Huddersfield Broad Canal

The Huddersfield Broad Canal is a 3.7 mile stretch of canal maintained by the Canal & River Trust. The canal has a total of 9 locks along the route. At one end it links the Calder and Hebble Navigation to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. From there it then continues through…

Haddiscoe Cut

A canal in the Norfolk Broads, the Haddiscoe Cut is a short, straight paddle straight canal. It literally 'cuts' through the Broads countryside and links the River Yare to the River Waveney. Originally, the canal was built to reduce journey times between Lowestoft to Norwich. As you paddle along the…

Huddersfield Narrow Canal

A paddle through the pennines! The Huddersfield Narrow Canal is one of those places you HAVE to paddle if you’re into dramatic scenery. Cutting through the rugged hills of the pennies, and weaving through wooded countryside and past historic mills. The canal is a ‘must’ for canal boaters and should…

Kennet and Avon Canal

The Kennet and Avon canal passes through lovely countryside and small villages, and at 87 miles long with 105 locks along the route, it’s the perfect canal for those who like a multi-day adventure, or just a really challenging paddle! The Kennet and Avon canal crosses from Reading to Bristol.…

Lancaster Canal

Opening in 1819 the Lancaster canal is a 41 mile stretch of canal in the North West of England. If you’re looking for a place to paddle which requires no portages and pretty scenery, the Lancaster Canal is your best friend, as over the whole of the 41 miles, there…

Leeds and Liverpool Canal

One of the most successful canals of its time, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was very much used as a cargo carrying canal right up until its last haul in 1972. Because of this, the canal is in pretty good nick when it comes to paddling along it. It stretches…

Llangollen canal

The Llangollen Canal is an impressive stretch of canal and will tick many boxes with paddlers. It’s 46 miles in length, making it great for multi-day trips should you wish. It’s cross country, with the canal crossing the England/Wales border. Furthermore, it starts just west of Crewe where it meets…

Macclesfield Canal

A mostly green, lush, rural canal, the Macclesfield canal runs for 26 miles connecting the Peak Forest Canal to the Trent & Mersey Canal. Be aware! If you’re planning to connect to the Peak Forest Canal as you’ll be met with the flight of locks known as Marple Lock. 16…

Manchester Ship Canal

Small crafts are not usually permitted on the Manchester Ship Canal. It is still used as a busy shipping canal and large commercial barges and small cruise ships are common along the route. A licence is required to paddle here but it is not included in British Canoeing membership. Please…

Grantham Canal

The Grantham canal is under reconstruction. Nature has reclaimed most of it rendering much of the original route unpaddleable. The Canal & River Trust is currently working on restoring parts of the waterway.

Grand Western Canal

An opportunity to paddle through beautiful Devonshire countryside with no locks or portages. The Grand Western Canal was born of an idea to link the Bristol and English Channels. Never entirely completed it was instead used to supply limestone and coal to lime kilns. Although spring fed there is no…

New Junction Canal

The New Junction Canal in Yorkshire is a 5.5 mile long canal with just 1 lock at Sykehouse Bridge. Why ‘new canal?’ Well, the New Junction Canal is only actually around 100 years old, dating back to 1905. It was built to carry freight and still does that job to…

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

A hidden gem and a wildlife haven… we don’t use these two phrases lightly! But the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is truly deserving of such praise. A tranquil, beautiful 35 mile long stretch, reaching from Brecon to Sebastopol follows the line of the Usk Valley through the well-known Brecon Beacons…

Oxford Canal

Meandering through the countryside, the Oxford Canal is a great way of seeing the Oxfordshire countryside. You’ll paddle through pretty little chocolate box villages including Thrupp, Cropredy and Aynhu over the 75 mile stretch of canal with 46 locks. The canal begins in the very centre of Oxford, treating you…

Peak Forest Canal

Described as one of the most scenic canals in the country, the Peak Forest canal is 15 miles of paddle-heaven. It flows past mill workers cottages, lush woodland and open meadows. The canal is a route popular with nature lovers for its variety of flora and fauna along the route.…

Pocklington Canal

There aren’t many sections of the canal that can boast as much wildlife as this one. For good reason, the Pocklington Canal is popular with wildlife lovers from across the country. And over this relatively short canal, it packs a huge wildlife punch. Measuring just 9.5 miles in length and…

Reach Lode

The Reache Lode is located in Cambridgeshire. It is one of the many ‘lodes’ in the area that eventually connect to the River Great Ouse before joining The Wash at Kings Lynn. First, the Reach Lode joins the River Cam at Upware though, before joining with a few of the…

