus some of the commercial Aire and Calder and Calder and Hebble with its short locks and unusual paddle gear. Arriving in Huddersfield via the short Broad Canal, you will moor overnight ready to face the 34 'E' locks of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal which take you through Slaithwaite (pronounced Sla-wit - the a as in apple) to Marsden.

You won't go hungry or thirsty in Marsden. The Luddites used to drink here, planning their next mass act of sabotage and it's still a fine place to booze away an afternoon even if you don't actually smash up a loom!! Enjoy a gentle stroll up to the lovely Tunnel End Inn before retiring for the night. At time of writing British Waterways will take the boat through Standedge Tunnel whilst you need to walk or take a bus or taxi (times provided on request). At the other side, it's all downhill through delightful Uppermill to the Ashton Canal and into Manchester. 3 Week Cruises: Trent and Mersey & Shropshire Union: In a three week cruise you can explore the much busier midlands canals. The Trent and Mersey and Shroppie can be reached in around 6 days from Riley Green so only a three week holiday would be worthwhile. Cheshire Ring: The Cheshire Ring would also require at least 3 weeks and with good planning can be achieved without turning round. Take the Leeds and Liverpool towards Manchester (easier in our opinion to go down the Wigan Flight) and then join the ring at Waters Meeting (Stretford).

Travel south on the Bridgewater joining the Trent and Mersey at Preston Brook then enjoy the challenge of the Cheshire Locks before turning onto the Macclesfield Canal just before Harecastle Tunnel. The Macc is a truly relaxing canal with just one flight of 12 locks at Bosley. Turn onto the Peak Forest at Marple, down the flight and join the Ashton Canal at Dukinfield Junction. To travel back to the boat base you have 3 options here 1) abandon the ring and turn right up the Huddersfield Narrow, 2) left down to Piccadilly Basin then up and over the Rochdale or 3) back into Manchester and retrace your steps up the Leeds & Liverpool. Yorkshire Canals Yorkshire Canals Skipton Canal Basin, Leeds & Liverpool Canal The Yorkshire Canal network with the two great North and South Pennine Rings is one of the most popular leisure waterway networks in Britain. Whether you explore them via tow paths on foot and two wheels or on a canal boat holiday or short break, canals are a great way to explore the region's landscapes and history.

The navigable river and canal network in Yorkshire winds through some of the county’s great cities including Leeds and York, and past some of Yorkshire’s most famous attractions including World Heritage Site Saltaire along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the Royal Armouries alongside the Aire & Calder Navigation in Leeds city centre. Canalsides are also where to head for many great festivals and events like Skipton’s annual Waterways Festival. Wonders of Britain’s canals also feature on the network like the long Standedge Tunnel cut through the Pennines at Marsden near Huddersfield and the ultimate lock challenge – the Five-Rise Locks at Bingley. Five-Rise Locks, Bingley - Leeds & Liverpool Canal Leeds & Liverpool Canal - Skipton, Bingley & Saltaire The North’s canal star is the 127 mile long Leeds & Liverpool Canal (longer if you include canal branches!). The Yorkshire section between Skipton and Bingley was the first lock free stretch to be opened in the 1770s. Today the Leeds & Liverpool is the backbone of the Pennine Rings, incredibly popular for canal boat holidays and short breaks.

Top spots along the canal include Skipton on the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales with its breathtaking canal basin, site for a popular annual waterways festival and where to pick up day boat trips. Bingley and Saltaire, two locations close to each other in West Yorkshire are other highlights. At Bingley sits canal wonder, the Five-Rise Locks and at Saltaire the canal flanks World Heritage Site Salts Mill, a waterways hub hosting numerous festivals and events. Stubbing Wharf boat trips on the Rochdale Canal, Hebden Bridge Rochdale Canal – Hebden Bridge & Todmorden One of three Pennine canal crossings, the 33 mile long Rochdale Canal from Manchester to Sowerby Bridge is a favourite Yorkshire Canal with many offering some of the most pleasurable boat cruises and tow path walking and cycling experiences particularly around Calderdale towns Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. Striking canal features are at Todmorden where canal meets railway at the ‘Great Wall of Todmorden’. The canalside at Hebden Bridge is a picturesque scene of waterfront inns and moored canal boats.

