Type of Walk: Towpath Walks

'Peaceful route through Leeds and out past Kirkstall Abbey, Bramley Fall, Rodley, Calverley Woods, Apperley Bridge, Buck Wood at Thackley, Shipley, Hirst Wood, Dowley Gap and the Three and Five Rise Locks at Bingley.'

Sustrans

'A green link from the city centre to Ashton-under-Lyne, bordered by an interesting mix of modern and industrial architecture. Improvements to the towpath have made it into a pleasant route, accessible to walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users.'

Canal & River Trust

Nature Trail [Ancoats Canal Project] | The Ashton Canal [Pennine Waterways] | Portland Basin Museum

'A beautiful waterway that runs from Greywell Village in Hampshire to Woodham in Surrey.'

Hampshire County Council

Walking Routes [Basingstoke Canal Society]

'This deservedly popular route takes you over two aqueducts and past the Claverton Pumping Station.'

Canal & River Trust

Bradford-on-Avon to Bath Walk  [Saturday Walkers Club]

'The 15 mile long canal path between Taunton and Bridgwater has been developed as a multi-user route to encourage walking and cycling. It forms part of the Sustrans cycle route 3. The canal path is an ideal way of passing through lowland Somerset, seeing areas of historic interest and natural beauty.'

Canal & River Trust

'Built during the golden age of canal construction, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal was to be the longest in Britain. As it weaved its way north it diverted towards Burnley to connect with the expanding coalmines in the town and influenced an industrial boom ... Our trail follows a 5 – 6km section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. There are 10 stop points, each marked with a QR code.'

Canal & River Trust

'The navigation, which is part-canal and part-river, connects the Yorkshire and Pennine canals, and provides easy access for walking in the Pennines. Canal enthusiasts will appreciate the unusual waterways architecture, including quirky lever-operated locks.'

Canal & River Trust

Calder and Hebble Navigation [Wikipedia] | Calder & Hebble Navigation [Milestone Society] (7 miles)

'The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation is the canalisation of the Rivers Chelmer and Blackwater in Essex, in the east of England. The navigation runs for 13.75 miles (22.13 km) [1] from Springfield Basin in Chelmsford to the sea lock at Heybridge Basin near Maldon. It was opened in 1797, and remained under the control of the original company until 2003. It is now run by Essex Waterways Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Inland Waterways Association.'

Essex Waterways

'A route following the towpaths along six historic canals of various ages and character, this Walk offers the solitude of quiet countryside, the hustle and bustle of city streets and views of the Cheshire Plain and Peak District hills. The canals are, anticlockwise from Macclesfield, Macclesfield Canal to Marple; Peak Forest, Ashton and Rochdale Canals into Manchester to join the Bridgewater Canal at Castlefield to follow it to Preston Brook; Trent & Mersey Canal to Hardings Wood Junction near Kidsgrove; Macclesfield Canal back to the start.'

The Long Distance Walkers Association

'Chichester Ship Canal passes through 4 miles of open farmland from the Basin to Chichester Harbour at Birdham. The towpath is part of the Lipchis Way and cycling is permitted. The path connects with the Bill Way at Hunston and Salterns Way at Birdham, which are long-distance cycle routes to the sea. There are information boards along the canal and also historical remains of the original navigation, including Poyntz Bridge near the basin and the Selsey tramway abutment at Hunston.'

Chichester Ship Canal Trust

'The last 5.5 miles of the Coventry canal, from Hawkesbury junction to the city basin, has been developed and transformed into the City’s longest park. The park contains an art trail, pocket parks, heritage trail and towpath improvements.'

Coventry Canal Society

'Follow the towpath along a remote Scottish canal in an idyllic setting. Take in almost the entire route of this scenic canal - but cover no more than eight miles!'

Scottish Canals

Canal & River Trust

Chesterfield Canal Trust

Three towpath walks which formerly were briefly described on the Canal & River Trust Website with links through to what is now the AllTrails Site, but now having relevant descriptions only on the latter Site:

* Dudley No 1 Canal to Fens Pool (6 miles)

* Along Dudley No. 2 Canal from Bumble Hole to Coombswood Bridge (6 miles)

* A walk along the Dudley Canal from Bumble Hole to Dudley Tunnel (7 miles)

AllTrails

'Information to help you choose a pleasant walk - long or short - through the Riverside Valley Park.'

