At 141 miles - and that’s excluding its 127 branches - the Leeds and Liverpool is the longest canal in Britain, linking the seaport of Liverpool with the Aire and Calder Navigation at Leeds.
This is one very big canal, capable of taking vessels 60 feet long, 14 feet wide and 3 feet deep – all able to pass through its 92 locks.
En route there’s varied countryside to enjoy. The low-lying wetlands of West Lancashire right across to the wild Pennine Moorlands of Lancashire’s Hill Country. Not forgetting the passage through Pendle and `witches country` with its famous Mile Tunnel at Foulridge.
In years gone by, the canals were Lancashire’s link to the outside world, transferring coal, limestone, wool and cotton. Now many old mills have been converted into large retail and leisure attractions such as Botany Bay, Oswaldtwistle Mills and Barden Mill.
Running from Preston to Tewitfield north of Carnforth is the 41 miles long Lancaster Canal. Until 1849, a daily waterbus service ran between Kendal and Preston and the journey initially took a mammoth 14 hours although a staggering 14,000 passengers took the trip in the first six months of trading! Ambitious plans to re-open the canal to Kendal are underway.
And last but not least, the Ribble Link was completed in 2002 to join the Lancaster Canal to the River Ribble.
The Lancashire and Blackpool area is just brimming with places to stay, attractions to visit, good food, and a growing reputation for quality local produce – just use the searches on the right to find what you are looking for.
Catch life today on our canals from January 5 when Granada TV in the North West screens `Locks and Quays` at 7.30pm then for the following nine Thursdays. A fascinating celebration filmed in association with British Waterways, for more information please visit www.waterscape.com/fred.
