Leeds & Liverpool Canal Walking Guide

Getting From A to B

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal is perfect for walking. The canal was built on the shortest route possible between Liverpool and Leeds and the cotton towns in between. When the railways and motorways were built they followed the same route. This means it is easy to access the canal from the motorways and main roads or from stations along the way. For long stretches of canal its possible to walk the towpath between stations.

The Towpath

The towpaths on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal range from newly laid tarmaced cyclepaths to muddy puddles. There are on going projects to improve the condition of the towpath and increase its use.

Treks

The canal offers short, medium and long distance walks. It has variety, from inner cities to the Yorkshire Dales.

Start	Finish	Miles	Type	Walking Guide
Burscough	Appley Bridge	6 miles	Linear
Gargrave	Gargrave	8 miles	Circular
Liverpool Old Hall Street*	Albert Dock	2 miles	Circular-ish
* The doorway from the Stanley Dock Branch to the main road and Heretage Market is currently closed off.

Clothes and Equipment

Trekking should be enjoyable and nothing stops you having a good time like sore feet. Make sure your shoes are comfortable.

Added Value

While walking is fun in itself its easy to add some extra interest to a walk.

Here are some ideas:

Canal Guide Take a Nicholsons guide with you to find out the names of the bridges and locks.
Wild Flowers Take a pocket sized field guide and identify the wildflowers on the towpath
Old Maps Take along an old Ordnance Survey Map from 50, 100 or 150 years ago. They often give the names of the mills and factories and will explain many relics of the past.
Photography Bridges, reflections, ducks etc all make good photographs