Waterways attractions to visit in 2019

Here at Waterways Holidays we have combined a list of the top waterways attractions to visit on your 2019 boating holiday.

The Falkirk Wheel – This impressive boat lift is the only of its kind in the entire world. Built to connect the Forth & Clyde Canal towards Glasgow and the Union Canal towards Edinburgh, meaning both cities can be visited in one boating holiday. The wheel stands at 35 metres tall and replaced the 11 locks that previously connected the two canals. Our base is located at the Falkirk Wheel, the perfect place to start your holiday on the Scottish Canals.

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – The highest and longest aqueduct in Britain, standing at 126ft tall and 1007ft in length. Also known as ‘The stream in the sky’, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop and is now a named World Heritage Site. There are spectacular, unspoilt views of the Dee Valley as boaters cross over the aqueduct, which only has a railing on one side! We have several bases along the Llangollen Canal within easy reach of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

The Caen Hill Flight – The perfect destination for boaters up for a challenge! The Caen Hill Flight at Devizes on the Kennet & Avon Canal is one of the longest flights of locks in the country with a total of 29 locks; rising 237ft. 16 of the locks form the steepest part of the flight with a continuous stretch of locks one after the other. We have several bases close to Devizes, with one located at the bottom of the flight itself!

The Anderton Boat Lift – Also known as the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’. The Anderton Boat Lift was built in 1875 to lift boats 50ft from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal. The impressive Victorian masterpiece of engineering closed in 1983 due to corrosion, but was restored and reopened in 2002. The boat lift is easily accessible from our bases at Anderton & Acton Bridge.

The Standedge Tunnel – The longest navigable tunnel on the UK canal network. The Standedge Tunnel travels for 3.5miles under the Pennine countryside in West Yorkshire. The tunnel is only wide enough for one narrowboat to pass through at a time, so passage must be booked in advance! Our bases at Sowerby Bridge & Poynton are the closest available to the Standedge Tunnel.

The Bingley 5 Rise – A fantastic feature on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the Bingley 5 Rise is the steepest flight of locks in the country! The locks raise the canal a total of 60ft, with each lock opening directly into the next. Our bases on the Leeds & Liverpool at Barnoldswick & Riley Green are both within reach of the Bingley 5 Rise.

The Kelpies – Another reason to start at our Falkirk base! At 30m high, The Kelpies are the biggest equine structures in the world. The Forth & Clyde Canal was extended to allow boaters to travel to the Kelpies in 2014. The figures are based on the heavy horses that pulled boats and cargo along the Forth & Clyde Canal during the industrial revolution. The Kelpies can be reached from our Falkirk Marina in a short 4 hour cruise.