Comments Off on Our trip boats in Marsden & Uppermill are now running regular trips
We are now running our regular trips once again! Every weekend & bank holidays to the end of October subject to the weather & availability of volunteers. This Easter weekend we hope to have both boats out from Good Friday to Easter Monday. During the local school holidays later in the year we hope to run daily.
We keep the times on Google up to date so please check we are running before making a special trip.
Marsden Shuttle boat trips
Please follow this link to our Google maps site to see what time the boat is running and for directions on where to find us.
Trips on our little blue boat in Uppermill
Please follow this link to our Google maps site to see what time the boat is running and for directions on where to find us.
Comments Off on The Wilderness Boat Owners’ Club visit our canal
Wilderness boats are compact trailerable canal boats.
The Wilderness Boat Owners’ Club will be visiting the Huddersfield Narrow Canal from 11th – 16th September as part of our 25th Anniversary of reopening the canal.
The programme will be Friday 11th September From 11am launching at Wool Road, Dobcross, slip way, off A670 1 mile west of Uppermill – postcode OL3 5QR Streetmap Streetview
7pm – Talk on the “The Impossible Dream”, the restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal by Alan Stopher, project manager prior to the 2001 re-opening and now chairman of our canal society. At Uppermill Civic Hall
Saturday 12th September The boats will cruise south and west 2 miles down 6 locks into Tameside to the Roaches turning area. Returning in the afternoon to Uppermill or Wool Road, Dobcross for an overnight stay. Lunch available at Roaches Lock public house.
Sunday 13th September
Ascending the “Diggle Flight” of 9 locks over 1 1/2 miles to the western portal of Standedge Tunnel for overnight. Late afternoon – Talk on “The Standedge Tunnels” by Trevor Ellis, author of a book on the subject and deputy chairman, Huddersfield Canal Society
Monday 14th September 10.30am Escorted trip through Standedge Tunnel from Diggle to Marsden – 2 hours – provided by Huddersfield Canal Society.
Lunch available in Standedge Visitor Centre at the North of England Centre for Music and Arts.
Afternoon walk through historic Marsden to catch double decker bus for exhilarating ride over Standedge Summit, seeing the tops of the tunnel shafts, and back to Diggle for overnight.
Tuesday 15th September Return down Diggle Flight to Wool Road moorings and slipway.
Two public houses in area – one the Swan Inn at Dobcross, 1/2 mile away, has now got an upstairs tea room in its 18th century building.
Wednesday 16th September
Recover trailers and boats for onward home journey.
The Morris Minor Owners Club, West Yorkshire Branch, will be having a morning run, starting from Wakefield, with up to 15 Morris 1000’s arriving at the NEMCA, North of England Centre for Music and Arts, centre around 11am on Sunday 26th April for boat rides and lunch.
There may also be live music at the centre that day.
Comments Off on 1 & 2 August 2026 – Robbie Cumming of TV fame returning to Standedge
Robbie Cumming is returning! Look at crowds that came to our boat launch when he last came.
Two days of exciting entertainment for all the family. On both days – boat trips, food and craft stalls, lots of interesting side shows, a brass band and a major re-enactment of the re-opening of the canal featuring Robbie Cumming of TV fame. Robbie will also be performing his show ‘Canal Boat Stories Live’ on the Saturday evening in the on-site North of England Centre for Music & Arts.
Marsden e-Shuttle, The Launch, Robbie Cumming
Book tickets to his show now to avoid disappointment. All his other shows this year are already sold out!
Two days of exciting entertainment for all the family. On both days – boat trips, food and craft stalls, lots of interesting side shows, a brass band and a major re-enactment of the re-opening of the canal featuring Robbie Cumming of TV fame. Robbie will also be performing his show ‘Canal Boat Stories Live’ on the Saturday evening in the on-site North of England Centre for Music & Arts (NECMA).
30 & 31 May 2026 – Community Spirit 2 narrowboat visit
A visit by the all electric Community Spirit 2 and members of the East Manchester Community Boat Project to Marsden. Both societies will have a celebratory barbecue in thev NECMA garden.
25 to 28 June 2026 – historical boats in Stalybridge
Comments Off on Halloween event in Marsden 30 & 31 October
The Huddersfield Canal Society, the North of England Centre for Music & Arts and the Canal & River Trust’s Friends of Standedge Tunnel are putting on a 2 day Halloween event at Standedge Tunnel on Thursday 30th and Fri 31st October.
Our Halloween themed boat will take you from the lock by Marsden railway station on a very spooky trip to Standedge Tunnel. The boat /crew will be in Halloween garb (no set fare but donate what you are able to our charity). The boat runs the short trip all day long, backwards and forwards. A very?? Scary (slightly) Trips Starts 11am until approx 4pm
On reaching Tunnel End visit Huddersfield Canal Societies HELLS kitchen.. With showman Mike.
Whilst here we have Watersedge cafe a friendly place to be, serving very reasonable priced food, try the bacon butties!
Ongoing activities
Face painting, a very spooky trail, clues in the head stones! Can you solve?
Dont forget the Canal River Trust boat trip into the Spooky, ghostly Standedge tunnel, watch out for the ghost of Mad Millie. Is she real or not……… Performed by volunteers.
Our friends at the North of England Centre for Music & Arts will be serving delicious pizzas by Cuckoo pizzas, 12pm until 7pm both days.
Drop in music session 9.30 am to 10.20am
10.30 am until 4 pm autumn crafts and drop in music sessions all ages.
In the evening 7pm concert by Triptic jazz.
Friday
Live interactive animal show, snakes and spiders, wow!
1pm – 2.30pm Halloween party drop in, songs, games, crafts for under 10s. Prize for best costume.
Comments Off on Uppermill Spooky Halloween trips 31 October & 1 November 2025
Spooky boat trips on the Little Blue Boat. Join our scary crew at Uppermill 31 Oct and 1 Nov 11am- 4pm st st No set fares but donations welcome (Boat located rear of Saddleworth Museum)
Spooky canal trips return with the little blue boat this Halloween
Taken from the piece by in the Saddlewort Independent byGemma Carter October 23, 2025
A SPOOKY Saddleworth favourite is back on the water this Halloween – and it promises fun for the whole family.
The Little Blue Boat, run by volunteers from the Huddersfield Canal Society, will be transformed into a ghostly galleon for two days of eerie adventures along the canal.
Trips will run on Friday, October 31 (Halloween itself) and Saturday, November 1, setting off from behind Saddleworth Museum between 11am and 4pm.
Halloween is coming to Uppermill courtesy of the Little Blue Boat
Each journey lasts around 15 minutes and offers a light-hearted spooky experience as the boat and crew – suitably dressed for the occasion – take passengers on a short round trip.
There’s no set fare, but donations are encouraged, with all proceeds supporting the work of the Huddersfield Canal Society, a registered charity that helps maintain and promote the historic waterway.
Families, children and even friendly dogs are welcome aboard, though children must be accompanied by an adult. Pushchairs can also be brought along.
Organisers say the Halloween sailings offer “something a little different” from the usual seasonal events – a chance to enjoy a frightfully fun trip in a truly unique Saddleworth setting.
