CANALPLAN AC - Canal Route Planner

You will travel at approximately 3-4 miles per hour and the same applies to the number of locks per hour. The enjoyment from narrowboating comes from meandering along, taking in the scenery and wildlife and of course stopping at the odd pub!

To some, circular routes offer the advantage of only seeing the sights once but you must ensure you keep to your schedule in order to achieve the plan. We have included 2 circular routes but both require at least 2 weeks' hire.

The following are suggested cruising routes from our base in Barnoldswick.

1 Week Cruises

Pendle and beyond

Pendle is named after the famous Pendle Hill that dominates the landscape around.  The hill has captivated the imaginations of many.  The Pendle Witches are indelibly connected with many villages in Pendle and the hill itself.  On the other side of the religious spectrum, Pendle Hill is famous for its links to the Quaker movement.  George Fox founded the Quaker movement after climbing Pendle Hill in 1652.  On a topical note, it is the birthplace of the band master of the Titanic, Wallace Hartley. Pendle is an ideal place for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts.  There are recognized walks in the area, the Pendle Way and Brontë Way; there are many off-the-beaten-track walks with splendid views. Pendle was one of the industrial centres of the North of England from the 17th to the 20th centuries.  The legacy of the now extinct cotton industry is engrained in the culture of Pendle.  The only remaining connection to textiles is a plethora of mill shops selling textiles (and more) at bargain prices.  Pendle is the textile mill shop capital of the world and you can moor right outside one at Barden Mill !

Beyond Pendle you will travel through the Mill centres of East Lancashire, Blackburn and Burnley. From the canal you will see the remains of the north's once great cotton industry - now sadly derelict in many cases. Both towns are enjoying a revival and many of the mills are enjoying conversion to apartments with great views over the Pendle Hills. We can advise you where it is preferable to moor overnight. The trip is certainly worthwhile. Some of the views are fabulous and Johnson's Hill Locks are simply delightful.

On arrival at Adlington you can take a train to Manchester to explore the North West's premier city.

Leeds

From our base, you can cruise to Leeds and back - the fastest growing city in the north of England. Leeds has undergone a complete metamorphosis over the past 20 years and is no longer the butt of flat cap and whippet jokes, Leeds is happening.......

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.

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 Canal 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 Narrow Canal 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.

If the electric passenger module is operating, enjoy the fascinating trip through Standedge tunnel, otherwise the walk over Marsden Moor is just as enjoyable.

At the other side, it's all downhill through delightful Uppermill to the Ashton Canal and into Manchester.

3 Week Cruises

Trent and Mersey Canal & Shropshire Union Canal

In a three week cruise you can explore the much busier midlands canals. The Trent and Mersey Canal and 'Shroppie' can be reached in around 6 days from Barnoldswick so only a three week holiday would be worthwhile.

Canal Boat Escapes offers some excellent deals on three week breaks.

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 Canal 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 Canal joining the Trent and Mersey Canal at Preston Brook then enjoy the challenge of the Cheshire Locks before turning onto the Macclesfield Canal just before Harecastle Tunnel. The Macclesfield is a truly relaxing canal with just one flight of 12 locks at Bosley. Turn onto the Peak Forest Canal at Marple, down the flight and join the Ashton Canal at Dukinfield Junction. To travel back to Barnoldswick you have 3 options here 1) abandon the ring and turn right towards the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, 2) left down to Piccadilly Basin then up and over the Rochdale Canal or 3) back into Manchester and retrace your steps up the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.