Exeter City Council

'This site highlights the main features of Gloucester Docks and the 16 mile ship canal link to Sharpness Docks and the sea. Brief details are given about the history of what can be seen today, with many comparisons of old and recent views. Information is also provided about facilities of interest to visitors, vessels and people associated with the waterway and plans for developments.'

Hugh Conway-Jones

The Inland Waterways Association

Leicester Line Canal Walk [LDWA]

'The Grand Union Canal runs for 147 miles from Paddington right into the heart of Birmingham. As it links the two biggest cities in Britain it was a major transport link before the coming of the railways, although nowadays it is almost exclusively used by pleasure craft.'

Martin Loach has produced a detailed photographic description of the route.

BritishWalks.org

The Grand Union Canal in England

'The Grand Western Canal Country Park and Local Nature Reserve meanders through beautiful mid-Devon countryside and quiet villages between Tiverton and Lowdwells (near the Somerset border).'

Devon County Council

The route from Trent Lock to Grantham divided into six walks (plus a dozen circular walks).

Grantham Canal Society

'At a total distance of about 11 miles between Woodmill and Winchester, the Itchen Navigation can be walked from end to end in a day by anyone reasonably fit. Alternatively the walk can be split into shorter sections ... Now designated part of the Itchen Way (running from Woolston to Cheriton), much of the path that follows the Navigation is not in the best of repair although passable. Parts of the path are eroded and, as it was originally built out of chalk rubble, the path can be quite slippery in all but the driest weather.'

Wikipedia

Hampshire Waterways

'Wandering across some of England's most beautiful countryside the Kennet and Avon canal links England's Canals via the River Thames at Reading with the Bristol Channel. As the canal's name suggest it's partially a river navigation since it uses the River Kennet between Reading and Newbury and the River Avon between Bath and Bristol. The purely "canal" part of the waterway is 57 miles in length out of a total distance of 100.25 miles.'

John Fox

Kennet and Avon Canal Trust

'The Lagan Canal offers an opportunity to walk along a forgotten history that helped shape Ulster, encunter wildlife, enjoy peace and tranquility, and experience this nationally important heritage site ... The remains of the Canal exist from Lough Neagh to Belfast stretching west to east with the main access route being the M1 motorway.'

WalkNI

Lagan Towpath [WalkNI]

'This is my guide to  the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. This site has hundreds of annotated photographs which I hope you will find interesting whether you enjoy walking, cycling or just taking a virtual trek along the towpaths of Britain's canals. '

Towpath Treks

Leeds and Liverpool Canal [Gerry Cordon: That's How The Light Gets In]

'Take a walk along the Lichfield Canal's Heritage Towpath Trail and discover a world of fascinating industrial and cultural history, find Lichfield's top places to visit and enjoy an important corridor for wildlife and nature.'  A work in progress - comments invited!

Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

Lichfield Canal [Wikipedia] | The Wyrley and Essington Canal [David John Hodgkinson]

'The Limehouse Cut was the first navigable canal to be dug in London and provides a pleasant and interesting green walk between Limehouse Basin in the west and the River Lea to the east ... The walk is about 2.5 kilometres in length to the Lea Navigation at Bow Locks and 3 kilometres in length to Three Mills.'

Hugo Marchant

'This walk starts and finishes at the picturesque Little Venice and takes you through the beautiful green corridor of The Regent's Canal, Primrose Hill and St John's Wood ...'

Canal & River Trust

Regents Canal [Annierak]

'The dizzying Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which carries the canal over the River Dee, is a must-see. This remarkable feat of canal engineering is 125 feet high, and the canal is unprotected on one side, giving the impression of a sheer drop from a narrowboat. The structure is deservedly a World Heritage Site ...'

Canal & River Trust

Llangollen Canal [Wikipedia]

The Grand Union Canal in England

'Also called the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal, it runs 42 miles from Brecon to Newport, Gwent. The first 35 miles are navigable.'

