Head to one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways

Cruise to one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways

The list of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Waterways’ was compiled over 70 years ago by Robert Aickman. He was the co-founder of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA). These amazing structures make great canal boat holiday destinations. If you’d like to head to one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways on your next narrow boat holiday, here’s a guide to our nearest bases:

1. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Carrying the Llangollen Canal 38 metres high above the River Dee, the UNESCO World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the highest and longest aqueduct in Britain.  It was built between 1795 and 1805.  It has 18 magnificent stone piers, supporting a 307-metre long trough for the canal to run through.  Our base at Trevor is next to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. You can also reach the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on a short break from Chirk and Blackwater Meadow.

2. The Anderton Boat Lift

Also known as ‘The Cathedral of the Canals’, this extraordinary structure raises (or lowers) boats 15 metres from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal.  It was designed by Edwin Clark and opened in 1875. The Anderton Boat Lift consists of two caissons, each large enough to take a barge or pair of narrowboats. The lift is currently closed, but you can go to the Anderton Boat Lift visitor centre to find out more about this fascinating structure and plans to repair it. We have a narrowboat hire base at Anderton Marina next to the Lift.

3. The Caen Hill Flight

With 16 of its 29 locks falling in a straight line, the Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes is visually the most impressive in the country.  The locks were the final link in the Kennet & Avon Canal’s construction, opening in 1810.  Sadly by 1950 they had become derelict, but after a major restoration effort, they were reopened HM The Queen in 1990. Our canal boat hire base at Devizes is at the base of the flight. You can also reach the bottom of the Caen Hill flight on a short break from Hilperton and Bradford on Avon.

4. The Bingley Five-Rise Locks

This spectacular staircase of locks on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal was completed in 1774. The locks raise (or lower) boats 18 metres in 5 cavernous chambers. They open directly from one to another, with the top gate of one forming the bottom gate of the next. You can head to this wonder of the waterways from our base at Silsden, just 6 miles away. It takes around 3.5 hours to head to this wonder of the waterways from Silsden.

5. The Standedge Tunnel

The incredible Standedge Tunnel runs for over 3 miles beneath the Pennines.  This incredible feat of engineering is the longest, highest and deepest tunnel on the canal system. Cutting through solid rock, it took the navvies 16 years to build. It opened in 1811, but sadly in the 20th century, the Huddersfield Canal fell into disrepair, becoming un-navigable by 1948. After a long restoration programme, both the canal and tunnel were reopened in 2001. Today narrow boat holiday-makers need to book their passage through with a Canal & River Trust chaperone. There’s also a trip boat operating from the Marsden end. Our nearest canal boat rental base is 20 miles and 65 locks away at Sowerby Bridge. The journey to Standedge from Sowerby Bridge takes around 21 hours (3 days).

6. Barton Swing Aqueduct

The 100-metre long Barton Swing Aqueduct was built in 1761 by James Brindley to take the Bridgewater Canal across the River Irwell.  It was considered a marvel at the time of its opening.  In 1863 the Manchester Ship Canal company decided to use the course of the Irwell at Barton as part of its navigation channel. So Brindley’s Aqueduct was replaced by the Barton Swing Aqueduct.  The 1,450 tonne aqueduct swings open, full of water, to allow the passage of ships along the Manchester Ship Canal. Our nearest base is at Acton Bridge, on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Cheshire. From there, it takes around 13 hours, travelling 35 miles and passing through 2 locks, to reach the Barton Swing Aqueduct. NB The Bridgewater Canal is currently closed between Agden Bridge No. 26 and Dunham Town Bridge No. 27 due to a breach. 

7. The Burnley Embankment

The mile-long Burnley Embankment carries the Leeds & Liverpool Canal over 18 metres high across part of the town. It’s also known as ‘The Straight Mile’. It offers boaters breath-taking panoramic views of the Calder Valley and surrounding countryside. The Burnley Embankment spans the Calder Valley. Though costly and difficult to build, it avoided the need for a series of locks. Designed by Robert Whitworth, the embankment was built between 1796 and 1801.  It involved the mammoth task of transporting (by horse and cart) around half a million tons of earth from the nearby canal cutting at Whittlefield and tunnel at Gannow. Our narrowboat hire base at Silsden is 30 miles, 22 locks and 18 hours away from Burnley.