Regent’s Canal

Looking up at London from the waterway certainly gives it a different perspective. The Regent's Canal is an absolute gem to paddle on a pleasant day and is one that not many people think to explore. We’re always drawn to the countryside when we paddle but urban environments can be…

Ripon Canal

A short canal at just 2.3 miles long, the Ripon Canal in Yorkshire begins on the outskirts of Ripon and flows into the River Ure at Oxclose Lock. From here you can join the flow of the river and paddle all the way to the River Ouse at York if…

Rochdale Canal

Restored and reopened by volunteers in 2002, the Rochdale canal links Manchester to Sowerby Bridge on a cross-Pennine route. The canal stretches 32 miles in total, with a whopping 91 locks on the stretch… but the steep climb of the canal is worth it for the views, so we’re told!…

Nottingham and Beeston Canal

The Nottingham and Beeston Canal is a relatively short paddle at just 2.5 miles long with 3 locks. The canal flows straight through the city of Nottingham, directly under the towering, old British Waterways building, past the court system and past the very popular waterfront venue where you’ll notice hundreds…

Rushall Canal

Did you know? Birmingham has more waterways than Venice. When you start to study the map around Birmingham on the PaddlePoints site you’ll see that to be true! Birmingham is literally bursting with canals all ready for you to explore. The Rushall Canal is one of the Birmingham canal navigations,…

Stourbridge Canal

The Stourbridge Canal is a 6 mile long stretch of canal, linking Dudley No1 Canal with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. An important part of the puzzle in the maze that is the Birmingham canal network! There are 16 locks along the Stourbridge Canal in total, with most of them…

Stainforth and Keadby Canal

At almost 15 miles long with 3 locks, the Stainforth and Keadby canal links the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation at Bramwith Lock to the River Trent at Keadby. Most of the canal carves a pretty straight line through the Yorkshire countryside, with large swathes exposed to the elements. Make…

Shropshire Union Canal

Measuring 66 miles with 47 locks, the Shropshire Union canal makes its way from Wolverhampton to Ellesmere Port. Much of the canal cutting through the beautiful Cheshire countryside as it goes. The canal is isolated and rural but charming at the same time and with no town for often miles…

Sheffield and Tinsley Canal

The Sheffield and Tinsley Canal has a very special claim to fame. If you’ve seen the Full Monty, you’ll know exactly what we mean. The canal was used for the opening scenes if you remember, where Gaz and Dave are trying to instruct Nathan in how to get a piece…

Stratford Canal

A lock heavy section of canal, the Stratford Canal is a great paddle for those looking to build up their portage strength. OK, we’re joking. But in all seriousness, if you do paddle along the Stratford canal be prepared for a portage or two. This is because this 26 mile…

Stroudwater Navigation

The Stroudwater Navigation in the Cotswolds is an 8 mile stretch of canal with 12 locks along the route. It is a canal managed by the Cotswold Canal Trust. These are a group of volunteers who are actively working on restoring the canal to its former glory. As it stands,…

Swaffham Bulbeck Lode

The Swaffham Bulbeck Lode is another of the Cambridgeshire lodes. The canal or ‘lode’ joins the River Cam around 1.5 miles below Bottisham Lode. It measures just over 3 miles long to the hamlet of Commercial End. The hamlet is tiny, as suggested by the term hamlet, but absolutely beautiful…

Tame Valley Canal

One of the many Birmingham Canals, the Tame Valley Canal is your passage to another world in a busy city. The secret garden of the canal world, the secluded Tame Valley Canal is teaming with wildlife. Flanked by towering embankments and deep cuttings, it provides you with a very mystical…

Titford Canal

At just 1.2 miles long but with 6 locks in this short space, the Titford canal boasts the title of highest point on the Birmingham canal network. The short canal houses ‘the crow’ a flight of locks which takes you to the highest point on the network, and connects the…

Trent and Mersey Canal

The Trent and Mersey canal is one of the longest canals in the country. Stretching 93 miles from Cheshire, through Staffordshire and Derbyshire, it’s a stretch that can be paddled from many different access points. There’s something for everyone along the Trent and Mersey canal. And, like many of the…

Walsall Canal

Once a canal thought to be lost forever. As you paddle along the Walsall canal you'll appreciate the hard work of volunteers to get it back to its former glory. The canal is an integral cog in the Birmingham canal network and runs for 8 miles. There are 8 locks…

Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal

A lovely way to explore the West Midlands countryside, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal skirts around Birmingham but never really becomes urban. Great for those situated close to the city but wanting a little peace and quiet on their paddle! The canal is 46 miles long with 43 locks along…

