The adventure begins … Nathan Reynolds’ remarkable Standedge Tunnel picture
Boating on the Narrow Canal:
About 20 miles with 74 Locks of which:
42 are Manual, 11 are Hydraulic and 21 are a combination of Manual and Hydraulic.
The Narrow Locks take 70′ craft with a maximum width of 6’10”. The chaperoned transit of Standedge Tunnel must be booked in advance and takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week of the cruising season. Click here to view the Customer Guidelines for Standedge Tunnel.
Boating Plan to Download
Download a pdf of this handy plan of the Huddersfield Canals – Click on the graphic to view a pdf of the plan with the option of downloading.
Using a pdf reader, such as Adobe, you can zoom and scroll the plan to get the information you need for your journey along our marvellous canals!
Boaters – Have your say!
Download our interactive questionnaire, give us your views on navigating the Narrow and help us guide our ideas about future investment. You can click on the graphic opposite to download and then save the blank questionnaire. You should then use a pdf reader, such as Adobe, to load and complete the form on screen, before sending it back to us.
Adobe Reader is free to download at:
www.adobe.com/uk/products/reader.html
If you prefer, you can download a paper version here, complete it and post it to our offices at:
Transhipment Warehouse, Wool Road, Dobcross, Oldham, OL3 5QR
We appreciate your feedback.
Have a Trip on our boats!
The new all electric Marsden e-Shuttle passes our original boat
BOATS TRIPS IN MARSDEN AND UPPERMILL
We now run trips in both places for much of the year. Each boat carries up to 12 passengers and is operated by trained unpaid volunteers. No fares, we just ask for a donation with cash into our red bucket or one tap of your contactless card, Apple Pay or Google Pay on our card reader. You can also donate online. We are a registered charity relying 100% on donations to keep the boats running, so please be as generous as you can.
MARSDEN SHUTTLE BOAT TRIPS
We run a regular shuttle service between the lock by Marsden Station and the Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre. The trip lasts 12 to 15 minutes each way. No timetable, but we leave Marsden Station (Lock 42) or the Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre around every 30 minutes.
We plan to run every day during local school half terms & holidays and every weekend between Easter and the end of October. (We are closed during the winter holiday.) Please click here to make sure the boat is running and see where the trip starts in Marsden.
On this route we use our new all electric craft built in 2022. It is quiet & spacious and incorporates a wheelchair lift to aid accessibility.
UPPERMILL TRIPS IN OUR LITTLE BLUE BOAT
We now run round trips from outside the Saddleworth Museum & Gallery going up the canal past the park & turning just before the first lock. The trip lasts around 15 minutes so there is never long to wait for the next one.
We plan to run each day over Easter (Friday to Monday) and then every weekend up to the end of October. If we manage to recruit & train sufficient local crew, we will run the boat on more days.
Please click here to see where the trip starts.
This is a new venture which relies on volunteers so, if anyone local to Uppermill would like to volunteer to help us run the boat, please contact Mike by email on boating@huddersfieldcanal.org.uk. No previous boating experience is required as we will provide all necessary training.
Walking & Jogging
The towpath is an excellent route for everything from a gentle stroll to a more strenuous effort. The surface varies in quality and though generally good, certain sections do become puddled and rather muddy when wet.
Fishing
A number of different Fishing Clubs rent and stock stretches of the Canal. Please see the Canal & River Trust website for full details including applying online for a rod licence click here.
Cycling
Cycling along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal towpath is now allowed. However, you should be aware that sections are rather narrow and there are a lot of low bridges and ‘blind’ spots. Please consider others enjoying the tranquillity of the canal, especially walkers and fishermen. See the Canal & River Trust website for more details, click here.
Remember:
Pedestrians do have priority on towpaths.
