Any canal enthusiasts out there?

[Xenophon PCDGS]

As canals can come under "any other transport" on this sub-forum, are there any out on the forum with news or reminiscences to report?

There are the Anderton Boat Lift and the Lancaster Canal in the north-west, plus the final extension to the Leeds and Liverpool canal to the River Mersey.

Any stories of holiday happenings on the Norfolk Broads?

 

[flymo]

I wouldn't say I particularly enthuse about canals but I am fascinated to see how they fit in to the modern cityscape. I've spent hours tracing them on Google Earth through London, Birmingham, Lancashire, Yorkshire and numerous other places.
I was also amazed to find out that near my aunties house in Linlithgow, the 'Union Canal' ran past the top of her street and my brother and me played there many times. I never realised this was such an important piece of waterway. Amazing now when I look and see now how much it has changed and improved since then, (70's)

 

[Aictos]

While I find the UK's waterways fascinating, I've yet to actually spend a holiday relaxing and messing about on boats.

I don't know what it's is about the waterways but it looks to be so damn relaxing just being by the water.

 

[yorkie]

I'm not a canal enthusiast but I do find them interesting and I do enjoy cycling alongside canals. I would be interested in hearing of which canals have a reasonable enough surface to cycle on. I have done, for example, Wolverhampton-Kidderminster, Keighley-Leeds, Buxworth (Chinley)-Manchester, Bletchley-Watford, West Drayton-Limehouse/Brentford, Cheddleton-Stoke. Plus Inverness-Fort William which is part canal (although it doesn't really feel like a canal, apart from near the end).

 

[mbonwick]

I love water :P I'm an unofficially qualified helmsman for the Seagull Trust

Lost count of the times I've been up & down the Falkirk Wheel...

 

[tbtc]

Canals are something which fascinate me, and I'm quote envious of the way that Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds have used theirs to make the cities prettier.

Like the railways they were run down and forgotten about for a long time, but there's been a similar renaissance

 

[Flamingo]

As canals can come under "any other transport" on this sub-forum, are there any out on the forum with news or reminiscences to report?

There are the Anderton Boat Lift and the Lancaster Canal in the north-west, plus the final extension to the Leeds and Liverpool canal to the River Mersey.

Any stories of holiday happenings on the Norfolk Broads?

Regarding the Leeds to Liverpool canal, is there any truth in the story that the Mayor of Leeds picked the route, and the Mayor of Liverpool picked the locks?

 

[WatcherZero]

Canals are something which fascinate me, and I'm quote envious of the way that Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds have used theirs to make the cities prettier.

Like the railways they were run down and forgotten about for a long time, but there's been a similar renaissance

Can be a pain though, forever pulling out bodies of drunk clubbers who stumbled in. And because there is no current the water isnt self cleaning.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think that the work done on the restoration of the Hudderfield Narrow Canal has been well worth the time and energy that all concerned have put into it over many years. The visitor centre at Marsden is quite good. It is a pity that Uppermill does not have more parking spaces available, as it can be very busy on summer weekends with visitors.

Of course, this canal is well known to all rail enthusiasts and historians, from being the first of four eventual tunnels at Standedge.

 

[SS4]

I wouldn't say I'm an enthuasiast so to speak but I have gone over to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal (it's less than 5 minutes away on foot) to seek shade, peace, to walk alongside and say hello to anyone who turns up although in the last few weeks I've gone to see the ducklings (and they're adorable!)

For the most part I find those on the canal more peaceful

 

[sprinterguy]

I think I’ve walked the vast majority of the canal network in the West Midlands by this point. They’re a very convenient way of getting around that gets you off the streets and away from the traffic. Some sections are considerably more pleasant than others of course.

I’ve also cycled the canal from Buxworth as yorkie mentions above. A very pleasant ride on a summers’ evening. Me and the missus plan on doing a canal boat holiday at some point in the future. I also go to a music festival each year (Cropredy, near Banbury) where a number of the festival-goers arrive by canal boat! That section of canal gets very congested each second weekend in August, with boats moored three abreast for quite a way along it!
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I wouldn't say I'm an enthuasiast so to speak but I have gone over to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal (it's less than 5 minutes away on foot) to seek shade, peace, to walk alongside and say hello to anyone who turns up although in the last few weeks I've gone to see the ducklings (and they're adorable!)

One of the most pleasing aspects of the canals in spring is watching the ducklings and goslings. "Goose alley" (as I have christened it) on canal up to Gravelly Hill is especially good for this, even if you do have to skirt around their very protective geese parents!

 

[Bill EWS]

Would 'old' canals come into this thread! The Aberdeen-Inverurie railway was mainly built upon the canal trackbed, with divergences here and there. There are still a number places where remains of the canal are to be seen. The canal started from Waterloo Docks and was on a steep incline up to Kittybrewster with numerous locks. Waterloo Station of the GNSR was at the harbour and is still in use today as a freight line too and from Kittybrewster. Other site son the way are at Kintore (Boat Of Kintore) and Portelphinstone just south of Inverurie station.

If you have ever taken the Aberdeen-Inverness route than you will have passed many of the sites from Kittybrewster to Inverurie. You may find the web site linked below of interest and give you something to look out for when you next travel over the line, or walk anywhere near the various remains.

http://www.74simon.co.uk/aberdeenshirecanal/index.html

 

[Wyvern]

The northern bit of the Cromford Canal is an intrinsic part of a World Heritage Area plus it has been designated a SSSI. You can imagine then, if there is work to be done, there are some fairly picky people to keep happy. Recently some maintenance was needed.

Far from being scared away, I'm told the water voles were following the excavator round looking for tidbits.

Incidentally from Ambergate or Whatstandwell its a nice summer walk along the towpath and you can catch the train back from Cromford.

 

[LE Greys]

Well, they're interesting, and produce some wonderful engineering. Unfortunately, they are far too shallow and have far too many bridges to make sailing practical, so they are full of motorboats. That's very offputting for a dedicated sailor since the age of nine. Steam power, while great on the railways, is scarcely better than a motorboat. Therefore, if I ever go exploring the canals, I will have to do it by some form of unusual propulsion, ideally drawn by horse. Steam I would consider, but not motor.

 

[Zoe]

The Kennet and Avon canal runs parralel to the Berks and Hants Line between Southcote Junction and Pewsey but one person I was talking to that used to take a boat on this canal didn't like the noise from the passing trains.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Would 'old' canals come into this thread! The Aberdeen-Inverurie railway was mainly built upon the canal trackbed, with divergences here and there.

Part of the current railway line from Manchester to Bolton, in the area between Farnworth and Moses Gate, was built on the line intended as a canal and was completed as such before the decision was made to have a railway. Some of the stone overbridges in that section are typical of the type seen on canals that were constructed in that time period.

 

[Polarbear]

Over the last few years, I've started walking along the canals of Britain. So far, I've walked the complete length of the following;

Shropshire Union (main line E' Port - Wolverhampton & Middlewich branch)
Bridgewater Canal
Leeds - Liverpool (including Rufford branch)
Huddersfield Narrow & Broad
Ashton (Manchester - Ashton u Lyne)
Worcester & Birmingham
BCN - from Gas Street basin Birmingham to the start of the Shropshire Union.

Currently walking sections of the Rochdale canal. Oh, my dad comes along with me & he's 91 years old - he can still walk 4-5 miles a go!

I've always found the canal walks to be very invigorating. There's also quite a lot of historical interest too.

Yorkie - most of the towpath on the Leeds-Liverpool is in reasonable condition for cycling. Certainly from Leeds almost as far as Steeton, it's excellent though it's a bit patchy after that.