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Home > Route Information > Canals & Rivers >

Leeds & Liverpool Canal

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The Route

The route covers
> Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Including
> Leigh Branch
>Rufford Branch
>Stanley Dock Branch

DVD

Great DVD showing the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

> Popular : Like a television programme.

Main Line

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal starts in Leeds at the Junction with the Aire and Calder Navigation and stretches for 127 miles to the Eldonian Basin in Liverpool.

From Leeds to Bingley the canal climbs through several staircase locks including the famous 5-rise staircase locks at Bingley. The 17 mile pound takes the canal through Skipton where the Springs Branch diverges to the right. Shortly after Skipton the climb to the summit level continues with locks at Gargrave, Bank Newton and Greenberfield.

The summit level is just over 5 miles long and passes through Foulridge tunnel, some 1640 yards (1500 metres) long.

The descent into Lancashire begins with the seven locks at Barrowford. At Burnley the canal crosses from one side of the valley to the other on an embankment, often called the Burnley Straight Mile. The second and shorter tunnel is Gannow Tunnel, just 559 yards (511 metres) long. The descent continues through further locks until Wigan.

At Wigan the canal descends through 21 locks to the junction with the Leigh Branch and then a further 2 locks whichever way you turn. Shortly after the bottom lock is Wigan Pier, made famous in George Orwell's book "The Road to Wigan Pier".

The locks between Wigan and Liverpool are well spaced out and the final route into Liverpool is level. Although the canal passes alongside Aintree Racecourse there are only occasional glimpses through gaps in the high wall.

Leigh Branch

The Leigh Branch diverges near the bottom of the Wigan flight and has just 2 locks. The canal is above its surroundings for much of the route where the land has collapsed with mining subsidence.

At Leigh the canal meets end on with the Bridgewater Canal which is owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company.

Rufford Branch

The Rufford Branch heads northwards from Burscough Junction. It descends through 7 locks to Tarleton where the 8th lock provides access to the tidal River Douglas.

Under the right conditions a boat can pass onto the River Ribble and cross through the Ribble Link to the Lancaster Canal.

Stanley Dock Branch

The Stanley Dock Branch descends through 4 locks into Stanley Dock where a route through further docks leads to the River Mersey.

An extension is planned to take the canal past the Liver Buildings and the Pier Head to Albert Dock, a major tourist attraction in Liverpool.

Photo Gallery

Take a virtual cruise along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

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