Leeds Liverpool Canal

Britain's longest inland waterway (127 miles) was opened in 1816. The Leeds Liverpool Canal took 46 years to build, and finally came in at five times the original budget. The first part to open was the lock-free section from Skipton to Bingley, in 1773. The canal was busy all through the nineteenth century and carried stone, coal and other goods.

The canal passes right through the centre of Skipton, and at the canal basin there is a junction with the Springs Branch (Lord Thanet’s) Canal. Only half a mile long but a beautiful stretch of canal that winds around the back of Skipton Castle, acting as a moat, and until 1946 was used to transport limestone from a quarry higher up the hill. The old chute where the stone was loaded into the barges can still be seen.

Cruises:

Penine Boat Trips www.canaltrips.co.uk/index.htm operate cruises daily from the quay in the centre of town (Coach St).

Pennine Cruisers www.penninecruisers.com offer daily, short break, and weekly narrowboat hire from Skipton Town Centre.

Skipton and Craven Action for Disability (SCAD ) www.scad.demon.co.uk/ run the "Marjorie Charlesworth", a wide beam boat adapted to take parties of a variety of disabilities on day cruises on the canal. The boat can carry 12 passengers.

Website Links:

The Pennine Waterways website www.penninewaterways.co.uk has a virtual tour with photos of the Leeds Liverpool canal, that takes in the Skipton stretch.

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