Canal & River Trust

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal John Norris | The Mon & Brec Canal Guide

'Walking or cycling along the towpath is an excellent way to experience the peace and tranquility of this rural canal. This is also a popular canal for canoeing – paddling quietly through peaceful green surroundings is a great way to spot wildlife.'

Montgomery Canal [Canal & River Trust] | Montgomery Canal [Wikipedia]

'This cycle and walking route from the Bann Bridge in Portadown to the Town Hall in Newry is a 20 mile trip on part of route 9 of the National Cycle Network. The route follows the towpath on the western bank of the, now non-navigable, Newry Canal.'

Sustrans

'A linear walk of 14km (8.7 miles) from Wollaton to Langley Mill. An optional return along the Erewash Canal makes a round trip of 27.3km (17 miles).'

Broxtowe Borough Council

The Oxford Canal is 'a long-distance route, following the towpath for 77 miles from Oxford to Hawkesbury. The gentle engineering of the canal, with few lock flights, means that the walking is always easy, and the scenery is stunning'. The Walk itself can (also) begin 'near Hawkesbury Village at Hawkesbury Junction, also known as Sutton Stop, where it connects with the Coventry Canal, four miles from the centre of Coventry'.

Canal & River Trust

'The Canal is in two distinct parts. The upper section, one of the highest summits in the country, runs along the valley of the River Goyt and the lower along that of the River Tame. Separating the two is Benjamin Outram's splendid stone Marple Aqueduct together with its slightly higher railway viaduct neighbour running parallel. At Marple Junction the Macclesfield Canal, 30 years junior to the Peak Forest line, is encountered. Between the junction and the aqueduct is the magnificent flight of 16 locks rising over 210 feet (64m).'

Canal & River Trust

The Peak Forest Canal [Pennine Waterways] | Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust | Marple Locks - Virtual Tour

'The Pocklington Canal is a delightful rural waterway in East Yorkshire ... flowing from Canal Head near Pocklington to the River Derwent at East Cottingwith. The canal was completed in 1818 and is part of the inland waterways network of England and Wales. Like many of our canals it became derelict with the coming of the railways. Considerable restoration work has been done by the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society volunteers. Seven miles of the canal is currently navigable and the entire canal has a towpath.'

Pocklington Canal Amenity Society

'Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the largest in Britain, is an awesome testament to the genius of its designer, Thomas Telford. It took 10 years to build at a cost of £47,000, using local sandstone and iron cast at the Plas Kynaston foundry, near Wrexham ...'

Denbighshire County Council

'For boaters, this Canal is a peaceful place to escape the crowds. The towpath is probably the easiest walking route through the Pennines, taking you into the heart of the hills at a relatively gentle gradient. However, there is also plenty of access to more challenging routes for serious hiking.'

Canal & River Trust

Rochdale Canal Maps [Waterway Routes]

'Runs for 28 miles along the entire length of the Royal Military Canal from Seabrook, Kent to Cliff End in East Sussex. The route treads a path between the vast openness of the Romney Marsh and the old cliff line with its wooded hills and quiet villages. '

'In common with other waterways based on natural rivers, there is no consistent towpath along the length of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation. However, you can walk between Sheffield Basin and Rotherham Lock, between Mexborough, Conisbrough, Sprotbrough and Doncaster ...  Improvements to the towpath have created a canalside walking route from the city centre out to Meadowhall shopping centre. The Sheffield & Tinsley Canal found big-screen fame in 1997, appearing in the opening scenes of the comedy film The Full Monty.'

Wikipedia

Sheffield & Tinsley Canal [Canal & River Trust]

'Audlem is famous for its run of 15 locks on the Shropshire Union Canal. With its canalside pubs and attractive towpath, the walk alongside the locks is one of the finest in lowland England. Interpretration panels by the towpath in Audlem describe the operation of locks and the canal's history.'

AudlemOnline

'The 5 mile long Slough Arm travels in a fairly straight line from the Grand Union Canal at Cowley Peachey Junction into Slough terminating by Stoke Poges Road.'

