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 the Marsden Shuttle!
The new all electric Marsden e-Shuttle passes our original boat
With our two boats 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 rely on volunteers to run the service, so please check the hours above before you leave home, to ensure the boat is running that day.
We carry up to 12 passengers. No fares, we just ask for a donation into the on board bucket. Be as generous as you like – it all helps to keep the boat running! You can also donate online. You can also donate online.
We 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.)
This year we are trialling also running weekends between the end of the spring school holiday and Easter, but only when the weather is good and crew have volunteered. Use the above ‘check if we are running today’ link to see if we are!
See this map of where the trip starts.
If you would like to volunteer to help crew our boat, please contact us at boating@huddersfieldcanal.org.uk.
Other boat trips on and near the Narrow:
Canal & River Trust
Guided short trips into the Standedge Tunnel at Tunnel End.
Seasonal through trips of Standedge Tunnel.
01484 844298
Details are on their website.
East Manchester Community Boat Project
12-seater ‘Community Spirit 2’ at Portland Basin, Ashton-u-Lyne.
07503 145146
Website: www.emcbp.org.uk
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.