Selby Canal

The Selby Canal is a peaceful backwater to the Aire & Calder Navigation. It connects the River Ouse to the River Aire providing a vital link in the waterways navigation. Selby Canal is 6 miles long and has just 2 locks. It is ideal for those wanting to explore the…

Swansea Canal

The Swansea Canal is a canal in south Wales which is only navigable for around 5 miles. It flows from Clydach to Pontardawe and from Pontardawe to Ynusmeudwy. The rest of the route is open to cyclists and walkers but the canal is otherwise overgrown and not ideal for a…

Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation

The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation opened in 1797 and is around 13 miles long. It was used to transport coal, bricks and timber inland and mainly grain and flour out. Once commercial craft ceased to use the navigation, pleasure boats were allowed to travel along it. The management of the waterway…

Royal Military Canal

The Royal Military Canal in Kent runs for 28 miles. It flows from near Folkestone, following the old cliff line bordering Romney Marsh. The canal meets the River Rother at the Lock Keepers Cottage just outside Playden. Interestingly, the canal was first built as a defence against the possibly invasion…

Black Sluice Navigation

The Black Sluice Navigation is an artificial drainage river in Lincolnshire also known as the South Forty-Foot Drain. The drain rises in the Lincolnshire Fens and is navigable for 19 miles. The word drain conjures up all sorts of images. You need not worry though, it's not a drain how…

Wyrley and Essington Canal

Often referred to as the 'Curly Wyrley', the Wyrley and Essington Canal flows through suburbs, countryside and mining heritage. It's 16 miles long with no locks to portage. Opened in 1797, the canal once provided a vital link for the coal fields in the area. Its nickname ‘the Curley Wyrley’…

Worcester and Birmingham Canal

One of the longer canals in Birmingham, the Worcester and Birmingham canal measures 30 miles and has a total of 58 locks along the route. Starting at Worcester as an ‘offshoot’ of the River Severn, the canal travels all the way into the centre of Birmingham to Gas Street Basin.…

Wicken Lode

One of the Cambridgeshire lodes, the Wicken Lode turns off Reach Lode, and crosses Wicken Sedge Fen. It then runs for nearly 1.5 miles to just short of the village of Wicken. The lode itself is quite narrow and shallow. It's perfect for a little paddle and means there are…

Wednesbury Old Canal

The Wednesbury Old canal is a part of the Birmingham canal navigation. Just 1.2 miles long and with several bridges along the route, it links Swan Village with the New Mainline at Pudding Green, and meets the Walsall Canal at Ryders Green Top Lock. From here you can travel throughout…

Lydney Canal

In the running for the shortest canal in the UK title, the Lydney canal is just one mile long. The canal is located in Gloucestershire and connects the River Severn to Lydney. Opened in 1813 to ship iron and coal from the Forest of Dean, the canal was very much…

Grand Union Canal Welford Arm

The Grand Union Canal Welford Arm is relatively short with just one lock. This is from Welford Junction on the Leicester Branch of the Grand Union Canal, to a small marina at Welford. Here you can find a variety of amenities. These include a lovely little country pub and separate…

Grand Union Canal Paddington Arm

The Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal links the main branch of the Canal to the Regents Canal at Little Venice. This terminus is very well connected, with Warwick Avenue tube station a stones throw here. You can get to the canal very easily here, making it perfectly accessible…

Grand Union Canal Loughborough Navigation

As the name suggests, the Grand Union Canal Loughborough Navigation forms part of the Grand Union Canal at Loughborough. Just above North Lock at Leicester, the Grand Union Canal becomes the River Soar. The Soar flows from the River Trent at Trent Lock and flows through the city of Loughborough.…

Grand Union Canal Leicester Arm

The Leicester Arm of the Grand Union Canal is one of the longer arms or branches of the canal. The river Soar flows into the Leicester Arm just above the city of Leicester. The canal then continues through the very heart of the city, flowing through sprawling countryside with a…

Grand Union Canal Harborough Branch

The Harborough Branch, or Market Harborough Branch, runs from the Leicester Arm at Rainbow Bridge, into Union Wharf on the outskirts of Market Harborough. There are no locks on this stretch but plenty of bridges. These include a swing bridge which can be paddled under or portaged depending on your…

Grand Union Canal

The 137-mile Grand Union Canal stretches from Birmingham to London. Along its length it has an impressive 158 locks. Sprawling through impressive, lush countryside, the Grand Union is a great place for a multi-day adventure. It's also a great place for those looking for more of a touring challenging. Flowing…