The Grand Union Canal in England

'Sculpture trail model of the solar system, located in Somerset, England. The model uses the towpath of the 22-kilometre (14-mile) Bridgwater and Taunton Canal to display a model of the Sun and its planets in their proportionally correct sizes and distances apart. Unusually for a solar system model, there are two sets of planets.

Wikipedia

'Many people confuse the St Helens Canal with the Sankey Brook, which is quite understandable as the canal does run parallel to the line of the brook; indeed it once provided water for the canal. Another source of water was the Carr Mill Dam which nowadays offers a magnificent haven for wildlife and waterfowl.'

Discover The Mersey Forest

'This fascinating and very pretty canal was orginally constructed in 1772 by James Brindley to link the docks at Bristol and the towns of Gloucester and Worcester with the Potteries region in Stoke on Trent and the Birmingham conurbation, via the Trent and Mersey Canal to which it links at Great Hayward junction ... '

Canal Guide

Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal [Canal & River Trust]

'The canal is usually considered as a northern and a southern section. The Northern Stratford starts at Kings Norton Junction, with its guillotine-gated stop-lock that prevented water loss from one company's line to the other.  It continues on the same level for ten miles then descends by 19 locks to Kingswood Junction, where there is a link to the Warwick & Birmingham Canal (now the Grand Union Canal). The South Stratford is memorable for its split bridges, built with a gap to allow the tow ropes of the boat horses to pass through, and its unique barrel-roofed lock cottages.'

Canal & River Trust

The Stratford upon Avon Canal Society | The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal

'Constructed 1794-1798 by the Swansea Canal Navigation Company, the canal rose 375 feet through 36 locks from sea level at Swansea up the valley to Abercraf. Built to carry coal down to industries in the Lower Swansea Valley and for export, this new link to the sea enabled development all along the valley of industries and the towns we know today.'

BayTrans

Swansea Canal Society

'The Tame Valley Canal is a secret, secluded world, largely hidden from its built-up surroundings by high embankments and deep cuttings. The towpaths are open to walkers, cyclists and anglers, making it the perfect urban escape.'

Canal & River Trust

Tame Valley Canal & Rushall Canal [Canal Routes]

'The Rivers Thames and Severn are once again connected - this time by footpath. The footpath, known the Thames & Severn Way, has been marked out by volunteers from the Cotswold Canals Trust. It mainly follows the towpaths of the Stroudwater Navigation and Thames & Severn Canal between Framilode and Lechlade, but in places deviates on to other rights of way, such as the Thames Path.'

Cotswold Canals Trust and Stroud District Council

The Cotswold Canals Walk [Countryside-Matters, 2013) |  Thames and Severn Way  [LDWA]

'The canal takes you through some of the best scenes that our waterways have to offer, from the towering Anderton Boat Lift through to the nature reserve at picturesque Fradley Junction and the heritage-rich industrial sites of Stoke-on-Trent's potteries district ... The towpath creates a green corridor through Stoke-on-Trent, as well as offering a cycling and walking route through rural Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire.'

Canal & River Trust

Trent and Mersey Canal [Wikipedia]

'Explore a wealth of history while walking and cycling around Sandwell. Discover its historic canals and see some fascinating reminders of the area's industrial past.'

Canal & River Trust

'Spend the day walking and cycling around Walsall and you will be surprised by what you discover. There is something for everyone - from art galleries to parks, gardens and lakes.'

Canal & River Trust

Walsall Canal

'A 6 mile canalside walk with facilities for wheelchair users and pushchairs and a series of circular walks based on the Wendover Arm

Wendover Canal Trust

The Wendover Canal Arm in England [The Grand Union Canal in England]

'Restoring the historic path for the community and nature. Creating a long distance path from Bath to Oxford ... The Trust has produced a number of walks leaflets which you can download ...'

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

'This is a peaceful walk along the canal side where you will find plenty of wildlife.'

Visit West Lothian

'After leaving Birmingham you enter the countryside and will encounter a series of locks including Tarddebigge lock flight. With 30 locks in about 2 miles, Tarddebigge is the longest in the country, and also one of the steepest.'

GPS Cycle and Walking Routes