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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.

Delighted to say that the new book by Trevor Ellis is now available through our Shop link where it can be purchased via PayPal.

Treat yourself and Order Now!

The current Government funding agreement for the Canal & River Trust ends in four year’s time. The current annual grant of £52.6 million a year represents about a quarter of the Trust’s income, the rest coming mainly from user licences, mooring charges, income from land holdings and charitable donations. As the grant is fixed and does not increase with inflation, it is already causing financial problems for the Trust and we are already seeing indications of spending restraints despite increases in volunteers taking on many roles.

On 10^th July the Government announced the funding for the next ten year period commencing in 2027. Although they accept that the Canal & River Trust has provided value for money since its takeover from the nationalised British Waterways in 2012 the Government states that the Trust should not need Government support and should seek other forms of funding. They have, therefore, said that the grant will be reduced to £50 million in 2027 and be cut by 5% each year after that. At the end of the period in 2037 the annual grant will have reduced to £31.5 million. In total this means that the Canal & River Trust will lose £320m. This comes as maintenance costs for ageing canal infrastructure – 200-year-old plus locks, aqueducts, reservoirs, embankments – is increasing due to climate change with more periods of drought and extreme storm events. Such a drastic decrease in funds will inevitably result in a decline in the overall condition of our waterway network, and, alarmingly, the possibility of canal closures. It puts at risk invaluable natural habitats, historic infrastructure and cherished public spaces.

The Trust believes that the substantial reduction in support will mean that maintenance will have to be cut back and there are likely to be canal closures. The Northern canals and navigations with their low number of boats and high maintenance costs are most at risk.  As it stands we are facing an existential threat to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Please write to your local MP telling them how much you care about the canals and why they need to be funded properly. Urge the Government to reconsider their decision and protect our waterways for the future.

And how can you do it?

The best way is for you to email or mail your MP with your own thoughts. Personal representations are always best. Alternatively you can go to the Canal & River Trust website and follow the links here:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/donate/our-campaigns/keep-canals-alive