Canal Boat Hiring Highlights
Canal boat hiring can take you to some beautiful
places. Cross breathtaking aqueducts and cruise through two hundred
year old tunnels. Scale the biggest flight of locks or visit the prettiest
canal town in Britain. Whatever your expectations for your canal boat
hiring holiday, you won't be disappointed.
Here's a selection of some of the best sights,
experiences, and challenges for narrow boaters on Britain's canals.
Standedge Tunnel
At 3.5 miles long, Standedge Tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
is the longest of all Britain's navigable canal tunnels. It can also
lay claim to being the highest and the deepest as it burrows through
the Pennines at 196 Miles above sea level.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Arguably the most beautiful of Thomas Telford's creations, this Aqueduct
on the Llangollen Canal lets you glide 35 metres above the ravine
below.
Tardebigge Locks
The longest lock flight in Britain! If you fancy the challenge then
cruise to Tardebigge on the rural Worcester and Birmingham Canal,
and make your way up a total of 36 locks - not for the faint hearted!
Harecastle Tunnel
At 1 and a half miles, Harecastle Tunnel on the Trent and Mersey is
only half as long as Standedge. Yet what it lacks in length it makes
up for in legend! Boaters of the 19th Century would avoid making the
journey through this tunnel if at all possible due to its spooky reputation.
A headless corpse was once found here and her ghost is well known
to haunt the tunnel- make the journey if you dare!
Anderton Boat Lift
Lifting canal boats 15 metres to the canal above, Anderton Boat Lift
only reopened in 2002 having been shut since the 1980s. Hydraulics
power this impressive feat of engineering on the Trent and Mersey
Canal.
Stoke Bruerne
Known as Britain's prettiest Canal village! If you're in the area,
it's not to be missed as a picturesque and traditional part of Canal
life.
Falkirk Wheel Boat Lift
Scotland's claim to Canal fame! A massively impressive structure connecting
the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Union Canal.
Hatton 21
Known as 'The Stairway to Heaven', Hatton's 21 locks are a challenge
and an achievement! Near Warwick on the Grand Union Canal, the thought
of the award winning cafe at the top should help to keep you going!
Foxton Locks
Not as challenging as some of its bigger brothers, Foxton has 10 locks
to traverse on the Grand Union Canal. The remains of the famous 'inclined
plane' can still be seen- built in 1900 to mechanically move narrow
boats up the 75 foot rise and to ease the canal traffic of the industrial
revolution. There's a chance it will reopen in the near future with
a National Lottery Grant and plenty of engineering enthusiasts' campaigning.
If any of these sights take your fancy, came and
have a look at our marinas. You'll find that canal boat hiring from
any of Tillerman's bases will take you to many of these unique and
special places. |
