Boating along the Calder & Hebble Navigation

Full of variety, the Calder & Hebble alternates town and country, river and canal. More and more boaters are discovering its charms following the recent re-openings of the Huddersfield and Rochdale canals. Salterhebble and Thornhill Flights are particularly attractive, and the towns of Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge are excellent places to moor overnight.

Although this hybrid waterway frequently resembles a canal, it shares parts of its course with the natural River Calder, and is occasionally prone to the vagaries of flooding and currents. Locks and weirs minimise the effects of excess water entering the navigation channel: look out for the colour-coded gauges which signify whether it is safe to continue.

The locks on the Calder & Hebble are operated by a distinctive handspike - effectively, a long wooden stick - as well as the more usual windlass. You can buy these at local boatyards. Between Wakefield and the Huddersfield Broad Canal, you will need handspikes at:

• Mill Bank Lock
• Thornhill Double Locks
• Shepley Bridge
• Cooper Bridge Lock

Most locks are short (57ft 6in), so if your boat is approaching this length, you will need to take extra care in locks.

The canal arms at Dewsbury and Salterhebble offer interesting diversions for the boater who is prepared to make a sharp turn off the main line.

Bridge & lock opening times

Find detailed information on local services, moorings and stoppages by using the drop down menu on the left.