Clarence Dock & the Royal Armouries, Aire & Calder Navigation, Leeds Aire & Calder Navigation - Leeds The River Aire first became navigable to Leeds in 1700, and quickly became a commercial success story, transporting coal out from the mighty Yorkshire coalfields. The great Aire & Calder Navigation stretches from Leeds to Castleford (10 miles/5 locks) and on to Wakefield (17 ½ miles/10 locks). It connects with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at River Lock in Leeds city centre near the station. Today the leisure hub of the Aire & Calder is around Clarence Dock overlooked by the Royal Armouries Museum and flanked by shops, restaurants and renovated canal warehouses with luxury apartments. The canal tow path from Leeds to Mickletown is part of the Trans Pennine Trail, easily accessed from Leeds city centre near the Corn Exchange. A bridge leads across to Brewery Wharf where you'll find waterfront inns and restaurants always bustling in summer.

Sowerby Bridge Wharf Calder & Hebble Navigation - Sowerby Bridge The success of the Aire & Calder Navigation triggered pressure for improvements around Wakefield and the broad cut Calder & Hebble, mostly a river navigation, was then built, becoming operational to Sowerby Bridge in the 1770s. The father of canal construction, James Brindley was an advisor to the project and today it is West Yorkshire’s Sowerby Bridge basin near Halifax (also a meeting point for the Rochdale Canal) which is the major hub for leisure craft and the start of many a canal boat holiday or short break. Sowerby Bridge affords easy access onto the North and South Pennine canal rings. Some of the UK’s most spectacular canal architecture and some wonderful canalside real ale inns are down here in the valley at Sowerby Bridge. Shire Cruisers on The Wharf offer canal boat hire. Standedge Tunnel, Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Marsden Huddersfield Canals – Marsden & Huddersfield The Huddersfield Narrow Canal stretches for 20 miles from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire to Ashton under Lyne, Greater Manchester.

Navigable to leisure craft since 2001, this beautiful Yorkshire narrow canal passes through wild Pennine moorland. Top spots along its route include Pennine town Marsden home to the River Top Brewery, independent shops and a stunning Victorian Mechanics building all overlooked by mighty Marsden Moor. Visit the Standedge Tunnel visitor centre with 30 minute guided boat trips through the 3 mile long tunnel under the Pennines – one of the great wonders of Britain’s canal network. The Huddersfield Broad Canal running through the centre of Huddersfield is only around 4 miles long and connects the Narrow canal to the Calder and Hebble Navigation. York Boat on the River Ouse from Lendal Bridge South Yorkshire Navigations – York, Ripon & Selby A magical mix of navigable rivers and canals culminate at historic York where the River Ouse, navigable since Viking settlement, runs through the heart of the city passing pretty Rowntree Park. Upstream the Ouse flows into the River Ure, joining the Swale Navigation.

One of the best ways to see York is by boat trip along the Ouse - York Boat offer daily boat trips from February to November from city centre landings at King's Staith and Lendal Bridge. Canals proper around York include the little Ripon Canal, a 2.5 mile long broad canal. Pick up canal boat cruises at Ripon Canal Basin. The peaceful Selby Canal 12 miles south of York is a backwater of the Aire & Calder. Today it’s popular with boaters heading on up to Selby to see one of the great hidden gem abbey churches in England dating back to 1069. Look out too for work in progress on two South Yorkshire Canals - The Barnsley Dearne & Dove Canals - which link the river Calder at Wakefield to the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation at Swinton. Barnsley sits midway between these two canals. The Pocklington Canal – East Yorkshire Rural canal treasure The Pocklington Canal in East Yorkshire is 9 ½ miles long, stretching from Canal Head near Pocklington to East Cottingwith where it joins the River Derwent.

Thanks to considerable restoration by The Pocklington Canal Amenity Society in recent years over half of this Yorkshire canal is now navigable and it is one of the region’s finest for wildlife. The canal’s 9 locks and 4 road bridges are all Grade II Listed. Yorkshire Canal Links Skipton (2.9 miles from the centre of Skipton) Prices from Prices per person per night Rating from 121 reviews Special Offer 3 night discount on 5 Star Skipton B&B - £5pppn off Luxurious Grade II listed Georgian B&B guest house in Cononley near Skipton. Superb breakfasts, beautiful gardens, wi-fi internet access and car parking available. Rating from 121 reviews Skipton (0.3 miles from the centre of Skipton) Prices from Per person per night (based on 2 sharing) Rating from 93 reviews Tasteful Skipton guesthouse only 5 minutes' stroll from the town centre and castle with 8 en-suite rooms, free WiFi and off road parking. Perfect for business or leisure.

