The C2C Route

This is the fourth in a series of eighteen individual trails, which combine to create a coast to coast route for paddlers. This section meanders from the West Lancashire plain into the industrial town of Wigan.

The coast to coast route is made up of a series of eighteen trails. It’s designed to be travelled west to east, across the country; the recommended direction of travel considering prevailing wind direction and river flows.

The trails combine the Leeds Liverpool Canal and Aire and Calder Navigations to create a route stretching 162 miles across the north of England. Passing through villages, towns and cities that played a major part in the industrial revolution and textile industries, as well as enjoying the stunning scenery as you travel over the Pennines in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The Leeds Liverpool Canal and Aire and Calder Navigation offer different paddling experiences. The Leeds Liverpool wanders gently, connecting its two two major namesake cities. It recently celebrated its bicentenary and is enjoyed by boaters and paddlers alike. The Aire and Calder is a commercial waterway, transporting goods and materials between the town of Goole and the city of Leeds. The navigation brings its own challenges, combining canalised navigation and river sections with large locks and high walls.

PLEASE NOTE: It’s recommended that only more experienced paddlers or groups of paddlers with experienced coaches or leaders paddle on the river sections of the Aire and Calder Navigation.

This trail Wigan Pier – it’s unusual to find a pier at such an inland location, but the name Wigan Pier is actually given to the area where wagons of coal were unloaded into barges on the canal. The original pier was demolished in 1929 but a replica gives you a lovely view of this historic area. During the 1990’s the area was also the site of the famous Wigan Pier nightclub, which was an important part of the NorthWest music scene and popular for its rave and house music.