On this canal…
The Leeds & Liverpool Canal
With a main line of 127¼miles, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is easily the longest canal in Britain. It links the north west seaport of Liverpool with the Aire and Calder Navigation at Leeds, forming a through route between the Irish Sea and the North Sea.
The Millennium Ribble Link now provides a link via the River Ribble to the Lancaster Canal. Extension of the western end past Liverpool Pier Head to join up with the main Dock system is now underway.
The Leeds & Liverpool canal climbs away from the Lancashire plain into the Pennine hills from Wigan, up the famous 21 locks, through the once proud cotton towns of Blackburn and Burnley where Victorian mills can still be seen. 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. Allow at least a week to get from Liverpool to Leeds.
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 recently restored Rochdale Canal and Huddersfield Narrow Canal now open up two fantastic 'Pennine Rings' for boaters with more time to spare.
The Leeds & Liverpool is a barge canal, built with locks 60 feet long and 14 feet wide, reaching a height of 487½ 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 and now the Lancaster Canal via the small port of Tarleton. The Liverpool end of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal has now been extended past the famous Pier Head and Liver Building into Liverpool Docks.
Broad canal, 127 miles, 3 days, 93 locks, 2 tunnels, 2 weeks.
The 'Pennine Ring' links to the Rochdale Canal or Huddersfield Narrow Canal.
Near Leigh
Hireboats on the Leeds & Liverpool
On a Canal Boat Cruises holiday on the Leeds & Liverpool canal there's no rush! Luxury 6 & 8 berth boats based at Riley Green in the idyllic Lancashire country side.
Hireboats on the Leeds & Liverpool
At the heart of Pennine Lancashire Hapton Valley Boats is “The fastest way to slow down”. Our luxury canal boats, affordable prices and professional service are second to none.
Hireboats on the Leeds & Liverpool
Our Shire Cruisers base is ideally situated for exploring all three Pennine canals. We offer friendly, helpful, individual service, and specially comprehensive training. Our boats are Quality Assured by VisitBritain.
Bingley 5 Rise.