Rating from 93 reviews Embsay (2.2 miles from the centre of Skipton) Prices from Per person per night (2 sharing) Rating from 14 reviews Beautiful Yorkshire Bed & Breakfast, close to many walks & cycle rides in Skipton, known for breeding & training sheep dogs. Free parking and WIFI. Locally sourced breakfast. Rating from 14 reviews Leeds (0.1 miles from the centre of Leeds City Centre) Prices from Per Person Per Night B&B Rating from 693 reviews Leeds city centre hotel perfect for business stays or leisure visitors. En-suite rooms. On-site bar. Located by the train station and near the Royal Armouries. Rating from 693 reviews Leeds (0.3 miles from the centre of Leeds City Centre) Sleeps 4 Per week (seasonal) Sleeps 2-4 Rating from 34 reviews A stunning range of one and two bedroom contemporary self catering apartments in Leeds city centre, ideal for both business and leisure. Wi-Fi internet. Sleeps 2-4.

Rating from 34 reviews Leeds (0.6 miles from the centre of Leeds City Centre) Sleeps 4 per apartment per night (sleep 2-4) Rating from 40 reviews Luxury Leeds city centre apartments with private parking, free WiFi & fully fitted kitchens. Studio, one & two bedroom accommodation. Apartments with a balcony available. Sleep 2-4 Rating from 40 reviews Bacup (7.1 miles from the centre of Hebden Bridge) Sleeps 6 Per Week (3 or more people in three rooms) Rating from 10 reviews Character split level cottage on the Yorkshire/ Lancashire border near Hebden Bridge. Green Tourism Silver Award, cosy underfloor heating, sun deck and sunroom, WiFi & short breaks Rating from 10 reviews Bacup (7.1 miles from the centre of Hebden Bridge) Sleeps 6 per week (3 or 4 people in 2 rooms) Rating from 10 reviews Two bedroom cottage in a spectacular Pennine Moorland setting near Hebden Bridge. 1 of 4 luxury cottages. Two bathrooms and fully fitted kitchen. WiFi and short breaks.

Pubs nearby Rating from 10 reviews Hebden Bridge (0.6 miles from the centre of Hebden Bridge) Prices from Per week-depending on season Rating from 11 reviews Luxury self catering holiday cottage in Hebden Bridge ideal for romantic breaks, sight-seeing and walking holidays. Wheelchair accessible & family friendly. Pets considered. Rating from 11 reviews Meltham (3.6 miles from the centre of Marsden) Prices from Price Per Week (seasonal) sleeping 2 -7 Holiday cottage & apartments available for short term lets in Meltham, near Huddersfield & Holmfirth, ideal base for the Pennine Way & local golf facilities. Huddersfield (1.8 miles from the centre of Marsden) Sleeps 6 Special Offer 15% discount for small party bookings (1 or 2 people) Luxurious Grade II Listed, eco-friendly self-catering holiday cottage in magical secluded gardens near Slaithwaite. Antique furniture including a 4 poster bed. Pub nearby.

Rating from 23 reviews Huddersfield (0.4 miles from the centre of Marsden) Sleeps 13 per 2 nights (seasonal) Sleeps 13 Classic Victorian country house on the edge of the Marsden Moor Estate near Huddersfield. A perfect wedding venue set in 7 acres of private grounds. Dinner parties and activities. York (0.3 miles from the centre of York & City Centre) Sleeps 4 Per week (seasonal) sleeps 4 Contemporary cottage in York city centre set close to the famous York Minster. Secluded walled garden, private parking, free Wi-Fi & modern kitchen. 2 bedrooms. No pets. York (1.0 miles from the centre of York & City Centre) Prices from Per double room, per night (2 sharing) Rating from 202 reviews Tastefully furnished York guest house close to the river & only a short walk from the city centre. 17 spacious ensuite rooms including family accommodation. Free parking & Wi-Fi.

Rating from 202 reviews York (0.5 miles from the centre of York & City Centre) Prices from Per weekend or week for up to 10 people Rating from 19 reviews Superior, Georgian Style holiday cottage – comfortable, well equipped in fantastic York City Centre location. Accommodates 10 in 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, park 3 cars Rating from 19 reviews Bradshaw (6.7 miles from the centre of Saltaire) Sleeps 6 Per week (seasonal) Sleeps 4/6 Spacious 4 Star cottage near Haworth & Halifax with a large south facing enclosed garden, private parking, digital TV & WiFi. Family friendly with toys and welcome pack on arrival. Haworth (6.2 miles from the centre of Saltaire) Sleeps 5 Per night Haworth holiday park with camping pods. On-site facilities include play areas, a bar, a shop, communal WiFi and a games room. Laundry facilities and toilets on site. Sleeps 5.

Oxenhope (6.2 miles from the centre of Saltaire) Prices from Per Person (B&B) Rating from 105 reviews Luxurious country house hotel situated in Oxenhope, near Haworth in the heart of Bronte country, with an indoor swimming pool and wedding and conference facilities. Rating from 105 reviews

Question: In which Yorkshire town are the famous Five Rise Locks on the Leeds-Liverpool canal?
Answer: Bingley