Inland waterways in the United Kingdom

[[file:Inland waterways in the United Kingdom (Grand Union Canal) WV banner.jpg|1280px|The Grand Union Canal at Horsenden Hill in Ealing, London}}

NewMartonTopLock 01s - Llangollen Canal

Hiring a (narrow) boat and travelling part of the extensive canals and rivers of England, Scotland and Wales is a great way to see the British country side and discover hidden gems in the towns and cities.

An introduction to Inland waterways in the United Kingdom

Waterways were the original transport highway in the United Kingdom, with trade on some rivers pre-dating the Romans.

As natural rivers did not in all instances serve all of the growing industrial areas and the 18th and 19th centuries saw the creation of artificial 'cuts' and canals, as the Industrial Revolution continued.

Although the canal network was rapidly overtaken by the rail network for much trade from the mid 19th Century, it remained in commercial use well into the mid 20th century, before it declined. Today some canals have been restored for pleasure-boat use by travellers, and although rare, you may occasionally still see a commercial vessel operating.

The modern network in England consists of a series of linked waterways (both river and canal), some isolate navigable rivers and the Norfolk Broads.

Scotland has three main canals which are in separate parts of the nation, and several navigable tidal river sections and sea lochs.

Although not considered by some as waterways, a series of large "drainage" dykes and channels in the Fens between the River Nene and River Wissey (The Middle Level Navigations), and to the West of Boston (England) | Boston in Lincolnshire (the Witham Navigable Drains) are considered navigable. The primary purpose of these channels is land drainage.

Major waterways

Rivers

The River Thames flows through London (as well as Oxford, Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow and Windsor), beyond London, are Dartford, Tilbury, Gravesend and Canvey Island. East of this the Thames becomes an expansive estuary, with a different (more coastal) character and atmosphere.

The River Severn becomes a large estuary near Bristol.
River Nene
River Trent

Canals

England

The Grand Union Canal links the Thames with Birmingham. It is commonly called the Grand Junction and the name of a canal company that built a portion of the route.
Kennet & Avon, in Southern England, links the Thames at Reading with the River Avon near Bath. The River Avon can then be used to reach Bristol.
Basingstoke Canal, opened in 1792 in Surrey and Hampshire originally linked Basingstoke with the Wey Navigation (between Woking and Weybridge). In 1932 the Greywell Tunnel, close to Odiham fell in, reducing the navigatable part of the canal which now passes through Woking, Frimley, Farnborough, Aldershot, Fleet and Odiham to 49.8 km.

Scotland

Caledonian Canal links Inverness and Fort William in Scotland, down the length of the Great Glen Way|Great Glen. Only one third of the 60 mile length was dug, as the canal links Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. The canal can take boats up to 150ft long and 35ft wide.
Crinnan Canal, a smaller inland canal is a useful shortcut for yachts, avoiding a long sea voyage around a peninsula in western Argyll. The canal can take boats up to 88ft long and 20ft wide.
The Union Canal and the Forth & Clyde Canal are linked by the Falkirk Wheel. Together they are 66 miles long and take boats up to 63ft long and 19ft wide.

What to See

The Canal Museum | Stoke Bruerne Bridge Road, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester, NN12 7SE 52.14253, -0.91493 ☎ +44 1604 862229 Adults - £4.75, Child (6-15) - £3.10 A museum originally established in 1963, which now forms part of a nationally recognised collection relating to the English Canal network.

National Waterways Museum - Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester 51.861753, -2.252568 ☎ +44 1452 318200 - National Waterways Museum National Waterways Museum, Cheshire -2 Explore the timeless legacy of canals and rivers in this country. Investigate historic craft and explore Llanthony Yard.

Falkirk Wheel - 56.0005, -3.8419 Half hourly buses from Falkirk town centre, or a good walk from the Falkirk "Camelon" train station. You can also cycle along the Union Canal from Edinburgh - the route (about 50 kilometers) is part of the National Cycle Network Route 754 - Boat trips cost £8.95 adults, £4.95 children, £7.95 concessions. Free entry to the visitor centre / cafe / gift shop FalkirkWheelSide 2004 SeanMcClean - Falkirk Wheel Built in 2001 to reconnect the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, it is the world's only rotating boat lift. Boat trips up on the Wheel take about an hour.